We put up the tent in glorious sunshine, and for a while it looked as though the meteorologists might have been mistaken with all their talk of heavy showers and thunderstorms. They were not.
As the 12.00 start time approached the rain got heavier and heavier, runners cowered under trees, and I began to wonder just how 'weather resistant' my camera was.
The race got under way promptly, with all the Junior categories starting at the same time as the Seniors - U7 to U15 running shorter courses, U17 and U19 running the Senior race. There were 72 starters in the Senior race.
Juniors started hurtling over the line within 6 or 7 minutes, and Tom Meredith made sure we didn't lose many (any?), even though results sheets were turning to mush in the torrential downpour, numbers were hidden under waterproofs, and it was not at all easy! But all (or almost all) juniors seemed to enjoy the racing immensely.
In the main race Jack Agnew (Mercia) held off a strong challenge from Iwan Foley, to take his second win of the weekend. U17 Iwan improved on his time from 2022 by nearly 5 minutes, winning the U17 Category by a mile, and coming 2nd overall in 37:13 - a talent to watch!
Joanne Henderson (V40, Denbigh Harriers) won the women's race by about 3 minutes from Mel Price (V50, Mercia).
Mynydd Du showed strength in depth taking both the men's and women's team prizes.
Overall prizes for the best performances over the weekend's races went to Jack Agnew, who won both men's races, and to Rebecca Pease, who finished 2nd and 4th.
As always, thanks to the marshals and helpers, and to all competitors.
Photos here
Full results here
Summary results and prize winners
Category Prize |
Name |
Club |
Time |
1st Man |
Jack Agnew |
Mercia |
00:36:34 |
1st Woman |
Joanne Henderson (V40) |
Denbigh Harriers |
00:42:59 |
2nd Man |
Iwan Froley (U17) |
Cardiff Amateur AC |
00:37:13 |
2nd Woman |
Mel Price (V50) |
Mercia |
00:45:25 |
3rd Woman |
Bethan Logan |
Mynydd Du |
00:46:41 |
3rd Man |
Joel Gomes (V40) |
Run Free Fell Runners |
00:38:36 |
1st V40 Woman |
Claire Prosser |
Unattached |
00:52:46 |
1st V40 Man |
Rhys ap Gwilym |
Unattached |
00:42:17 |
1st V50 Woman |
Niki Morgan |
Chepstow Harriers |
00:50:56 |
1st V50 Man |
Matthew Lawson |
Chepstow Harriers |
00:46:25 |
1st V60 Man |
Bob Foreman |
Matlock AC |
00:46:52 |
1st V60 Woman |
Sue Howarth |
Mercia |
00:56:16 |
1st V70 Man |
Don Powell |
Basingstoke & Mid Hants |
01:01:29 |
1st V70 Woman |
-- |
-- |
-- |
U19 M |
Freddie Bradford |
Weston AC |
00:46:31 |
U19 F |
-- |
-- |
-- |
U17 M |
Will Chalk (NB Iwan Froley took overall 2nd M prize) |
Unattached |
00:44:58 |
U17 F |
-- |
-- |
-- |
M team |
Wyndham Turner, Tom Turner, Brett Peter Mahoney |
Mynydd Du |
|
F team |
Bethan Logan, Debbie Stenner, Daniela Gormley |
Mynydd Du |
|
The following Junior categories ran shorter routes |
U15 M |
Joseph Roberts |
Newport Harriers |
23:50 |
U15 F |
Alice Meredith |
Mynydd Du Mini Dragons |
26:51 |
U13 M |
Ynyr Ap Rhys |
Eryri |
24:13 |
U13 F |
Manon Phillips |
TROTS |
24:43 |
U11 M |
Rowan Carson |
Pontyclun |
09:14 |
U11 F |
-- |
-- |
-- |
U9 M |
Llyr Ap Rhys |
Eryri |
04:37 |
U9 F |
Lily Mahoney |
Mynydd Du Mini Dragons |
07:14 |
U7 M |
Harri Phillips |
TROTS |
05:36 |
U7 F |
Lila Engrand |
Mynydd Du Mini Dragons |
08:30 |