Ideal fell running conditions greeted the 68 athletes who gathered in Llanfachreth, near Dolgellau, last Saturday lunchtime as the village played host to the 8th running of the Rhobell Fawr Fell Race.

Facing the competitors on a glorious late Autumnal day was a 6 mile course which included an overall 1,900 feet of climbing, with competitors both local and from further afield taking on the challenge.

Richard Roberts of Eryri Harriers, race winner at the Rhobell Fawr Fell Race.

The overall 2010 results bore remarkable similarities to the 2008 event with repeat victories in both the male & female categories. Overall victory was achieved by Richard Roberts of Eryri Harriers in a time of 49.44mins with club-mate Matthew Roberts following in a time of 51.23mins, an exact repeat of the 'one, two' of 2008 and for Matthew Roberts, the third time he has now claimed runners up spot at the event, having also finished 2nd in 2007. In 3rd position overall was Ifan Richards of Brithdir, the Meirionnydd Running Club member unable to repeat his race victory of 2009 as he crossed the line in a time of 51.29mins.

With Eryri Harriers claiming 5 of the first 7 finishers, there was still an excellent 8th placed finish for Adam Preston of Dolgellau, the Meirionnydd R.C. athlete home in 56.58mins. There was also a 'Top 10' finish for an athlete with strong Tywyn connections as Jos Jones of Aberystwyth A.C. came home in 57.55mins. The first female competitor home, repeating her 2008 victory at the event was Anna Bartlett of Shrewsbury A.C. in a time of 59.01mins.

Pete Nicholls of Llanfachreth on his way to a finishing time of 1hr 12.31mins at the Rhobell Fawr Fell Race.

A further 9 athletes affiliated to Meirionnydd R.C. also completed the event. They were led home by Kevin Jones of Dolgellau in 59.38mins, with Tony Hodgson of Llanelltyd following, as a finishing time of 1hr 07.38mins also claimed victory in the Male Over-60 category. Local knowledge was advantageous in helping Pete Nicholls of Llanfachreth home in a time of 1hr 12.31mins with John Smith of Dolgellau following in 1hr 15.23mins. Kevin Evans of Brithdir led home Nich Bradley of Dolgellau in respective times of 1hr 18.18mins & 1hr 20.03mins with Estelle Patrick of Barmouth leading home the three strong contingent of female athletes affiliated to Meirionnydd R.C. in a time of 1hr 24.21mins. She, in turn, was followed by Dolgellau-based team-mates Janet Preston & Margaret Roberts, home in times of 1hr 25.50mins & 1hr 29.28mins.

In the Junior Race, there was also another excellent performance from a promising Dolgellau youngster as Katie Bailey claimed victory in the event in a time of 22.15mins.