INTER COUNTY MATCH AT THE CAERNARFON 10KM

Inter County Match at the Caernarfon 10KM

Our home match this year was once again at the Caernarfon 10km, on Sunday 10th August, on a day with temperatures touching 30 degrees and a finishing field of 376. It was also the last time that the organising trio of Arwel Lewis, wife Anne and sister-in-law Sharon were at the helm, as after 20 years they have decided to step down; on behalf of all those that have run this event, we thank them sincerely for all their hard work which has seen this race grow into one of the best in North Wales.

In the men’s race, not only was the course record broken, it was smashed, as the first three finishers went under the previous best. Swansea’s Dewi Griffiths won the open race in a superb 29:28, with the N. Wales team’s Joshua Griffiths (Deeside) winning the I.C. match in 30:51 and Luke Burgess (Bristol & West/Deeside) close behind in 30:58. The result was never in doubt however, as Staffs’ men filled I.C. positions 3, 4, 5 and 6, giving them an unbeatable 18 points total. Ben Harding (Meirionnydd) was 9th in 34:52, Ed Flynn (Wallasey) was 11th in 35:01 and Darren Blazier (Abergele) was 16th in 39:19.
Result: 1. Staffs 18; 2. N. Wales 22; 3. Cheshire 46.

In the women’s race, Eden O’Dea (Deeside) was a superb winner of both the I.C. race and the open race, in a fine 36:34. Eryri’s Anna Drinkwater was 4th in 38:27 on her debut, Jennifer Rambaldi (Buckley) was 7th in 39:16, Emma Alofs (Cybi) was 8th in a one-second p.b. of 39:22 and Eleanor Ashcroft (Denbigh) was 12th in 40:49. This rounded off a perfect day for Staffs as their women finished in positions 2, 3, 5 and 6, giving the County a double victory.
Result: 1. Staffs 16; 2. N. Wales 20; 3. Cheshire 46.

Thank you also to Darren Blazier who stood in as team manager for Paul Brooks—who missed his first match in over 30 years– and ran in the race as cover in case any of the team pulled out with injury during the race. The last race of the series will be the Newcastle (Staffs) 10km on Sunday 14th September.