Chester Marathon

As the saying goes, never again (well, until the next time at the Snowdonia Marathon in October !)

Paul D said to me at the Presentation do "Whatever you do, don't go off too fast" to which my reply was "How do you know what's too fast ?" ... well now I know !! Anyway, as Les would say "At least it's in the bag".

So enough waffle ... the scores on the doors were:

Simon Roberts first home in 3:01:02
then Shaun in 3:14:14
followed by Dave in 3:24:52
and Rob in 4:17:26 ( a new PB I think ?? )

Thanks to all the supporters on the day .. Rob M, Dan, Chris & Fen, Jack (sorry if I missed anyone)

Dave

Cader Race. Saturday 29th May

The weather forecast was about right. They said it would rain in Dolgellau. That is not very hard to get right but I was told that it is unusual for the annual Cader Mountain Race to be so wet.

It wasn’t raining much when we got to there. The marshal at the start warned that on the summit it was windy, raining and visibility was down to 30 metres. We left Eldon Square at 1 o’clock and within a few minutes the sun was shining as we climbed out of the town on the tarmac. I began to think that he was wrong. After 2 km we leave the tarmac and run along the side of a lake, through woods, bogs and fields. Weather still OK. At 4 km we start to climb the Pony Path, zigzagging up towards the ridge. We can see the ridge but soon a fine, misty rain is falling, I put a waterproof top on. At 6 km we reach the checkpoint and turn left along the ridge towards the summit. The summit is 2 km away and visibility down to 100 metres. Raining much harder now! It’s a good run to the top, a mixture of soggy paths, well laid stone track, some stony bits and towards the summit, scrambling up rocks. He was right about the weather. It was very wet, windy and the magnificent views from the summit consisted of 360^o clouds, I didn’t measure it but 30 metres was about right. Then all we had to do was to turn round and run back down. Eldon Square looked very attractive when we got there.

Five Buckley Runners ran the race. Paul Stinton was 54^th in 1.53.47, Chris Higgins was 109^th in 2.05.51, John Morris was 120^th in 2.08.32, Fen Higgins was 186^th in 2.30.47 and Rob Mackey was 203^rd in 2.44.52

From my point of view I was quite pleased. I had been worried about the “cut-off”; they turn you round if you have not made it to the ridge in 1 hr 15. I made it with 13 minutes to spare. I enjoyed the run, and would have done better if my trainer had not suffered a severe malfunction. I heard it rip in the first couple of miles, by the finish the sole had parted from the upper and I flapped down the last quarter of the race like a one-legged Gollum. But it was my first ever “big” mountain race, so I was happy with day.

Posted by Rob Mackey

Ras Lletty Saturday 22nd May

Saturday 22^nd May was the Lletty Fell Race from Llangynhafal incorporating the Inter-county fell race. This is the fifth running of this event, and in typical Martin style it is tough. And the heat made it a bit more so. It is the same course as the Tafarn Trail last Autumn, with five good climbs totalling nearly 3000 feet in 9miles.

There were 211 finishers in a very high class field. The course record was beaten by 14 minutes, with over 30 runners completing the course inside the old course record.

Buckley Runners had the usual gang of suspects out, happy to have a go at anything. And others were out on the course, marshalling, cheering on and providing much needed fluids. Everybody who finished deserved a medal on a day when many experienced runners succumbed to the heat and the terrain and failed to finish. Jez and Simon had superb runs.

Results

46^th Jez Brown 46^th in 1.28.02

56^th Simon Edwards in 1.30.02

127^th Pete Roberts in 1.47.49

134^th John Morris in 1.48.22

166^th Paul Donoghue on 1.56.01

183^rd Chris Higgins in 2.02.48

204^th Sue Ridings in 2.31.02

207^th Rob Mackey in 2.34.55

Posted by Rob (Tuesday morning)

Chester half marathon

Apologies for delay with this. Some excellent times recorded, with a few (Dave B) using it as marathon training and others blowing up completely on the savagely steep hill to Eccleston!

