Athletics: Colwyn Bay ladies leading cross country standings

Oct 15 2009

COLWYN Bay’s women still lead the way in the Grand Prix Express North Wales Cross-Country League following last weekend’s second fixture.

Isabel Redfern followed up second place in the first meeting at Eirias Park last month with fifth in Saturday’s race at Bridgnorth, while fellow Wales international Tammy Lewis-Jones improved one place from the Colwyn Bay race, crossing the line in 10th.

Helen McArthur continued her impressive form of recent years to finish 12th, third vet-40 overall, while Vicky Ronald completed the team with an encouraging 28th - 12 places better than in the first race.

The impressive team run sees Colwyn Bay 47 points clear of second-placed Eryri Harriers at the top of Division One.

The women’s race was won by Claire Martin of Telford AC, who hosted the fixture at Oldbury Wells School.

Colwyn Bay’s men finished fifth on the day, pulling them clear of the bottom two relegation places in Division Two but with three legs still to go. They were led home by Richard Watson in 32nd , with the men’s race also won by one of the host club’s runners, Wales international Chris Davies.

The next round of the Grand Prix Express North Wales Cross-Country League is at Treborth, Bangor on Saturday, November 21 (2pm).

Colwyn Bay’s cross-country team are next in action in the North Staffordshire Cross-Country League’s second fixture at Park Hall, Longton on Saturday, November 7.

COLWYN BAY AC RESULTS AT BRIDGNORTH:

Senior men: Richard Watson 32nd, Billy Hunter 52nd, Adam Jones 53rd, Simon Roxburgh 54th, Chris Yorke 72nd, Neal Jones 83rd, Ian Mulligan 87th, Chris Williams 97th, Ian Taylor 124th, Phil Brookes 134th.

Senior women: Isabel Redfern 5th, Tammy Lewis- Jones 9th, Helen McArthur 12th, Vicky Ronald 28th.

Standings: Men – Division One: Telford 144, Wrexham 445, Shrewsbury 462, Maldwyn 470, Eryri 636, Colwyn Bay 668, Tattenhall 802, Abergele 1,360.

Women – Division One: Colwyn Bay 91, Eryri 138, Oswestry 189, Wrexham 211, Buckley 259, Denbigh 363, Tattenhall 429.

EIGHT Abergele Harriers travelled to Bridgenorth for the second round of the Grand Prix Express North Wales Cross Country League.

In the ladies event, Jenni Richards mastered the tough hilly course excellently, finishing 39th overall in 23.33, Angie Hughes was 44th in 24.09, Sue Calvert clocked 26.56 and Lucy Jones attained 75th position.

Unfortunately for several reasons the men’s team had the smallest turnout for a Cross Country League race in over six years and this almost certainly condemns them to the second division next year.

Of the trio that did race, Geran Hughes was 45th, Andy Goodson 148th and Alan Lucas 150th.

This weekend brings the first round of the Borders Road Running League in Christleton over a fast six- mile course.