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Rob
Sunday, 26 July 2009
The Green Green Grass of home.
The Green Green Grass of home. (Wednesday 22nd July from The Golden Lion at Llangynhafal)
The last of Martin’s summer series was a pleasant surprise. Martin likes to change the route every year, usually managing to make it slightly harder than before. Last year this race was a real tough one, with three big climbs, the last of which you needed ladder to get up. This year because of bracken control by helicopter large parts of the mountain were not accessible so we enjoyed a shortened version. It did include the famous gully but changes to the route meant we started part-way up at bottom of the gravel section instead of the long approach to it up the valley. Then there was a final climb to the summit of Moel Famau followed by a long fast descent to the ford, a short climb through the bracken and another fast run down to the finish.
Club numbers were a bit down on previous event, but several were marshalling, giving encouragement to everybody, in their own inimitable style!
There were seven Buckley Runners in the race. Jez Brown was a remarkable 4th in 32.06. Truly remarkable after his superb run at Snowdon 4 days earlier. Simon Edwards was an excellent 8th in 34.01, James Pickering 18th in 36.04. First vet home was Dave Boothroyd 27th 36.40. Sam Roberts was 66th in 45.23, Robert Mackey was 70th in 46.15, closely followed by Fenella Higgins in 72nd place in 46.41
Paul Stinton and Sue Ridings were at the event running in Clwydian colours.
And afterwards in true fell running fashion we all went to the pub. An altogether enjoyable evening.
Posted by Rob.
The last of Martin’s summer series was a pleasant surprise. Martin likes to change the route every year, usually managing to make it slightly harder than before. Last year this race was a real tough one, with three big climbs, the last of which you needed ladder to get up. This year because of bracken control by helicopter large parts of the mountain were not accessible so we enjoyed a shortened version. It did include the famous gully but changes to the route meant we started part-way up at bottom of the gravel section instead of the long approach to it up the valley. Then there was a final climb to the summit of Moel Famau followed by a long fast descent to the ford, a short climb through the bracken and another fast run down to the finish.
Club numbers were a bit down on previous event, but several were marshalling, giving encouragement to everybody, in their own inimitable style!
There were seven Buckley Runners in the race. Jez Brown was a remarkable 4th in 32.06. Truly remarkable after his superb run at Snowdon 4 days earlier. Simon Edwards was an excellent 8th in 34.01, James Pickering 18th in 36.04. First vet home was Dave Boothroyd 27th 36.40. Sam Roberts was 66th in 45.23, Robert Mackey was 70th in 46.15, closely followed by Fenella Higgins in 72nd place in 46.41
Paul Stinton and Sue Ridings were at the event running in Clwydian colours.
And afterwards in true fell running fashion we all went to the pub. An altogether enjoyable evening.
Posted by Rob.
Sunday, 19 July 2009
Snowdon Race
Paul Donoghue summed it up well at the end with "What a crazy race !"
Jez Brown led the Buckley team home finishing in 37th place overall, 9th in the MOPEN category, in a time of 1:21:03; he was followed in by:
Dave Boothroyd, 104th overall, in a time of 1:33:11
Huw Lewis, 145th overall, 10th in the M50 category, in 1:37:53
Shaun Hooson, 165th overall, in a time of 1:39:23
Pete Roberts, 182nd overall, 3rd in the M60 category, in 1:41:18
Paul Stinton, 184th overall, in a time of 1:41:20
John Morris, 198th overall, 4th in the M60 category, in 1:42:57
Dawn Urquhart, 201st overall, 4th in the FOPEN category, in 1:43:06
Paul Donoghue, 221st overall, in a time of 1:45:05 ( & well chuffed ! )
Steve Bellis, 243rd overall, in a time of 1:46:28
A few bumps & scrapes to report, but nothing serious. We hope that Martin Cortvriend & Geoff Richards recover quickly from their falls.
We didn't make it into the lake this year, but Pete's Eats was a more than adequate substitute !.
Photos available on www.fellrunningpictures.co.uk
Jez Brown led the Buckley team home finishing in 37th place overall, 9th in the MOPEN category, in a time of 1:21:03; he was followed in by:
Dave Boothroyd, 104th overall, in a time of 1:33:11
Huw Lewis, 145th overall, 10th in the M50 category, in 1:37:53
Shaun Hooson, 165th overall, in a time of 1:39:23
Pete Roberts, 182nd overall, 3rd in the M60 category, in 1:41:18
Paul Stinton, 184th overall, in a time of 1:41:20
John Morris, 198th overall, 4th in the M60 category, in 1:42:57
Dawn Urquhart, 201st overall, 4th in the FOPEN category, in 1:43:06
Paul Donoghue, 221st overall, in a time of 1:45:05 ( & well chuffed ! )
Steve Bellis, 243rd overall, in a time of 1:46:28
A few bumps & scrapes to report, but nothing serious. We hope that Martin Cortvriend & Geoff Richards recover quickly from their falls.
We didn't make it into the lake this year, but Pete's Eats was a more than adequate substitute !.
Photos available on www.fellrunningpictures.co.uk
Monday, 13 July 2009
Moel y Gamelin
Six official, plus one part-time, Buckley Runners, ran across the fells to the west of the Ponderosa cafe, on Sunday 28th June, much to the amazement of the bikers who had stopped there for their mid-day cuppa.
First home in 4th place was Jez Brown, or 'S.Brown' as he appeared in the results, which was probably apt, as he ran like Seb (Coe) that day. Next in 13th place was Dave Boothroyd who appeared to have a drink problem, missing his mouth and pouring the water over his head instead - he complained about the heat, but we know the real reason. Close behind in 15th was Pete Roberts, one place behind the winner of the highly competitive V65 division ( and 22 places ahead of the first V60 ! ).
