Perfect weather conditions & good visibility prevailed for this year’s Gladstone 9 race, which had 45 finishers (& Gary P-J’s dog), all of whom seemed to have enjoyed the route, the views & the post-race homemade flapjacks.

This year, there were only three Eryri finishers in the top ten. New Daddy Martin Cliffe was the first home in 1.15.40 (also 1st M40), new-on-the-scene youngster Sion Harlow was 5th overall (& 1st U23) in 1.21.06, & supermum Andrea Rowlands 10th overall & 1st lady (& 1st F40), breaking her own 2009 record by 35secs to finish in 1.24.10. Fred Maier (U/A) was second in 1.19.42 with Chris Donnely & Stephen McCarron, both from Sale Harriers finishing 3rd & 4th in 1.20.08 & 1.20.47 resp. Paul Rowley, also from Sale, was 6th overall in 1.21.40. Eryri’s Stuart McDonald finished in 11th place, winning the 1st local runner’s prize, in 1.24.25. Next came the fiercely contended battle for the M50 prizes, with cat & mouse games being played all the way across the bog from Tal y Fan to Moel Lus. It culminated in an Eryri 1, 2 & 3, with Steve P Jones finishing in 1.26.08, despite still suffering from his fall on the Pedol Peris, Tim Watson, fit from his recent trip to the Himalayas, in 1.26.43, & Russel Owen, who’d driven all the way from sunny Darwen, in 1.27.13. Cybi’s Irfon Rowlands tucked in behind SPJ to finish 13th overall & 1st M40 in 1.26.38. Colwyn Bay’s Mark Jones took the 2nd M40 in 1.36.05, with Mysteruns’ Richard Borne 3rd in 1.39.26. Neil Hindle was 1st M60 in 1.42.12, Cybi’s Ian Rothery 2nd in 1.47.00 but he was beaten by Buckley’s John Morris 1st M70 in 1.44.20. Brian Robbins of Eryri completed the mens prize winners finishing 2nd M70 in 1.46.19.

2nd & 3rd ladies to finish were Eryri’s Hayley Turner & Alex Fletcher in 1.45.22 & 1.45.32 resp., with Jill Riley, also from Eryri, taking 1st F50 in 1.58.51. Pip Thomas & Ruth Jackson, both unattached, finished 1st & 2nd F40 in 2.03.53 & 2.19.22.

Our sincere thanks go to Team Dolly, who provided radio communication between checkpoints, and all the many marshals and helpers, without whom we would not have been able to safely organise the race. We were very grateful for the generous sponsorship provided by Fletcher & Poole Estate Agents, & X-Ray Minerals, support from Benards Gallery Craig y Don, enabling us to present a framed photo of a local mountain view as a prize for the winning male & female, & to Tony Hulme at Running Bear, who, as always, provided us with a good deal on kit for the remaining prizes. We also owe a huge vote of thanks to the staff of the Gladstone pub for their hospitality & cooperation, & for providing a meal voucher for the first local’s prize.

A small financial contribution will be given to Team Dolly, Eryri Harriers & the WFRA, & we are pleased to announce that Diabetes UK & the Snowdonia Society will also each receive a £50 donation.

Ellie Salisbury, Maggie Oliver, Alex Fletcher & Stuart McDonald