It continues to be a busy month for Sarn Helen Running Club.
On 29th September 2019, the Cheltenham Half Marathon took place, with 2,478 finishers having followed a course that starting and finishing at the Racecourse; providing glorious views of the surrounding Cotswolds before heading off along tree lined roads towards the stunning Town Centre, through iconic locations such as Montpellier and Lansdown. Sarn Helen Running Club’s Dawn Kenwright, in the FV60 category, achieved a fantastic time of 1:49:21.
In early October, at this year’s Club Time Trial presentation, senior awards were presented to Eleri Rivers and George Eadon; with junior awards going to Jack Caulkett, Violet Caulkett, Maddie Caulkett, Jonathan Price, Luke Thomas, Harri Rivers, Sean Wood, Iestyn Stevens and Rhys Williams. Time trials are 5k in distance, taking place each year from April, using local roads near Lampeter.
On Sunday 13 October 2019, Aberystwyth AC’s annual Twin Peaks race took place, starting on the promenade and heading south, circling the harbour before taking on the first of the hill challenges, Pen Dinas. Having reached the Wellington monument, at 450 feet, runners have an excellent view of the second hill challenge – the rocky path of Constitution Hill, crossing back and forth over the cliff railway reaching just over 450ft before joining a tarmac road for the fast final descent back to the promenade. Sarn Helen’s Running Club achieved excellent results on this challenging route, with Glyn Price coming fourth overall and first in the M50 category with a time of 00:50:55. Hot on his heels, Club results were as follows: Eirwyn Roberts 00:52:01, third in the MSEN category; Steffan Thomas 00:55:47; Carwyn Davies 00:56:35; Dee Jolly 00:56:43 first in the FSEN category; Mitchell Readwin 01:02:41; Huw Price 01:03:19; Nicola Williams 01:09:11; Tony Hall 01:10:32 third in the M60 category and Elisha Leigh Jones, 01:20:45.
On 20 October 2019, the Ras Dalis fun run, starting and ending in the village of Dihewyd, took place, with junior and senior races on offer. In first place overall was Steffan Thomas, with a time of 43:05, followed by George Eadon, with a time of 44:08, and Carwyn Davies (first M40) with a time of 44:16. Dee Jolly was fourth overall, and first female, with a time of 44:40. Following Dee were: Mike Davies (first M50), 45:39; Nia Venville, 50:49; Carwyn Davies, 51:40; Nicola Williams, 53:43; Tony Hall, 55:24; Eleri Rivers (first F45), 55:35; Sian Roberts-Jones, 55:35; Enfys Needham-Jones, 56:06; Joanna Rosiak, 56:16; Carol Rees, 56:35; Helen Willoughby, 57:05; Liz Pugh, 57:04; Mitchell Readwin, 60:00; Nicola Davies, 61:26; Delyth Crimes, 61:27; Emma Gray (tailrunner), 86:16.
The following day, the Ron Skilton Memorial half marathon race took place, starting in Llanwrtyd Wells. Carwyn Davies achieved an excellent 14th place overall in a strong field of 127, with a time of 1:53:47. The event, which follows a figure of eight course across challenging terrain, raises funds for Motor Neurone Disease in memory of the former Treasurer of Green Events.
Also on 21 October, Rachel Stoddart and her working cocker spaniel took on the challenge of Thoresby 10k canicross-style. In its fifth year, this autumnal trail run takes places in the beautiful grounds of Thoresby Park, north Nottinghamshire, running along old military roads, cleared tracks through ancient woodland and grassed paths around the country estate. Coming third in her age group, 11th in her group, and 22nd in a field of 63, they achieved a finishing time of 53:34.
Snowdonia Marathon
In rainy and chilly conditions, the challenging 37th Snowdonia Marathon took place on Saturday 26th October 2019, starting from Nant Peris, followed by a steady climb to Pen y Pass. The event attracted runners from around the world, keen to achieve competitive finish times on what is considered one of the most testing terrains for a road marathon.
With a record number of entrants - over 3000 - and 2313 finishers, the route took in the descent through Bwlch Llanberis and Nant Gwynant; with a steep climb to Waunfawr, almost 380 metres above sea level with an ascent of over 200 metres within one mile, before the final descent, which included a slippery and rocky downhill section, to the finish line in Llanberis. This was the final year for normal entries, with a ballot system being introduced for the 2020 event.
Sarn Helen Running Club was superbly represented by a motivated group of runners, along with a fantastic support team to wave them off from the start line, and provide a warm welcome back to the finish line.
Results, in chronological order, for Club runners were as follows:
Kenneth Caulkett, MOPEN, 03:12:45; Glyn Price 7th in the MV50 category, 03:21:43; George Eadon, MOPEN, 03:26:38; Nigel Davies, 25th in the MV45 category with a time of 03:29:49, Carwyn Davies, MV40, 03:49:45; Eric Rees, MV45, 04:01:07; Delyth Crimes, 10th in the FV50 category, 04:13:26; Carwyn Davies, MOPEN, 04:17:45; Sian Roberts-Jones, FOPEN, 04:19:14; Steven Holmes, MV45, 04:27:11; Mitchell Readwin, MOPEN, 04:38:52; Pamela Carter, FOPEN, 04:46:13; Enfys Needham-Jones, FV45, 04:49:45; Jenny Caulkett, FOPEN, 05:09:39; Emma Gray, FV40, 06:16:18; Nicola Davies, FOPEN, retired at mile 15 having achieved 14 miles in 02:41:06.
The Final Club race of the year will be the 6.5 mile Ras y Mast on 24 November 2019.
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