W/e 'local' fell running, 28/29 Nov ...

Thu 26 Nov, Night Hill Run #1 with Sarah, 6.30pm prompt, Vic Hotel car park, Llanberis. Bring a good torch/headtorch !

Sat 28 Nov, Stel's 50th Birthday run, about 2 hours over Moel Eilio. Meet 10.50am for 11.00 start, Vic Hotel car park, Llanberis. Bring a small bottle of 'bubbly' / 'sparkling' for summit refreshment if you can !

Sat 28 Nov, Sleepwalker 20-mile Night Time Trail Race, Powys, see WFRA.

Always bring: bumbag, map, compass, whistle, wind/waterproof top & trousers, hat & gloves ...
E&OE, please make your own checks before travelling.

Penmaenmawr race results, photos on WFRA.

Accommodation for Ireland British Champs race - 9th / 10th April 2010.
If anyone want to stay at Tory Bush Cottages for the Ireland BC race, can they please email Sarah at sarah@runsnowdonia.co.uk by December 6th. If we get enough people to fill the houses, the price per night would be around £20-25 (so thats £40-50 for the weekend). To secure the accommodation, bookings will need be made December 6th so you will need to confirm to me by then. A full deposit is required from each club member by end of December. Because prices depend on club members filling the houses, the deposits are non-refundable (however if you find someone else to take your place that's fine).

Eryri AGM news, Cotswold 20% discount etc on the Blog, below.

For the latest local running news, check this Eryri 'blog' site and WFRA.

Advance notices:
Thu 3 Dec, Night Hill Run #2, location tba.
Fri 11 Dec, Christmas pizza & pint social, see Eryri 'blog' site.
Sun 13 Dec, Welsh Inter Regional and the Welsh Masters Cross Country Championships 2009, Builth Wells, Contact Maggie Oliver if you would like to run (01286 871494).
Sun 20 Dec, Christmas Fun Run, Llanberis.

Cross-Country 2009/10: Jan 16 Wrexham, Feb 6 Oswestry. North Wales Champs (pre-entry), Jan 30th.

Eryri Harriers annual club membership runs from the end of March. If you would like to join, re-join or renew, please contact membership-eryri@tiscali.co.uk

Weekend weather
Saturday: A slight frost in the valleys at first. Bright with just a few showers around at first, with perhaps more in the way of cloud and rain for the afternoon, with the risk of sleet or snow over the highest peaks. Winds also picking up by the afternoon. Good visibility but falling to moderate in rain, poor or very poor in sleet or snow, with patchy hill fog down to 500 metres at times.
Sunday: A frosty start likely in sheltered valleys, then a bright, mainly dry day with sunny spells. Generally clouding over later in the afternoon and becoming windy again with gales. Generally good or excellent visibility, but with some patchy hill fog at times, down to around 500 metres.

ROB'S LEEDS DASH

Eryri's Rob Samuel certainly gets around these days! following his Cross Country race at Gateshead last week, Rob was back on the road and had a superb run in the Leeds Abbey Dash 10k today, slicing over a minute off his pb for the distance finishing 11th overall in a top quality field with a time of 30:33 only five seconds from 8th place! The best time for the distance by an Eryri athlete since Gwyn Owen's 30:50 in the Cardiff 10k in 2007. Well Done Again Rob.

In the same event Paul Wathan finished 75th overall in 35:03 and one to look out for is Deeside youngster Phil Edge who recorded a time of 31:41 for 22nd place overall.

There were 5904 finishers.

TREBORTH MUD BATH!

After the first two races of the North Wales Cross Country League had been held on comparatively hard grounds in dry sunny weather at Colwyn Bay and Bridgnorth, the third league race at Treborth Bangor on Saturday 21st November was certainly much more like it with mud! mud! mud! The wind and rain made the conditions tough for all the competitors. because of all the heavy rain recently, the course was shortened to just under 5 miles which was to Bangor University's Nick Swinburn's liking as he eased to victory in 26:33 with Mercia's Tim Davies 2nd in 27:24 ahead of 3rd Richard Roberts 27:36 who led a large contingent of Eryri Harriers home with Iwan Morton making a welcome return to racing finishing 12th in 30:06 followed by new recruit Saul Lovatt very close on his heels, 13th in 30:07. 17th Russell Owen in a rich vein of form at the moment 30:48. 34th Arwel Lewis 32:00 and 42nd Cai Pierce 32:34 the six counters for the club. Other Eryri placings were: 56th Rory O'Donnell. 57th (and our 3rd Veteran Counter) Trefor Jones. 79th Paul Jenkinson. 82nd John Harold. 87th Sam Smith. 91st Don Williams. 92nd Jeremy Williams. 97th Dave Jones. 98th Richard Bourne. 108th Gareth Buckley. 112th Phil Pilbeam. 116th Maldwyn Evans. 117th Emyr Davies. 119th Eurwyn Edwards. 126th Mike Blake. 129th Dei Jones. 139th R. Clarke and 148th Steve Pilbeam. There were over 160 finishers.

