The essence of this blog is to post my Race Report on our web-site but first a few things need mentioning which are not covered by that report so here goes.
My thanks to the Conwy Walking Festival for using us as a base for there Glyderau walk that morning, in my spinning head world I didn’t see you leave or return but I hope you enjoyed walk & the fantastic weather which made it a great day to be in Snowdonia.
Having only marked half the race route during Friday’s deluge my thanks to Georg for marking the mountain sections on Saturday morning on his way to being a Marshall at the summit, I am told that it was a job very well done.
Finally a Facebook post on Friday which I was responsible for caused some anger & threatened to wreck some proactive hard work by myself & Zoe. I won’t say anymore here except state my gratitude to both Zoe & Bez for listening to me, moving forward which led to such a great day for the Race & Festival alike. My sincere hope is that someone can take up the reigns for next years Festival as days like that are too good to disappear.
Now onto the Race Report which can also be found on both the FRA’s & WFRA’S web-sites.
Once again we were blessed with a glorious Sunny Day for the third year in a row, clearly Capel Curig’s reputation for rain needs to be reappraised. Great turnout of 111 runners were rewarded with no mandotory kit requirement, thanks to Ross Powell for his guidance, clearly the correct decision as skies continued to clear.
Last years winner Philippe Jones of Aberyswth A/C led the way up the initial forest track but had slipped to second behind Eryri’s Math Roberts by the time they reached the summit halfway point, this in approximately just 32 minutes.Things were to turn around on the descent though with reports of Felipe jumping Gazelle like (Marshalls words not mine), it was his familiar stride which first came into view at the Finish line.
Felipe’s winning time was 47:53 & secured him a third victory in the last 4 years.
In a comfortable 2nd place was Math Roberts in 48:40 followed by a remarkable run by John Spill in 50:59, John is just 16 years old & looks like being a star of the future. Martin Cliff, winner in 2012 & runner up last year came in 4th in 52:47 making it 3 in the top 4 for Eryri.
Onto the Women’s category, Andrea Rowlands held a slight lead on Jackie Lee (both Eryri) at the summit. As they made up overall places on the descent it was Jackie who prevailed to come home 1st in 56:12, she is now un-beatable in this years British Champs. Andrea secured 2nd spot in 57:49 continuing her remarkable come back after giving birth just a year ago. In 3rd with a time of 61:06 was Caitlin Rice of Glossopdale Harriers.
Finishers headed for a cooling dip in the Afon Llugwy, then off to Vapel Curig Festival Field where Gaby’s Goulash & Sandwiches from the Tyn y Coed awaited them. At the prize giving Ross received warm applause before he announced the Category Winners, Male U.18 John Spill, M. U.40 Philipe Jones, M. O.40 Martin Cliff, M. O.50 Dafydd Roberts, M. O.60 Alan Frech, M. O.70 John Morris, F. U.40 Jackie Lee, F. O.40 Andrea Rowlands, F. O.50 Emma Collins & F. O.70 Maggie Oliver. First Local was Leo Scheltinga in 58:04, 20th overall, winning the John Cousins Memorial Shield.
We also had two competitors in the Junior Race, Mike Spill winning the U. 12’s & Gethin Davies the U. 14’s.
To cap a wonderful day a team of Male Fell Runners took on the locals in a tug of war. Amazingly despite their efforts in the race itself they came from behind, largely due to their ‘appointing’ a manic coach who I will not name & shame here, to prevail 2:1 victors to great cheers & laughter all around.
As ever may I thank all the Marshalls as well as Team Dolly for their radio support.
Well that is my official report but just a few extra words are needed. As ever it is clear to me that as Race Organiser I was in need of support in order to help make the day the success it was & indeed vent any frustrations or stress leading up to the race. In no particular order I thank John, Marion, Dorina & Gaby for there help in planning the day & their work on the day itself. The co-operation of local farmers & Resources for Wales for allowing the race over their land. Finally Ross & Sheila for coming along helping out despite it no doubt being an emotional day for them after last year.
As for me a Fell runner frustrated by not being able to run the race I still at least had the satisfaction of an early morning jog to check the markings I’d put up the night before. For the first time ever I managed to run all the way to the last single style at the foot of the mountain proper. May not be much to the elite but for me a big step forward, now where’s the race calender for the remainder of 2014?
