Denbigh Harriers Dinbych

A remarkable number of people ran this one considering the heavy rain and the fact that many are in the middle of heavy races and training at present. A distinctly autumnal evening and an unscheduled course change due to an escaped bullock meant that this one was more memorable than most races in this series – which tend to blur into impressions of endless sun-dappled landscapes backed by deep blue skies (!) – and Tony B took advantage of the shortened course (by about 400 metres, I think) to stay ahead of a fast-finishing Craig. Katy was very fast indeed and her 3rd place must have sealed her series victory. It will probably make her very complacent for the big grudge race at King John’s on Saturday (!!). So the times for this one don’t count but the position very definitely does.

………………………..Finishing time……Actual time……Points

1st Tony B…………….7.02.35………….21m05…………….24/4

2nd Craig………………..02.39………….19m39…………….54/5

3rd Katy………………….03.30………….21m00……………20/5*

4th Gerwyn……………..03.39………….21m39…………….47/5*

5th Victoria……………..03.44………….22m14…………….50/4

6th Mei……………………03.47………….24m47……………66/5

7th Mike Hb……………03.53……………22m23…………….7/1

8th Sioned……………….03.54…………..23m54……………37/3

9th Elen…………………..03.54…………..23m24…………..40/3

10th Menai……………….03.56………….25m26……………74/4

11th Ceri B………………..03.57………….20m27……………24/3

12th Rob G……………….04.01…………..22m01……………51/5*

13th Shaun J…………….04.07…………..17m07……………71/5

14th Emma……………….04.09………….21m09…………..14/1

15th David Sp……………04.14…………..24m44………….64/4

16th Anwen………………04.18……………25m18…………..81/5

17th Owen…………………04.20…………..19m50………….17/1

18th Sali……………………04.21……………24m51………….75/5*

19th Arwel…………………05.01……………23m01…………55/3

20th Tony W……………..05.18……………18m18…………40/5

21st Kath E………………..05.22……………25m52…………21/1

22nd Ian……………………06.10……………25m10…………41/2

23rd Ruth………………….06.12…………….33m12…………58/3

24th David B……………..07.54…………….23m24………..67/4

*Best of 5 positions

With only October to go there are already quite a few with 5 races completed and able to drop their worst positions. Katy leads with 20 points; Gerwyn has 47; Rob G 51; Craig 54; Mei 66; Shaun 71; Sali 75; Anwen 81. Tony B got a generous start this time but will go back to start with Katy next time – which still gives him a chance even though Katy herself goes back another 30 seconds, as do Gerwyn and Craig who might just be able to hang on to a podium position but it will be tight against Rob G. And I forgot Tony W (easily done) who can’t quite challenge Katy even though he goes forward 30 seconds. If he wins the October race he will have 21 points.

Next race is THE FIRST TUESDAY in October (3rd) at 6pm NOT 6.30pm due to the fading light.

Only two races to go to complete the 2017 series. Some readjustments to the starting times for those struggling with long-term injuries, hoping they might want to try to come back soon. The rules for those in contention are that the first 25% in the previous race get an extra 30 seconds on their handicaps, and the bottom 25% have 30 seconds taken off.

6.27pm Rachel, Vicky

6.29 Joanne

6.30.30 Diane

6.31 Ron

6.32 Angharad, Sarah, Kath S

6.33 Ruth, Kelley, Wendy, Nicola

6.35 Jeff, John W

6.36 Helen D, Colin, Jill

6.37 Ed

6.37.30 Dawn, Andy M, Gwenan, Rhian WJ

6.38 Littlekath, Sian P, Llinos

6.38.30 Menai, Rob P

6.39 Mei, Anwen, Wayne, Peter E, Roger

6.39.30 David Sp, Sali, Katherine E

6.40 Bethan, Bob, Sioned, Jon, Ruari, Kate W, Tracey

6.40.30 Elen, Llyr

6.41 David S, Ian, Adam, Shaun J

6.41.30 Chris, Mike Hb, Dan S, Rhian P, Victoria, Mike Hu, Rich

6.42 Paul G, Arwel, Gerwyn, Fred, Rob G, Tony B

6.42.30 David D, Katy B

6.43 Craig, Duncan, Emma, Rhian GJ

6.43.30 Ceri B, Jon F, Mat, Phil, Martin

6.44 Ceri D, Joe C

6.44.30 David B, Owen

6.45 Tom, Dan J

6.45.30 Vic, Glen

6.46 Joe W

6.47 Tony W, Shaun H

As usual, if I have missed you out – yell.