There was a good turnout from our women as well with Andrea Rowlands as she has in the previous two league races leading the team home in 10th place with: 12th Becky Law. 15th Jenny Hemming. 19th Annie Williams. 21st Miranda Grant. 36th Wendy Trimble. 38th Ellie Salisbury. 56th Allison Donnelly. 58th Maggie Oliver and 59th Jenny Williamson while competing in the same race over 70 athlete Ron Hird finished 77th.

An excellent turn out for the event despite the atrocious conditions, at least it was quite warm!

Spare a thought to Maggie Oliver and all her helpers who as usual did an excellent job in organising the event. Well Done Everyone.

W/e 'local' fell running, 21/22 Nov ...

Sat 21 Nov, cross-country, Treborth playing fields, Bangor.
Women's race at 2pm, men's at 2.45pm. Offers to marshal and donation of cakes very welcome (Maggie Oliver, 01286 871494).

Sun 22 Nov, Wrekin Wrecker, details http://www.eryriharriers.org.uk/race_calendar.html
Sun 22 Nov, local run, about 2 hours, meet at 10am in the free car park (SH 588 482) between Warws and the bridge, Beddgelert.

Always bring: bumbag, map, compass, whistle, wind/waterproof top & trousers, hat & gloves ...
E&OE, please make your own checks before travelling.

Becki's Welsh Perimeter Ride Update
Becki Law completed the 805-mile ride and raised £1,300 for a centre for the disabled in Vietnam. She thanks everyone for support and donations. There is a letter of thanks and a ride blog with photos. (See, also, in Blog, below).

Eryri AGM news, Cotswold 20% discount etc on the Blog, below.

For the latest local running news, check this Eryri 'blog' and WFRA.

Advance notices:
Sat 28 Nov, Birthday run, Moel Eilio.
Fri 11 Dec, Christmas pizza & pint, see, also, in Blog, below.
Sun 13 Dec, Welsh Inter Regional and the Welsh Masters Cross Country Championships 2009, Builth Wells, Contact Maggie Oliver if you would like to run (01286 871494).
Sun 20 Dec, Christmas Fun Run, Llanberis.

Cross-Country 2009/10: Jan 16 Wrexham, Feb 6 Oswestry. North Wales Champs (pre-entry), Jan 30th.

Eryri Harriers annual club membership runs from the end of March. If you would like to join, re-join or renew, please contact membership-eryri@tiscali.co.uk

Weekend weather
Saturday: A cloudy day with outbreaks of rain becoming heavier and more persistent through the morning and with strengthening winds. Some heavy rain at times with southerly gales or severe gales. Perhaps becoming drier later in the afternoon.
Sunday: A day of sunny spells and occasional blustery showers, some heavy. Strong southwest winds. Occasional hill fog.

Plea for club newsletter contributions!
Hi guys, am hoping to focus the club newsletter to be much more weighted toward inspirational writings of people's running experiences, races, trips, advice etc. in future. It has been suggested that perhaps we have less editions of the newsletter per year so that they can be longer and to give time to collect gems of writing from you guys eh!
So anyone willing to write up some words for the next newsletter please pass them over to me (typed up preferably to hannahtoberman@hotmail.com, but am also happy to type up people's hand written accounts if that suites), any accompanying photos would also be great (again digital files makes them easier to use, but I can also scan in from hard copy photos if you pass them onto me).
Ta Guys
Hannah

BORDER LEAGUE UPDATE

Following the 2nd race of the 2009/10 season at Birkenhead Park on Sunday 15th November and despite an improvement on the first fixture, Eryri's men find themselves in the 2nd from bottom relegation spot in the 1st Division, 51 points behind Prestatyn while our women are currently placed fifth in the 2nd Division. Still there were some good individual performances at Birkenhead with Brendan Rothery's 3rd place finish and Angus Mackay's solid debut for the club in 20th place, Emyr Davies 1st MV/65 with Don Williams 2nd MV/65.