11. Jez, 1:17:39
34. Simon R, 1:22:37
77. Paul S, 1:26:22
119. James H, 1:28:36
314. Dave, 1:36:41
370. Chris H, 1:38:40
381. James P, 1:38:54
1564. Leighton, 2:07:40

BUCKLEY CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP LIST 2010 - 2011

EXTREME
CADER ISRIS (29/05/10)
FOEL FRAS (12/06/10)
DASH IN THE DARK (JAN/FEB 2011)
HALF MARATHON
MARATHON

MULTI TERRAIN
WINCLE TROUT (05/06/10)
FECKLED COW TRAIL (04/07/10)
HALLOWEEN HELL RAISER NANTWICH (OCT 2010)
PARBOLD HILL RACE (FEB 2011)
RED KITE (MAY 2011)

FELL
HOTFOOT UP MOEL FAMAU (23/06/10)
MOEL SIABOD (17/07/10)
GREEN GREEN GRASS (28/07/10)
PUCH UP THE PINCYN (31/07/10)
CLWYDIAN HILLS (07/11/10)

ROAD
CAPENHURST 5K (23/08/10)
FLINTSHIRE 10K
FARNDON 10K (MARCH 2011)
SPRING 5 MILE (APRIL 2011)
WREXHAM 10 MILE (APRIL 2011)

BORDER LEAGUE 2010 - 2011

CROSS COUNTRY
N. WALES CROSS COUTRY LEAGUE 2010 - 2011
N. WALES CHAMPIONSHIPS

You must complete 1 race from each category to qualify for points and every extra race you complete off the list earns you a point, so the more races you do the more points you score.

1st = 25pts, 2nd = 24pts, 3rd = 23pts...........25th = 1pt
O/40 1pt, O/50 2pts, O/60 3 pts

If you would like a printed versions of this list please ask John (The Goat) Morris.

Thanks
Fen.

Dyfi 8 Trail Race 19 September 2010

Full details

http://www.brodysynniac.com

8 miles, very scenic, gravelled forest roads
12 noon, Sunday 19 September 2010
Tan y Coed Picnic site - north of Machynlleth A487

Well worth the drive out for a friendly race organised by Brenda Jones

Annual Presentation of Awards

The club’s annual presentation was held in at Loggerheads On Sunday 9^th May. Nearly 20 of us went for a run first down the Leete and alonmg the edge of Moel Famau. It must be the biggest club run we have had for years, it was a good sight. The dog-walkers in the country park must have been amazed. At 11 o’clock we descended on Caffi Florence for tea, coffee, soup and cakes and chat before the presentation of awards.

Chairman Rob Mackey welcomed everybody and presented the awards for the Borders League and Cross Country series. There are awards for the top four ladies in each discipline, and six and ten for the men in Cross Country and Borders League. The numbers reflect the number of “counters” in each league. The points system is biased towards people who turn up for all the races, the points awarded to the first finisher being approximately twice the number of runners, so even the last finisher scores about half points. Results are below. Erika was first finisher for the ladies in every race for both CC and BL. Jez Brown was first finisher for the men in all 6 BL races.

John Morris presented the prizes for the club championship. Fifteen club members who scored over 100 points were awards prizes receiving a variety of gifts. The top three ladies and men were given a club award too. Results are below. Rob thanked John for his work organising the championship.

Every year at the presentation members select the recipient of the “Members Award”. Nominations were received for Jane, Sue and Paul for their work behind the scenes keeping the club going. Rob added his thanks to them for their effort, emphasising the vital role, and often thankless tasks they do. Les, John and Jack were nominated for their support for other runners and the help they give all year round. Chris Willman was nominated for efforts. He has competed well and made huge improvements to his times throughout the year. We wish him well running the Edinburgh Marathon for charity later this month.

