Pen y Fan Race 2007 Results

Click here for photos

Report

11.00am Saturday 21st July 2007

Relentless drizzle, sodden ground and low cloud welcomed 32 runners to this year's Pen Y Fan Race. Many couldn't make it with the flooded roads - the M5 blocked and the whole of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire apparently under water. In fact all rather reminiscent of last year, but at least there wasn't much wind this time.

Andy Jones, Mark Palmer and Harry Matthews dominated the race, establishing a 1 minute lead over Martin Shaw by the obelisk, and summiting together on Corn Du and Pen y Fan. The paths were very slippery, and Mark's time to the top was about 40 seconds down on last year, but that could be because he has been injured recently.

Mark P's descent was almost as quick as last year, and he easily shook off Harry and Andy, finishing over a minute clear, and looking like there was plenty in the tank for the Fan y Big Horseshoe race tomorrow. Harry and Andy raced all the way, and both are pretty good descenders if you take Mark P out of the picture, but Harry hung on by a few seconds at the end for 2nd place.

Martin Shaw showed how fast he is improving on the hills, getting to the top a minute and a half quicker than last year. Pity about the descending though, not to mention the route choice. Ian Withers and Gus Levy were 5th and 6th to the top, but were blown away by a blistering descent from Dave Finn, who came through from 8th at the top to 4th finisher.

Gus was the leading contender from London Frontrunners - "London's gay and lesbian running club" - who had as many runners in the race as Mynydd Du, and posted some pretty good results all things considered. By that of course I mean... considering they do their training in Hyde Park! We hope this can become an annual pilgrimage for the Brecon Fans Race Weekend, but they are going to have to find some big mucky hills to practice on if they are going to challenge for the team prize next year.

Actually I was thinking about having a prize for 1st gay runner, but that would have meant changing the entry forms so we knew who was eligible, and that might have elicited a few surprises...

In the ladies' race, Helen Fines ran a minute and a half quicker than last year to take 1st place, and Alice Bedwell ran a decent race to finish 2nd, and 1st V40.

With Mynydd Du claiming the top 4 places, the team prize was never in doubt. Things are looking good for the FRA relays, except I'm worried whether I'll be able to get a place in the team!

We've now established a prize fund for beating Keith Anderson's phenomenal 30 minute race record, starting with £100 donated by Barry Tomlinson Architectural Services. This will accumulate each year with sponsorship and donations. Wheeze and Topher reckon it is impossible.

Thanks to Ade O, Mike Law and Simon Allen who marshalled up the hill and got soaked; also to Tobi for taking great photos at the finish, and to everyone else who helped in any way. Thanks also to the sponsors who helped us provide great prizes (Crickhowell Adventure, inov8, Barry Tomlinson, Breconshire Brewery) and free food and drink for all (St. Mary’s Bakery).

Crispin and Naomi

Prize Winners

Category Name Club Time
1st Open Male Mark Palmer (V40) Mynydd Du 35:45
2nd Open Male Harry Matthews Mynydd Du 36:55
3rd Open Male Andrew Jones Mynydd Du 37:03
1st Open Female Helen Fines Bristol & West 43:19
2nd Open Female Alice Bedwell MDC 49:23
1st Male V40* Wheeze Brycheiniog 43:15
1st Male V50 Martin Longhurst GWR 49:19
1st Male V60
1st Male V70 Tom Jaques FRA 1:27:30
1st Female V40
1st Female V50
1st Female V60
1st Female V70
1st Local Michael Keddle Brecon 43:48
Team (3 runners) Mark Palmer Mynydd Du
  Harry Matthews Mynydd Du
  Andrew Jones Mynydd Du
* awarded to 2nd placed MV40 as Mark Palmer was overall winner

Full Results

Name Race Number Club Cat Summit Time Summit Pos Descent Time Descent Pos Finish Time Pos Overall Pos In Cat
Mark Palmer 2 Mynydd Du MV40 00:26:08 1 00:09:37 1 00:35:45 1 1
Harry Matthews 32 Mynydd Du MS 00:26:10 3 00:10:45 4 00:36:55 2 2
Andrew Jones 13 Mynydd Du MS 00:26:09 2 00:10:54 5 00:37:03 3 3
Dave Finn 9 Mynydd Du MS 00:28:52 8 00:10:09 2 00:39:01 4 4
Gus Levy 7 London Frontrunners MS 00:28:51 6 00:11:34 8 00:40:25 5 5
Matt Stott 17 Chepstow Harriers MS 00:29:27 10 00:11:15 7 00:40:42 6 6
Ian Withers 24 Newport Harriers MS 00:28:51 5 00:12:13 11 00:41:04 7 7
Martin Shaw 14 Mynydd Du MS 00:28:29 4 00:13:16 13 00:41:45 8 8
Wheeze 30 Brycheiniog MV40 00:31:20 13 00:11:55 9 00:43:15 9 2
Helen Fines 21 Bristol & West FS 00:31:08 12 00:12:11 10 00:43:19 10 1
Mark Saunders 27 Unattached MV40 00:32:20 14 00:11:02 6 00:43:22 11 3
Michael Keddle 19 Unattached MS 00:33:22 18 00:10:26 3 00:43:48 12 9
Jonathan Williams 26 Unattached MS 00:29:17 9 00:14:46 18 00:44:03 13 10
Chris Beecham 10 Highgate Harriers MS 00:28:51 7 00:15:27 23 00:44:18 14 11
Joseph Lowe 4 London Frontrunners MS 00:29:42 11 00:14:56 19 00:44:38 15 12
Eric Phillips 5 London Frontrunners MS 00:32:55 15 00:14:06 16 00:47:01 16 13
Alan Stone 18 MDC MV40 00:34:55 22 00:12:38 12 00:47:33 17 4
Rhys Williams 31 MDC MS 00:34:09 20 00:13:40 15 00:47:49 18 14
Martin Longhurst 11 Great Western Runners MV50 00:33:35 19 00:14:39 17 00:48:14 19 1
Charles Daniel 25 Unattached MV50 00:33:14 17 00:15:15 22 00:48:29 20 2
John Darby 12 Mynydd Du MV50 00:34:14 21 00:14:56 20 00:49:10 21 3
Alice Bedwell 28 MDC FV40 00:35:49 25 00:13:34 14 00:49:23 22 1
Mick Tabor 23 Les Croupiers MV50 00:33:03 16 00:17:11 25 00:50:14 23 4
Andy Stott 16 MDC MV40 00:37:45 28 00:14:59 21 00:52:44 24 5
Andy Atkins 3 London Frontrunners MV40 00:35:49 24 00:17:18 26 00:53:07 25 6
Peter Tracey 22 Unattached MS 00:36:29 27 00:16:38 24 00:53:07 26 15
Jonathan Wheeler 6 London Frontrunners MS 00:35:49 26 00:19:16 28 00:55:05 27 16
David Morris 29 Unattached MS 00:35:49 23 00:19:41 29 00:55:30 28 17
Mike Harris 1 Westbury Harriers MV50 00:37:45 29 00:17:55 27 00:55:40 29 5
Mike McDonough 8 London Frontrunners MS 00:39:26 30 00:21:39 30 01:01:05 30 18
Tom Jaques 15 Unattached MV70 01:02:10 32 00:25:20 31 01:27:30 31 1
Richard Harding 20 Unattached MS 00:44:10 31   DNF   DNF
 

Race organised by Crispin Flower and Naomi Law in association with Mynydd Du.