We have a long wait to put things right before the next race which is at Tattenhall on Sunday 3rd January 2010. A good race to get back into the swing of things after the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

TRACK AND FIELD ANYONE

Message from Bob Frost for anyone who is interested in Track & Field.

Hi. Our club is anxious to field full teams in the Welsh and Northern England Track & Field Leagues again in 2010. We don't want to tread upon any toes but you may have athletes who are willing to have a go at track & field next year and as your club does not offer these events then maybe some athletes could join us as first claim t&f only. We would offer club membership for £15 per year and as an extra incentive we would give free entry to our club races ie. Helena Tipping 10k, Village Bakery Half Marathon, Llyn Brenig, Moel y Gamelin and Ponderosa (a total saving of at least £27). Please give this your consideration and inform any interested athletes. Bob Frost, Club Secretary, Wrexham AAC.

A very generous offer for any member to take up.

ROB AIMS HIGH

Rob Samuel has certainly set his standards high these days by mixing it with the big boys (Internationals athletes that is!) in finishing a very respectable 21st in the McCain UK Cross Challenge race in Gateshead on Saturday 14th November with some of the best UK, Eritrean and European athletes for company, Rob completed the 9km course in 29:56 beating some fine athletes in the process.

Well Done Rob.

Christmas Pizza and Pint

Hi everyone, after last year's successful evening, I have booked in for another Eryri Christmas Pizza and Pint on Friday 11th Dec at the Galt Y Glyn pub in Llanberis. If people wanting to come along can please let me know as soon as possible (either by email: hannahtoberman@hotmail.com or send me a text: 07765036589) so I can finalise numbers, that would be great.
Hope lots of you can come along .

All the best Hannah

(and as the new club social secretary, please pass me on any bright ideas for social events, ta guys).

BORDERS LEAGUE BIRKENHEAD PARK

Our men are really struggling to get going this season, with so many other events on which have clashed with the first two B/L races and an over reliant on some of our leading athletes to turn out time and again on the road, cross country and fell, it is understandable that they deserve a restpite now and again. Still fourteen men and four women represented the club at Birkenhead Park on Sunday 15th November on a fast four lap 5.5mile course the consistent Brendan Rothery led the team home in 3rd place followed by: 20th (making his Border league and club debut) Rob Mackay. 47th Tony Woodall. 53rd Arwel Lewis. 66th Jos Jones. 69th Gwyn Williams. 99th (a day after his storming run to win bronze in the British & Irish Masters XC Championships at Birmingham) Emyr Davies. 117th Ashley Wager. 170th (on her Border league and club debut) Suzy Blandford. 124th Don Williams. 177th Ian Rothery. 178th Peter Lewis. 215th Mervyn Williams. 248th Ian Blakemore. 263rd Roy Jardine. 269th Jenny Blakemore. 277th Allison Donnelly and 281st Jenny Williamson.

There were 310 finishers.

Full results/times to come.

Becki's Welsh Perimeter Ride Update

Just a quick post to say that I managed to complete the ride and raise £1,300.89 in total so I am very happy!

For your interest, please see the following link for thank you letters and ride blog:

http://eryriharriers.org.uk/raceresults.html

A big thank you to everyone for support and kind donations,

Becki Law

CROSS COUNTRY SUCCESS

At the British and Irish Masters Cross Country International at Perry Park, Birmingham on Saturday 14^th , in the wind and rain, Emyr Davies ran a storming race to finish 3^rd overall M65, so gaining a bronze medal. An excellent feat in this high quality event. Emyr was the first Welsh M65 finisher, so helping the Welsh M65 team to the bronze medal as well.

Russell Owen, in his masters Welsh debut, ran well to be the fourth counter in the M50 team with the team Finishing fourth. Sue Hughes and Maggie Oliver also helped their respective W55 and W60 teams to the bronze medal position.

A final reminder about Treborth on Saturday 21^st November, womens race at 2pm, mens at 2.45pm. Offers to marshall and donation of cakes very welcome.

The Welsh Inter Regional and the Welsh Masters Cross Country Championships 2009 will be held on Sunday December 13^th at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells. A club entry will be made for the Masters event, so if you interested in taking part, please inform Maggie Oliver.

Please note that the Rhug Organic North Wales Cross Country Championship is now being held on the traditional end of January weekend i.e. January 30^th.

Ras Penmaenmawr 2009 / Pen Race 2009

Despite the extreme weather there were 188 finishers in Saturday's legendary Pen fell race. Unfortunately race organiser Chris Near had to change the route slightly due to the forecasted 60mph plus gusts and driving rain, this still meant a good length of around 9 miles.

