Cycling: Rob Pugh powers ahead at Rhyl

Dec 31 2008 by Dave Jones, Denbigh Visitor

ROB Pugh (FP Mailing) continued his dominance of the North West Cyclo-Cross League this season with a convincing win in round 13 at Glan Morfa Country Park in Rhyl, organised by Rhyl CC.

Pugh was over a minute clear of Anthony Morris (Evans CRT) in the hour-long finale to a mud fest on Marsh Road with over 100 riders taking part in the various events, supported by Rhyl Town Council and Denbighshire County Council.

Rhyl CC’s Sarah Bayliss had a tight battle in the women’s category, just losing contact with Manchester’s Anita Claydon (Sport City Velo) late on.

Prestatyn’s Mark Baker (Deeside Olympic) was fifth veteran behind winner of that category Mick Style (Manchester Wheelers), and VC Melyd’s Simon Price finished well in his first cyclo-cross, heading up a group of riders from the Meliden club to tackle the sticky but bright and breezy conditions.

In the half hour youth race, Midlands U16 champion Luke Grivell-Mellor beat league leader in the North West Jack Humphries (Red Rose Olympic), and Dylan Kerfoot-Robson (Rhos-on-Sea CC) was fourth in the U14 boys coming back after illness.

His younger brother Sol won the U10 boys and looks set for a good 2009, while the St Asaph family also had daughter Seren in second in the U12 girls.

Wirral rider Thomas Winsland beat Ferdi Murray (Rhyl CC) and Rowan Hughes (Tri Fitness) in the U8 race.

Eddie’s marathon

PRESTATYN Running Club’s oldest member, who was unlucky not to be awarded a place in this year’s London Marathon, will be on the start line in 2009.

Eighty-year-old Eddie Naisby, from Clocaenog, was understandably frustrated not to be accepted for the 2008 race and, had he run to form then, he could well have won his age-group by almost 45 minutes.

He was rejected again this time, but was lucky to win one of the two club places following a draw made at Prestatyn RC’s Christmas social last week.

At the moment, however, Eddie is recovering from an achilles injury sustained during the gruelling multi-terrain race in Delamere Forest in October.

The second club place went to Donna Curley, who joined last year and made a huge improvement during the summer handicap series.

She is now looking forward to training with a couple of the club’s other women who have gained charity places in the marathon.

At the Christmas social club chairman Arwel Jones presented awards to the three leading runners in the handicap series, Chris Taft, who was third, second-placed Helen Baxandall, who had won it for the past two years, and Tracy Colligan, who topped all four races.

The club’s next social is a bowls evening at the North Wales Indoor Bowls Centre on January 22.

Anyone interested must let the committee know in advance and lanes and meals must be booked.