The Pentyrch Hill Race once again hosted the regional championships, where runners twice tackled Cardiff’s mightiest peak before a long downhill sprint to the rugby club. Maybe more of a race for the speedsters rather than the technicians, but a couple of very spicy climbs kept everyone honest over the 12.5km course. It was good to see a range of sign ups to the championship race, including some U20s from Rhondda AAC up to the club stalwarts of the V70 category.
First to complete the “popular” final lap of the pitches was Rhys Goodrick with a comprehensive win to continue a stunning streak of podium finishes in the local fell running scene, and very possibly a first regional win for Vegan Runners! He was followed by Michael Ward (Pontypridd Roadents AC) and James Hansell (San Domenico RC) to complete the podium.
First lady for the region, and the only successful gold medal defence of the evening, was Cassie Jones from CDF Runners who beat teammate Florence King for a CDF 1-2 for the second year in a row. Rhian Jones (Penarth and Dinas Runners) ran in third.
Medals were split across a variety of clubs, with Les Croupiers RC taking home 8 in total including a near clean sweep of the women’s age categories with golds for Julie Scholey, who improved from last year’s F60 silver, Carol Rees in the F50, and Janet Holmes in the F40.
Penarth and Dinas Runners also picked up two golds from Rob Mahoney in the M60 and Malcolm Bradley in the M70.
Chris Oxley (San Domenico RC) headed up the M40s, and Antony Malarczyk (Islwyn Running Club) was the M50 winner.
Pontypridd’s single gold came from an extremely impressive run from Fiona Davies in the F70 category, finishing before all of the women in the F60 category!
It was good to see Cardiff Harlequins pick up a silver through Rebecca Payle in the F50, representing the region’s only dedicated trail club on what must be very familiar territory.
It was great to be able to hand out all the medals to the exhausted runners as they crossed the line, with thanks to Fiona Campbell, Rich Edge and Stewart Harding for wielding their clipboards.
Congratulations to all that took part, and a massive thank you to Sam Ryall and the team putting on the race for hosting the championships.
*F40 results updated – 29 April
Full regional medal results
Overall male
1. Rhys Goodrick – Vegan Runners
2. Michael Ward – Pontypridd Roadents AC
3. James Hansell – San Domenico RC
Overall female
1. Cassie Jones – CDF Runners
2. Florence King – CDF Runners
3. Rhian Jones – Penarth and Dinas Runners
M40
1. Chris Oxley – San Domenico RC
2. Darren Bishop – Pontypridd Roadents AC
3. Jamie Vanstone – Pontypridd Roadents AC
F40
1. Janet Holmes – Les Croupiers RC
2. Liz May – Pontypridd Roadents AC
3. Katy Thomas – Pontyclun Road Runners
M50
1. Antony Malarczyk – Islwyn Running Club
2. Keith James – Pontypridd Roadents AC
3. Chris Medcalf V50- San Domenico RC
F50
1. Carol Rees – Les Croupiers RC
2. Rebecca Payle – Cardiff Harlequins
3. Lolly Evans – Les Croupiers RC
M60
1. Rob Mahoney – Penarth and Dinas Runners
2. Richard Self – Les Croupiers RC
3. Clive Osmond – Les Croupiers RC
F60
1. Julie Scholey – Les Croupiers RC
2. Debbie Rees – Penarth and Dinas Runners
3. Claire Bell – Les Croupiers RC
M70
1 Malcolm Bradley – Penarth and Dinas Runners
2 Mike Murphy – Les Croupiers RC
F70
1. Fiona Davies – Pontypridd Roadents AC