On form Tim Lloyd of Menai T&F was the winner with super-talented Iwan 'the bike' Morton clinching a superb 2nd. 3rd place went to another - we think Eryri new boy - Saul Lovatt, running in only his 2nd fell race!! This all meant that form king Dr Sam Smith (photo) ended in 4th, without even getting lost this time?! Big James McQueen running in only his 2nd vet 40 race came 2nd vet with SPJ 1st vet 50, and big Mike Blake 1st vet 60. In the ladies race unstoppable Andrea Rowlands was the winner, she was followed by an army of Eryri ladies, Jenny Hemming, Becki Law, Hannah Toberman and Miranda Grant, Annie Williams and Ali Thomas came 1st and 2nd in the vet 40's..............surely further evidence that the Eryri ladies have the strongest team in Britain.

Once again there were a number of notable absences which time is not going to wait for!!

Cheers to Chris and family for a exquisite race!

W/e 'local' fell running, 14/15 Nov ...

Sat 14 Nov, Penmaenawr Fell Race 11m/1500ft, start 10.30am * Pre entry only, entries now closed *

Winter is approaching, first snow on the tops last Saturday, and the first general ground frost on Monday. Always bring: bumbag, map, compass, whistle, wind/waterproof top & trousers, hat & gloves ... E&OE, please make your own checks before travelling.

Eryri AGM news, Cotswold 20% discount etc on this Blog, below.
For the latest local running news, check this Eryri 'blog' site and WFRA.

Advance notices:
Sat 21 Nov, cross-country, Treborth playing fields, Bangor.
Sun 22 Nov, Wrekin Wrecker, details http://www.eryriharriers.org.uk/race_calendar.html
Sun 20 Dec, Christmas Fun Run, Llanberis.

Cross-Country 2009/10: Nov 21 Bangor, Jan 16 Wrexham, Feb 6 Oswestry. North Wales Champs, Jan 9th.

Eryri Harriers annual club membership runs from the end of March. If you would like to join, re-join or renew, please contact membership-eryri@tiscali.co.uk

Weekend weather
Saturday: A very windy day with stormy conditions on the higher ground and squally showers or longer spells of rain at times, possibly sleety at times on the highest ground. Some brief sunny intervals are also likely, more so later in the afternoon.
Sunday: A better day with less windy conditions and some bright or sunny intervals at times. A few showers are also likely. Fresh or strong west to southwesterly becoming south to southeasterly winds.

AGM Committee Alterations

Following last nights Eryri Harriers AGM at Y Caban Brynrefail which was well supported by our club members, there are a few changes to the committee:

Arwel Lewis is to remain as the club's chairman but he will be ably assisted by vice-chairman Steve P Jones. Emyr Davies has stood down as our membership secretary to be replaced by Jenny Hemming though Emyr will assist Jenny until she is comfortable in the post. Mike Blake will continue as our equipment officer but after too many years to mention, Mike has stood down as our Mountain Running secretary to be replaced by Iain Ridgway and Matthew Roberts, Iain will remain as our Welfare officer. Jenny Williamson has stood down as our newsletter editor, though Hannah Toberman will carry on with editing and publishing of the newsletter, Hannah will also step in as our Social Secretary. Cross Country - Maggie Oliver. Road Running - Arwel Lewis. Secretary - Alex Fletcher. Treasurer - Andrea Rowlands. Web Site Administrator - Sarah Ridgway. Archivist - Dafydd Whiteside-Thomas. We also have three ordinary members: Ellie, Iorwerth and Jim who have the opportunity to attend our committee meetings on behalf of our club members.

Membership fees are to remain the same: £20.

Students and Over 65's: 50% discount.

Juniors Under18: Free membership!

The club's web site is to be reconstructed (If that is the correct word?) by Sarah.

It has also been decided that the club's constitution should be updated and brought inline with the 21st century! Noel Craine has been handed the enviable! task of going through the constitution and coming up with what amendments should be made, to be brought up at a committee meeting. Note: The constitution can only be amended at the club's AGM or an EGM.

I think that's about it! Any errors will be amended and published in our next newsletter early in the new year.

Thank You to to everyone who has served on the committee throughout the past year.

A special mention to the staff at Y Caban for being our most welcoming of hosts and the excellent food.

Don't forget our Christmas Fun Run from "The Vic" Llanberis on Sunday 20th December 2009. 11am Start. Might have some new running shoes from Cotswolds by then!

