INTER COUNTIES MATCH WITHIN THE FLYING FOX 10 MILES RACE, 3.11.2024: REPORT

The final Inter County (I.C.) match of 2024 was held on Sunday 3rd November within the Flying Fox 10 miles race, in Standon, Staffs. The course was quite hilly, something the North Wales athletes are surely used to, on a grey, mild and cloudy morning. This time all three of the other Counties – Staffs (their home match), Cheshire and Shrops -were in attendance and there were mixed fortunes for our athletes as the race unfolded. All positions shown are in the I.C. match.

The women’s race saw the ladies team finish fourth, but on the positive side, two of the team were making their debuts and five of the six runners recorded p.b.’s. Amie Smith (Cheshire Dragons) returned as team captain and responded by finishing first for us, and was happy with 4th place and a p.b. of 63:42; debutant Tinka Vinks (Eryri) was 6th in a new p.b. of 64;04, over a minute faster than previously; Rachel Shipley (Abergele) also set a new p.b. of 64:04 in 13th; Emma Alofs (Cybi) was 14th in a p.b. of 66:18; Melissa Turnbull (Maldwyn) was 20th in a p.b. of 71:35 and debutant Siwan Elenid (Meirionnydd) was 22nd in 77:15.

I am confident that this is the first time that a North Wales team has ever included two athletes born in Holland (they qualify on the residence rule): Emma and Tinka.

The men’s team was devastated by three withdrawals less than two weeks before the race, and a fourth withdrawals two days later. With replacements impossible to find due to other races both before and after this one, only three men made the start line and thus made an incomplete team. John Davies (Meirionnydd) was 12th in a p.b. of 57:58; Nick Houghton (Cybi) was 18th in a p.b. of 66:15 and Darren Blazier – running his first ten-miler in eight years – was 14th in 66:30.
The next outing for the Regional team will be at the Telford 10km on Sunday 15th. December.

Paul Brooks