Overcast and 15C after several days of heavy showers, but no wind and the rain held off. Ruari’s tremendous improvement over the past few weeks revealed a massive flaw in the handicapping. So he won. Naturally, I take full credit…………… and will make appropriate adjustments to his start time for next month. As predicted, Katy powered through and gets rid of her worst position to confirm her series lead. Rob G is not far behind but most of the other contenders missed tonight. Many thanks to Dawn and Tony B for officiating. And to Rob P for marking the trickier turns with his mini-cones.

………………………Finishing time………Actual time……..Points

1st Ruari……………7.02.16pm……………24m46…………..16/2

2nd Phil……………7.04.03pm…………….21m03………….10/2

3rd David Sp…………4.29………………….25m29………….26/2

4th Bob………………..4.41……………………24m41…………22/3

5th Vic…………………4.42……………………19m12………….27/3

6th Glen……………….4.48……………………19m18…………42/4

7th Katy……………….4.49……………………22m19…………33/5*

8th Mei………………..4.50……………………25m50…………60/4

9th Gerwyn…………..4.50…………………..22m50…………64/5

10th David B…………4.58…………………..20m28………..43/3

11th Sian P……………5.09…………………..27m09………….71/3

12th Rob G……………5.11……………………23m11………….54/5*

13th Duncan………….5.11…………………….22m11…………46/4

14th Kate W…………..5.27…………………..24m57………….38/4

15th Ron……………….5.30…………………..33m30…………53/3

16th Martin…………..5.36…………………..21m36………….16/1

17th Victoria………….5.55…………………..25m25…………45/3

18th Sali………………..6.29………………….25m59…………75/5

19th Shaun J…………7.34…………………..26m04………..58/4

* denotes ‘best of 5’ races

Let me know if there are any errors but currently Katy is 1st, Rob G 2nd, and Gerwyn 3rd. There are two races to go and Katy still has a 16th position to drop, so I don’t advise betting against her. Tony W has 20 points from 4 races so he may have a chance if Katy doesn’t do any more. Gerwyn does have two 21st places which he can improve if he does September and October’s events – putting him up with Rob G as a podium possibility.

It must have been the rain, but fewer than half of the recent number took part in this month’s race. Glad to see Ed making a reappearance, looking very trim, and his devastating final kick to hold off Rob G in the sprint for last place. Those of us watching the runners come back through the fields were surprised to see that Shaun J put in an impressive last half mile to leave Katy who must have gone very well to almost catch him before that. The real question was whether his namesake, Shaun H, could take the record from the man off scratch – Tony W. Both have done a lot of tough races recently but Tony chased hard enough to break his own record – just not quite quick enough! Congrats to Shaun for breaking the 18 minute barrier, and thereby averaging 6 minutes per mile. For those who ran it the bonus is that they achieved good scores for the series championships – fewer people always means generally lower scores which aids their overall points position.

……………………………….Finishing time….Actual time………Points

1st Shaun H…………………7.03.57pm………..17m57……………34/2

2nd Shaun J…………………7.04.11……………..23m11……………39/3

3rd Katy B………………………04.23…………….22m23…………..53/5

4th Mat………………………….04.28……………..21m28…………..38/3

5th Craig…………………………….35………………21m35…………..52/4

6th Tony W…………………………39………………18m09………….20/4

7th Mei……………………………….40………………25m40…………52/3

8th Phil……………………………….47………………21m47…………..8/1

9th Bob……………………………….48………………24m48………….9/1

10th Kate W…………………………54……………….24m24…………24/3

11th Sali…………………………….05.08…………….24m38………….57/4

12th David Sp………………………..27………………25m27………….35/2

13th Fred………………………………46………………23m16………….79/4

14th Ed……………………………..06.05……………..28m35…………14/1

15th Rob G……………………………..08………………23m38……….62/5

Actually the above results reveal that it was a very fast race, quite apart from Shaun H’s record. Shaun J knocked over a minute off his best and Katy almost repeated her remarkable 22m20 in May. Fred said he felt slow as Katy left him, but actually he wasn’t by previous standards. Sali and Kate W knocked another 10 seconds off their bests (proof of the effect of their participation in Tuesday speed sessions), while Mat and Craig impressed by chopping off over 30 seconds. All very encouraging for the cross country season, except that it is a bit worrying that so few women are doing this sort of short, fast, tough stuff. Without Rhian P and Tracey this winter we are really going to struggle to stay in the 1st Division especially if one of our remaining counters (Ceri D, Ceri B, Katy, and Victoria – or Emma) gets injured or ill. Sali and Kate are at present the only ones within striking distance of the equivalent of sub 23 minutes on this course which will be required to make the top 30 in the League cross country races which begin in October. Now is the time to think about how you can get there! Your club needs YOU.