PRC Weekly News 18-10-2015
Published In PRC News
Despite having some runners missing Prestatyn Running Club’s men moved to the top of Division 2 in the Grand Prix Express North Wales Cross-Country League at the weekend.
They finished behind Wrexham and Colwyn Bay on the day but it was enough to give them a 10-point lead over the Bay after two races.
Their low points total was largely thanks to Steve Skates, who finished a superb fifth overall after a tussle with Oswestry’s Olly Blake. Gareth Bailey, on a rare appearance on the country, finished strongly in 76th place and teenager Alex Ryder did well to finish after sustaining a knee injury. Benjamin Harrison, also 18, also put in a gutsy performance after a mid-race “blip”.
The tough course proved to be a real baptism of fire for Karl Martin, one of last winter’s beginners’ group, who deserved huge credit for keeping going.
Yet another teenager, Coral McShane, looked very impressive in leading the women’s squad home in 38th place overall, and with solid back-up from team-mates the squad finished third on the day, but are comfortably placed in second position on aggregate. Credit must go to mother and daughter Alli and Amy Reid, both of whom were far from being fit, Alli having been suffering from a chest cold and Amy carrying a leg injury.
The placings were :- Senior men: 5 Steve Skates 35.00, 41 George Nicholls 39.11 (3rd M45), 76 Gareth Bailey 41.50, 88 Alex Ryder 43.12, 95 George Nixon 43.58, 104 Matty Smith 44.31, 105 Ben Harrison 44.31, 118 Nick Cook 46.43, 139 Russ Cheetham 49.14, 145 Wyn Roberts 50.13, 160 Dafydd Owen 57.37, 163 Karl Martin 62.32. Men over 75: 1 Roger Harrison-Jones 30.23, 2 Dave Hughes 30.34. Ladies: 38 Coral McShane 25.29, 39 Helen Ashworth 25.37, 45 Gabby Waring 26.06 (3rd L55), 58 Sue Rodgers 27.37, 61 Jo Edwards 28.16, 65 Debbie Richards 28.37, 76 Sania Penlington 31.00, 79 Amy Reid 31.09, 80 Allison Reid 31.12, 85 Claire Manley 32.31.
On Saturday morning some of the club’s juniors did the club proud in the North Wales Junior C ross-Country League at the same venue.
The outstanding individual performance came from Bethan Dowsett, who finished fourth in the under-15 girls’ race against some much more experienced competitors. Her time was 13.39, with the highly promising Jenna Bagnall 10th in the same race in 15.13.
In the under-11 boys’ event Layton Rhodes came 12th in 11.31, while Daniel Sambrook and Jack Duffy were 9th and 13th respectively in the under-13s’ race. Their times were 14.52 and 16.35.
Gordon Jones, who has been included in the Welsh Masters’ team for the Home Countries’ international next month, won the M55 class and was 13th overall in Sunday’s Farndon 10k. After his training had been interrupted recently he had good reason to be pleased with his time of 37.14.
In the same race the remarkable super-vet Eddie Naisby clocked 67 minutes and – at 87 years of age – was disappointed with his time.
Meanwhile recent recruit Bethan Lunn clocked 62.51 in the Bangor 10k.
This Saturday the club will have three teams competing for the first time in the British Masters’ cross-country relay championships in Derbyshire, while four members, Naomi Cane, Roger Wadon, Karen Ashworth and George Nicholls will be hoping for good weather as they run in the Snowdonia Marathon.