Prestatyn Running Club | North Wales Cross Country Champs

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North Wales Cross Country Champs

Published In Cross Country PRC News

The annual North Wales cross-country championships at the Rhug Estate, Corwen, proved to be another triumph in many ways for the hosts, Prestatyn Running Club.

For not only was the organisation first-class but the club fielded more runners than most of the other North Wales clubs – and the icing on the cake was that the club picked up three team and 10 individual awards.

What was also pleasing was that the awards were spread among new and older members, and among the under-20s to over-75s.

The Rhug course always presents a tough challenge but the mud made it even more gruelling than usual and the biting headwind also made an impact.

There were some outstanding performances, probably the best being that of teenager Coral McShane, who was the first Prestatyn lady home and showed great maturity in holding off the challenge of Denbigh’s experienced veteran Victoria Whitehead in a battle to the line. She fully deserved her U20 title.

Also engaged in a fascinating duel were super-vets Mike Davis and Steve Hatfield, the club’s chairman and treasurer. Mike led all the way until he took a nasty fall on the final field, allowing Steve to move ahead and take bronze in the M65 class.

With George Nixon, who was 2nd M60, they took silver in the M60 team competition, while the senior ladies took bronze and the M75 trio of Roger Harrison-Jones, Dave Hughes and John Hickman gold.

Gaining their first awards as members were Ally Reid (2nd L40) and Stephen Stocker (3rd M40), while second-claimer Amie Bagnall (Salford) was third lady overall.

Missing from the line-up was Gabby Waring who had been planning to run but who broke her arm when she was blown over on a training run last week.

The placings were:-

Ladies:

  • Coral McShane 25.24 (1st U20)
  • Helen Ashworth 26.50
  • Abbie Cheetham 27.40 (2nd U20)
  • Sue Rodgers 29.19 (2nd L55)
  • Amy Reid 30.01
  • Ally Reid 30.14 (2nd L40)
  • Clare Manley 35.04

Men under 20:

  • Benjamin Harrison 37.42 (1st U20)

Men over 60:

  • George Nixon 35.32 (2nd M60)

Men over 65:

  • Steve Hatfield 41.41 (3rd M65)
  • Mike Davis 42.36
  • Dafydd Owen 47.50

Men over 75:

  • Roger Harrison-Jones 30.50 (1st)
  • Dave Hughes 32.04 (2nd)
  • John Hickman 32.12 (3rd)

Senior men:

  • 7 Dean Longley 38.39
  • 21 George Nicholls 43.43
  • 23 Stephen Stocker 44.38 (3rd M40)
  • 32 Gareth Bailey 47.19
  • 33 Matty Smith 47.21
  • 41 Arwel Jones 53.09
  • 44 Wyn Roberts 56.09

This Saturday brings the final muddy outing of the season for most of the members when Oswestry host the last fixture in the Grand Prix Express North Wales League, and though some of the awards have already been secured there is still plenty to fight for.

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