Telford 10KM Inter-Area Match Report 2024

TELFORD 10KM INTER AREA MATCH REPORT 2024

The climax to each year for our road running team is the opportunity to compete against teams from the North, South and Midlands of England and a Combined Services team in an Inter Area (I.C.) match – although the South were not there this year – in arguably the fastest 10km race in England, against a field of the very highest quality. The criterion for selection to the N. Wales team for this event is simple: the fastest athletes available based on times over the previous twelve months.

For a change, let’s start with our women’s team:

Teenager Abigail Doherty (Deeside) was making her team debut here as the fastest woman in the Region in 2024 thanks to her remarkable 35:11 recorded at the Trafford 10km in March, a time that ranks her #1 under 17 and #5 all-time in the NWRAC rankings. She was first to finish for us in a fine 36:07 and 8th I.C. Despite her disappointment with her time, this was only her second-ever race at the distance as her coach Neil Edwards was keen to point out. Expect great things from this young lady in future. Next in was another of Neil Edwards’ athletes, Martha Owen (Deeside). Former Loughborough student Martha moved up from under-23 to senior ranks this year and set a new p.b. of 36:55, also at the Trafford 10km in March. Here Martha ran a good 37:39 for 10th I.C.

Rachel Shipley (Abergele) received a special team manager’s award last year in recognition of 25 appearances for the Regional road running team – which she has since exceeded – and finished as our third scorer and 11th I.C. in 38:32. Jennifer Rambaldi (Buckley) came into the squad at very late notice and told me before the start that this was one of her favourite races. Jennifer has come a long way since her return to 10km’s in 2016 after a six-year break, when she ran a year’s best of 56:29. Sheer hard work and determination have seen that p.b. go down to 38:31, and here she was only twenty six seconds outside that time with 38:57 and 12th I.C.
Match results: 1. Midlands 10; 2. North 16; 3. N. Wales 29; 4. Combined Services 33.

OUR WOMEN IN ACTION

Men’s team:

Matthew Clowes (Wrexham) is a name many will recognise as a top quality athlete, whose previous exploits include pacemaking the elite runners at the London marathon, running a marathon p.b. of 2:13:57 in Berlin (2019) and 28:57 for 10km in Wilmslow (2021). Matt had missed the last two years with injury but made his debut for the Region here in a fine 30:01 in what was his fifth race of the year, all 10km’s. He finished 5th I.C. Next home was Welsh international Tom Wood (Eryri). Tom has been running for Wales on the mountains in 2024 and spent a lot of time on cross country races as well, but he recorded a fine 14:32 for 5km in Armagh and a 4:36 mile in the Bannister Community mile in Oxford. Here he was running his only 10km on the roads for the year and finished in 30:43 for 9th I.C. Third to finish for us was Daniel Kashi (Meirionnydd). Daniel is one of a group of talented athletes coached by former marathon Eryri winner, Russell Bentley. He was delighted with a p.b. of 30:55, the first time he had broken 31 minutes, and he placed 11th I.C. Next in was another debutant, possibly the youngest-ever male in the N. Wales road running team, teenager Noa Vaughan (Eryri). Noa is the son of another former Eryri marathon winner Alun (2014) and he looks to have inherited some of his father’s ability as he already ranks #1 at 10km for under-17 in the NWRAC lists with 31:11. Here he finished in 32:01 for 16th I.C. Our final finisher was our travelling reserve, Gavin Stuart (Meirionnydd). Gavin. Under Russell Bentley’s tutelage, he has rapidly reduced his 10km p.b. from 33:53 to 31:34. This was his team debut, having been previously unavailable due to work commitments. Gavin came into the team at very late notice and finished only 5 seconds outside his best time, with 31:39.

OUR MEN IN ACTION

Apologies to Matt Clowes, who came through at both the end of the first lap and the finish, in a group, which meant I couldn’t get a clear photo. Also many thanks to Bill Scriven who gave permission to use the quality photos in this report; mine are the not-so-good ones!

Paul Brooks