The clear winner of the award was Erika Robinson. She has had a fantastic year; North Wales Road Runner of the Year, selection for both North Wales and Wales, 1^st senior lady in Border League, a medal at cross country (only just!), a PB at almost every distance and finally as superb PB and 87^th lady overall in London Marathon. The club is proud present her with the members award to acknowledge her efforts. Well done Erika.

Rob finished by thanking Hazel for organ sing the event and wishing everybody a good summer, and looking forward to the next year of competitions. Thanks also to the staff at Caffi Florence and to Dragon Trophies for the awards.

Men’s Border League

1^st Jez Brown, 240 points

2^nd Daniel Hollingworth, 213 points

3^rd David Boothroyd, 205 points

4^th Simon Roberts, 191 points

5^th Shaun Hooson, 180 points

6^th Paul Donoghue, 177 points

7^th John Morris, 159 points

8^th Steve Bellis, 158 points

9^th Chris Wilman, 156 points

10^th Matthew Rose, 153 points

Ladies Border League

1^st Erika Robinson, 120 points

2^nd Margaret Ludden, 99 points

3^rd Dawn Urquhart, 94 points

4^th Jane Lindley 92 points

Men’s Cross Country

1^st Dan Hollingsworth 77 points

2^nd Huw Lewis 53 points

3^rd Paul Donoghue 45 points

4^th Peter Roberts 44 points

5^th John Morris 42 points

6^th Chris Willman 40 points

Ladies Cross Country

1^st Erika Robinson 60 points

2^nd Dawn Urquhart 56 points

3^rd Margaret Ludden 48 points

4^th Sue Ridings 43 points

Club Championship (Men)

1^st John Morris 162 points

2^nd Huw Lewis 154 points

3^rd Rob Mackey 153 points

Club Championship (Ladies)

1^st Fenella Higgins 162 points

2^nd Dawn Urquhart 140 points

3^rd Sue Ridings 122 points

Members Award

Erika Robinson for outstanding performance throughout the year.

Wrexham 10 (better late than never)

The Wrexham 10 miler was run on Saturday 24th April in unusual heat. Everybody agreed that it made a difficult race and the industrial estate offers little relief.

Three Buckley Runners competed. Jez Brown finished in 60.07, an excellent time and a good position too, 9th overall and 2nd MV35 in the North Wales Championship. Shaun Hooson was 15th overall, 2nd MV40 in the champs in 63.01. Bringing up the rear and struggling in the heat was Rob Mackey; 76th overall in 97.04, but rewarded with 3rd in MV60 in Championship! So nobody went home empty handed.

But I have a question. It is a two lap race. The last two miles of each lap is up hill. The rest is flat. Why is there no downhill?

Posted by Rob

Red Kite Challenge

Saturday 1st May saw 7 runners and as many friends and family and non-runners as supported high on a hillside mid-way between Aberystwyth and Llangurig for the Red Kite Challenge. This is an 11 mile trail race over a superb course. Constantly up and down, with a mixture of forest tracks and paths, occasionally very steep and winding. Some interesting sections of humps every few metres, carefully designed to break your stride pattern.

It is a fabulous setting, and the red kites, hundreds of them, are awesome. The size and colouring of this once endagered predator make an amazing sight as they feed.

An excellent day, spoiled on a little by the hail storm, was capped by the usual haul of medals for the club.

Results

9 Simon Edwards 1:23:17 3^rd M35 Welsh Masters Trail Running Championships

36 Paul Stinton 1:28:46 4^th M35 Welsh Masters Trail Running Championships

61 Paul Donoghue 1:38:03 6^th M40 Welsh Masters Trail Running Championships

68 John Morris 1:40:15 3^rd M65 Welsh Masters Trail Running Championships

69 Dawn Urquhart 1:40:21 1^st F35 Welsh Masters Trail Running Championships

97 Jane Linley 1:53:10 2^nd F40 Welsh Masters Trail Running Championships

112 Robert Mackey 2:04:27 3^rd M60 Welsh Masters Trail Running Championships