The weather can often be interesting for the Aran, this year was relatively benign with the ground in excellent condition and just a few snow patches. The wind was light but cold but from the northeast and carried the faint smell of the Oen Aran Lamb sponsors’ burger van at the finish up the hill like scent to trail hounds! 102 runners started with an excellent showing from English clubs making the journey to Meirionnydd.

Mercia’s Gareth Wyn Hughes took and kept an early lead to win in 1:30:44 3 minutes ahead of Karl Steinnegger of Ambleside AC with Dave Lund of Dark Peak 12 seconds behind taking third. In the women's competition Miranda Grant now of Eryri took the honours in 1:43:32 from Sarah Ridgeway (run Snowdonia) who finished in 1:47:30 a minute ahead of Mynydd Du’s Helen Brown. Less than 2 minutes separated the two university based junior men with Robert Parker leading home for Cardiff Uni in 1:58:44. M40 went to John Hunt (Dark Peak) in 1:37:55, Mark Palmer(Mynydd Du) recorded 1:35:10 for M50. Alan Duncan of Bowland FR was first M60 in 2:01:52 and Garry Gunner took M70 in 2:30:25. Sarah and Helen are both F40 but the prize in this category went to Joanne Cliffe with Kate O’Sullivan (Aberystwyth AC) taking the F50 prize.

This race concludes the Meirionnydd winter series of 3 races. This year 8 men and 3 women completed the series. A very consistent Karl Steinnegger defended his last year’s title in a total time of 3:26:33, almost 12 minutes faster than last year, and over 11 minutes ahead of second place Simon Edwards of Buckley Runners. Miranda Grant of Eryri took the Women’s award in 3:59:00 from Katie Beecher who had to pull out of the final race during the descent. The series winners both received half a side of lamb from Mrs Thomas from Oen Aran Lamb who as well as sponsorship help the Meirionnydd RC with a lot of the local organisation of the race. This year Race HQ moved to the Village Hall providing a much bigger venue, close by the start and with the luxury of showers, and this will likely be a permanent change.

Results

Winter Series Results

Pictures help yourself