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Running: Weather gives Prestatyn battlers a marathon test

Oct 29 2008 by Dave Jones, Denbigh Visitor

A SWIRLING, gale-force wind and driving rain made every mile of the Snowdonia Marathon an ordeal for the 1,500 competitors on Saturday, but Prestatyn Running Club’s super-veteran Steve Hatfield was among those who braved the elements.

Despite the headwind which made even running down the Nant Gwynant Pass hard work, Steve was just inside his four-hour finishing target at the halfway stage. The incessant wind and tough climb at the 21-mile mark meant he then fell behind schedule and eventually crossed in 4–19.

In last week’s Cardiff half-marathon Rebecca Robinson clocked 1–47, just outside her pb, while Gareth Jones ran around the course with a couple of friends and finished in 1–54.

Gordon Jones and George Nixon are reserves for the Welsh team for the British and Irish Masters’ Cross-Country International in Swansea in two weeks’ time. Both are unlucky not to have made the team in the M50 and M55 categories respectively.

Latest leading club Grand Prix positions: George Nicholls 12 races, 119 points; Glenda Davies 9/109, Gordon Jones 7/101, Matt Sims 8/82, Des Davies 11/77, Jo McDonough 6/70, Paul Brandrick 9/70, Steve Hatfield 9/69, George Nixon 5/57, Chris Kelly 5/54, Eleri Goddard 7/53, Tracy Colligan 5/49, Arwel Jones 6/37, Gareth Hughes 5/35, Gareth Bailey 5/29.

Chris Kelly took part in the BUPA Great South Run in Portsmouth on Sunday and finished 93rd overall in 62.12. He had hoped to complete the 10 miles in under an hour, but was held up by the volume of runners.

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