British Fell Relays

A grand day out in Llanberis for the British Fell Relays, the third time in recent years that we've managed (just) to get a team out. A good dose of proper North Wales weather greeted 200 teams from across the UK, including the cream of British mountain running talent (and us). The HQ quickly turned into a gazebo graveyard as some of the bigger clubs saw their best laid organisation plans shredded by the wind: but our more modest 3ft high tent stayed intact! John M acted as team captain and mr motivator, with unhelpful suggestions from Simon R, and Jeff - recovering from illness - providing crucial extra moral support. Rest of the team included Eddie, Simon E, Huw, Dave, Pete - cracking performances all round, in often appalling weather against a top quality field. Watching the final leg runners plunge into waist deep mud topped the day off.
Roll of Honour:
Eddie Davies, Leg 1 (flat out 8k uphill sprint with 300m climbing up towards Bwlch y Groes - Eddie's first ever fell race!)
Simon E and Simon R, Leg 2 (15k, 1000m over 4 peaks including Moel Eilio, 70mph winds on the ridge)
Huw and Dave B, Leg 3 (by all accounts, one of the toughest navigation legs of recent years - energy sapping bog throughout)
Pete, Leg 4 (700m+ of climbing straight up the steep side of Moel Eilio and back through acres of churned mud)
These pics capture some of the glamour of the day.

Flintshire 10km and other races on Sunday

A good turn-out and excellent result at Mold yesterday for Flintshire 10km. Only six runners on the results showing as BR but plenty of Buckleyites around.

Good runs by Simon Roberts (7^th overall, 1^st MV40, Eddie (17^th 2^nd MV45), Mike (33^rd) and Steve (41^st 2^nd MV55) secured the team first prize.

Rob was 297^th and 2^nd MV65, James Huggins made a sneaky appearance, both in Buckley colours. Dawn was a late entry with a fine run in 61^st overall, Sue Brierley was 339^th. Leighton making a rare weekend visit back from Leeds was 271^st, and Kathryn was 251^st.

And of the others; good to see Steve and Jane Tideswell back at the races! Steve 102^nd and Jane 207^th, Carol (Jane’s sister) had a good run at 465^th, Kevin Burns was 137^th.

Big thanks to all the supporters who were out on the course cheering and getting cold and wet.

Everybody found that times were down. It is a tough new course, mostly on closed roads, with around 600 feet of climbing, made up of a long drag up to Nercwys then charging down slippery narrow lanes to follow the Borders League course and back to the sports centre. Weather was cold and wet, especially as the time went on, late finishers got very wet. A well organised event raising money for Nightingale House, well done everybody.

Meanwhile Jason was back in action, clocking 2.11 for Wirral Half Marathon.

And at the Breidden Hills race Jez was 7^th, Simon Edwards was 12^th and John Morris was 89^th, winning the MV65 prize.

A good weekend at the races!

Posted by Rob Mackey
Chairman, Buckley Runners

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