Sara Davies competed in the Gower Trail Ultramarathon back in October. The 34 mile route was brutal and was both physically and mentally challenging, Sara was pleased to finish in 8 hours.
Emma Palfrey recently ran the Mortimer Forest Trail Race near the Shropshire/Herefordshire border. A 10mile race with 1700 ft of elevation, muddy sections with steep climbs and fast downhills made it a tough and challenging course. Emma was the 5th female to cross the finish line in 1:26:11 and was 2nd F40.
Dylan Davies, our male captain organised a fun 5K Santa Run on the Saturday before Xmas to raise funds for Llanfihangel Ar Arth’s Playing Fields. The race was well supported by Sarn Helen runners and being a fun run was not timed with prizes being given to the first three male and female runners to cross the line. Rory Fairhurst was the 1st back closely followed by Mike Davies with Eleri Rivers 2nd female to finish.
The annual Crymych Boxing Day 6 mile race saw 9 runners from Sarn Helen competing. Ollie George was 3rd overall in 36:09, Simon Hall 1st M40 in 36:40, Johnathan Price 39:56, Glyn Price 1st M50 41:00, Rory Fairhurst 41:38, Dee Jolly 1st F35 41:48, Kevin Jones 2nd M50 42:09, Huw Price 1st M60 44:37 and Sarah Puetz 57:09.
The 3rd Match of The John H Collins Gwent Cross Country League took place at Blaise Castle, Bristol. Mother and daughter Hannah and Talia Jones flew the flag for Sarn Helen and were very pleased with their races, Talia had a great run in 15:52 and Hannah crossed the line in 34:27.
Aberystwyth 10K was forced to change it’s race route this year due to ongoing road maintenance near the harbour. The race started and finished in the carpark next to Aberystwyth football club. The course took you out past Blaendolau Fields towards the Industrial Estate and back. Considering it was officially the 1st day of Winter , weather conditions were warm with a few showers, a flat course with a few muddy areas to navigate made for a great race.
32 runners of the 545 who started represented Sarn Helen with some great times being posted. 4th home across the line and 2nd M40 was Dylan Lewis in a superb time of 34:35, Wyn Thomas continuing with his good form finished in 37:29, Carwyn Davies had a great run in 39:08 despite struggling with a hamstring injury half way round. George Eadon also had a good sub 40 min race in 39:45, Jack Cockburn 40:31, Arwyn Davies 41:57, Matthew Walker 41:10, Rory Fairhurst 42:44, Rhodri Williams 43:14, Kevin Jones 43:52, Steven Holmes 44:35, Tim Rayner 44:55 and 2nd M60, Owen McConochie 45:20, Stephen Kenworthy 47:11, Elliot Howells 48:02, Arwyn Jones one of Sarn Helen’s newest members was 4th M60 in a good time of 54:02, David Casso Davies 55:51 and Geraint Davies 55:57.
Sarn Helen ladies were also out in force with Sara Davies leading the pack home in a fantastic time of 44:03, Eleri Rivers had an amazing run missing out on a PB by a mere 2 seconds to claim 1st F50 in 44.34, Michelle Billing had a great race in 52.34 closely followed by Liz Pugh in 53:05 to claim 3rd in the F60 category. Jo Rosiak 53:11, Shelley Enders 53:42, Kerry Irwin Hall 54:01, Emma Nurse 55:32, Ceinwen James was pleased with her PB in 56:13, Kelly Allen 57:24, Jane Holmes ran her 2nd fastest 10K in 57:46, Elle Howells 1:00:52, Corrina Robinson 1:12:23, Julie Grabham also secured herself a PB in 1:14:40 and Claire Morgan-Hall 1:16:20.
Three junior runners competed in the children’s races, Alaw Freeman had a great run and was 3rd in the 9-11 age category, Molly also had a great run in the same category and Osian Jones had a fantastic race to finish 1st in the 13-15 age category.
The 7 Sins Trail Race held at The Forest of Dean is certainly not for the faint hearted as runners have to navigate a challenging course, as the name suggests there are 7 hills to climb as well as rivers and a very muddy slippery terrain to encounter before getting to the finish line. However, the conditions did not deter 2 Sarn Helen Club Stalwarts from entering with both having an outstanding race. Dylan Davies finished 2nd overall and 1st M40 in a fantastic time of 52:32 whilst Carwyn Davies was 8th overall and 1st M45 in an equally great time of 58:45.