Then came 'the Goat' in 21st position, 3rd in the V65s, closely followed by Dawn, his apprentice, who came 28th, and 3rd lady home. Struggling home in her wake was Paul Donoghue, in 31st place, complaining about being led astray and having to climb fences to get back on route ( if only he'd carried a map ! ). Next was an under-cover Paul Stinton, running for Clwydian Range Runners, his summer fell running club, and Jack Thomas was 55th, and 4th in that amazing V65 category.
Well done to all who ran, it was an amazingly hot day, and as Pete Roberts pointed out, we even had to run extra to get to the water station.
Good luck to everyone doing Snowdon on Saturday.
First home in 4th place was Jez Brown, or 'S.Brown' as he appeared in the results, which was probably apt, as he ran like Seb (Coe) that day. Next in 13th place was Dave Boothroyd who appeared to have a drink problem, missing his mouth and pouring the water over his head instead - he complained about the heat, but we know the real reason. Close behind in 15th was Pete Roberts, one place behind the winner of the highly competitive V65 division ( and 22 places ahead of the first V60 ! ).
Then came 'the Goat' in 21st position, 3rd in the V65s, closely followed by Dawn, his apprentice, who came 28th, and 3rd lady home. Struggling home in her wake was Paul Donoghue, in 31st place, complaining about being led astray and having to climb fences to get back on route ( if only he'd carried a map ! ). Next was an under-cover Paul Stinton, running for Clwydian Range Runners, his summer fell running club, and Jack Thomas was 55th, and 4th in that amazing V65 category.
Well done to all who ran, it was an amazingly hot day, and as Pete Roberts pointed out, we even had to run extra to get to the water station.
Good luck to everyone doing Snowdon on Saturday.
Sunday, 12 July 2009
Deestriders Off-Road Race 2
Nine Buckley Runners turned up on Thursday 8th July for the second round of the Deestriders Off-Road Series. A warm evening produced some good results but a few of the club members were struggling for form. All had good excuses lined up so it was OK.
Jez Brown was first home in 8th place with a very good time of 28:23. Maybe not the 2nd place he had enjoyed on Tuesday but there were some very quick runners there. (his excuse!!!!)
29th was Paul Stinton in 32:24 with Paul Donoghue one place behind him in 32:35. Steve Bellis was not up to his usual sparkling form in 47th in 34:42. Mike Jones was 50th in 34:53. Rob Davies had a good run finishing 64th in 36:48 with Gwyn Morgan surprisingly behind him in 67th in 37:08 (early mornings and not feeling well – acceptable!!). Good run from Margaret Ludden 75th in 38:49. Rob Mackey had a slower run than last time finishing 80th in 39:35. As Clint Eastwood said “there must be 100 reasons......... but right now I can’t think of one of them."
Congratulations to you all, either for running well or for having a good reason. See you all on 6th August. Rob
Jez Brown was first home in 8th place with a very good time of 28:23. Maybe not the 2nd place he had enjoyed on Tuesday but there were some very quick runners there. (his excuse!!!!)
29th was Paul Stinton in 32:24 with Paul Donoghue one place behind him in 32:35. Steve Bellis was not up to his usual sparkling form in 47th in 34:42. Mike Jones was 50th in 34:53. Rob Davies had a good run finishing 64th in 36:48 with Gwyn Morgan surprisingly behind him in 67th in 37:08 (early mornings and not feeling well – acceptable!!). Good run from Margaret Ludden 75th in 38:49. Rob Mackey had a slower run than last time finishing 80th in 39:35. As Clint Eastwood said “there must be 100 reasons......... but right now I can’t think of one of them."
Congratulations to you all, either for running well or for having a good reason. See you all on 6th August. Rob
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Saunders Lakeland mountain marathon
Chris and Fenella Higgins made an impressive debut to their mountain marathon careers (which I trust will be long and fruitful) at this event in Coniston last weekend, coming 69th in the Wansfell class in a cumulative time of 9:43:43. Simon Roberts, with partner Stef French, was also there, finishing 26th in the Bowfell class (cumulative time of 12:27:50). Both pairs made errors, Chris succumbing to excitement at the start of day one and Simon making a disastrous route choice to the fifth control on day two. An excellent weekend, though, with a great overnight camp in the delightful Duddon valley (beer and cider for sale, it's definitely the most civilised of the mountain marathons - just in case anybody fancies a go next year).
Hotfoot up Famau
Results now in for this mini-beast of a race, which packs a great deal of physical torment into 3.5 miles. No respite throughout, a ferociously fast initial descent leads to the steep climb up Moel y Gaer followed by a route change - with Martin replicating the long leg from last October's relays, which involves a little ridge followed by a steep descent through waist high bracken to Nant y Ne. Three Buckley runners in the top 10. Jez Brown inched ever closer to his first win with an impressive 3rd place in 37.47, followed by a back-in-form Simon Edwards, 5th in 39.38. Simon Roberts came 8th in 40.57, with Jon Bradshaw (really enjoying his debut in the hills) 14th in 43.01. Dave Boothroyd came 19th in 45.03, Steve Bellis 28th in 46.14, John Morris winning his category coming 30th in 46.31, Paul Stinton 31st in 46.47, Samantha Roberts (another debut?) 57th in 52.58 and Rob Mackey 74th in 60.25. Predictably hot and humid this year, well done all round.
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