COTSWOLDS 20% DISCOUNT

With Christmas just around the corner why not take up the generous offer from Cotswolds Betws Y Coed who are offering all Eryri Harrier members a 20% discount on their merchandise throughout the month of November 2009.

UKA LEVEL 1 COACHING COURSE

For those who are interested: There is a Level 1 Coaching Course being held at Deeside College on Saturday 16th January 2010. 09:30 - 5:30pm. The club are currently looking to send some of our members on such courses.
Contact Shane Parry Tel: 07021338953 For further details about the course.

BORDERS ROAD RUNNING LEAGUE

The second fixture in the Borders Road Running league 2009/10 season takes place this Sunday 15th November at Birkenhead Park Wirral. Start 11am. The race will start and finish in the Park opposite Birkenhead 6th form college on Park Road West. The course is 4 laps of the upper park including the path around the lake and will be approx 5.5 miles in distance. There are toilets and changing facilities available at the College and there will be also be hot drinks available after the race in the College canteen area.
A limited amount of parking is available in the college car park but it would be better to park on the roads around the Park – there should be plenty of space but it will help if athletes could car share. There will be no vehicles allowed inside the Park. We will have a mini bus going to the race departing Parc Menai at 08:30am. Following the opening race of the season at Christleton our men and women have some work to do to make an impression on the current league leaders, so please make the effort to support your club. No race numbers required, no entry fees, just turn up in your Eryri colours and run!

For further information contact Arwel Lewis: 07977 601029.

ENDURANCE WORKSHOP

For those aspiring athletes who want to improve their performances and learn more about endurance running, there is a free workshop being held this Saturday 7th November at Deeside College from 10am-4pm. Bashir Hussain and Jackie Newton who have a wealth of international experience will be hosting the workshop with the charismatic new head of coaching at Welsh Athletics John Dakata also in attendance.

Not to be missed!

For further details contact: Donna Welsh 01244 831531 Ext 4778.

ERYRI HARRIERS AGM

The club's AGM is being held next Tuesday 10th November 2009 at Y Caban in Brynrefail with free food from 7pm. The meeting will start at 7:30pm.

Open to all Eryri Harrier members to attend.

There are a few committee posts to be filled and any club member can apply for any of the current committee positions.

Join us at the AGM and have your say on how the club should be run.

ROB'S HIGH FIVE!

Eryri's Brendan Rothery and Arwel Lewis got off their sick beds to help the club to the team title in the Abergele North Wales 5 mile championships on Sunday 1st November, the other part of the Morbegno trio Gwyn Williams was still in his sick bed after they all picked up a virus on the Italy trip! Still star of the show again was the impressive Rob Samuel who just gets better and better winning the race in a championship best time of 25:09 nearly a minute ahead of runner up Ricky Challinor 26:07 with Nick Swinburn 3rd in 27:31, Brendan did well in the circumstances to finish 4th in 28:07 while Arwel Lewis coughed and spluttered round finishing 25th in 32:23 over two minutes down on what he would have expected! with Paul Jones the other team prize counter in 34th place in a time of 33:27. Paul also had the satisfaction of winning the MV/35 category with the evergreen Emyr Davies adding the umpteen North Wales title to his vast collection with the MV/65 award with a time of 34:07. Conditions for the well organised event were wet underfoot, dry and windy.

There were 175 race finishers.

MORBEGNO TRIO CATCH A COLD!

All three Eryri Harriers who represented the club in the Trofeo Vanoni Relays on Sunday 25th October returned home a bit worse for wear, and no it wasn't the beer but a virus that was going around! The relay's held in our twinned club town of Morbegno was again well represented by several international teams. The Eryri team of Brendan Rothery who ran the 1st (7km) leg in 35:36 followed by Arwel Lewis on the 2nd leg 37:41 with Gwyn Williams 40:48 on the last leg finished 51st of the 128 teams competing, the Snowdon race team of Danny Hope 31:35, Ian Holmes 31:16 and Murray Strain 31:41 finished 5th, Julien Rancon ran the fastest leg 29:31. Not satisfied with only running the one leg, Arwel also ended up running the third leg for Adrian Woods team having just completed his own 2nd leg! despite losing a couple of minutes changing race numbers Arwel clocked 43:21 as Adrian's team were placed 78th. Except for the virus! the Eryri trio were well received at the Hotel Margna by the proprietor Marco whom Arwel presented with a Welsh slate clock and CSI Morbegno whom Arwel presented with a picture of Llyn Padarn. To cap it all lovely sunny weather throughout the trip.