Thanks to all the athletes who competed at this 25th staging of the Pentyrch Hill Race, and to everyone who helped with the organisation, especially organiser John Gough. Apologies if any of the names of athletes are not quite right. Some of the handwriting was very difficult to read. Please let me know if any names need to be changed – or, indeed, if there are any errors in the results.

The 133 entries was slightly down on the previous highest of 141 in 2010.

Given the recent dry weather, fast times were expected but there was disappointment for local lad Peter Ryder, a former Radyr Comprehensive pupil, who was the first to finish for the third year, but in a time slower than in either of the two previous victories.

Nicky Dukes (Les Croupiers) produced his best-ever performance at the event to claim second spot while Matthew Symes impressed. Taffs Well resident Peter Coles (Ponypridd Roadents, M45), the leading Master at this event for the past seven years, was finally beaten by another master athlete - Stefan Simms (Griffithstown, M40), improving by nearly a minute on his 2010 time to claim fourth place – while Daniel Bodman hacked nearly five minutes off last year’s clocking to just beat his Pontypridd team - mate to finish fifth, and retain his u20 top spot..

Brackla Harriers provided the winner of the senior women’s race, Charlotte Wells finishing in 26th place, almost 80 seconds ahead of Angela Jones (Mynydd Du, W40), with Cheryl Hugdell (Les Croupiers, W35) completing the top three. A record number of 29 women competed.

Athletes from Les Croupiers formed the biggest club contingent competing – there were 27 of the club’s members in action, an increase of five on 2010 – but there were 35 unattached athletes taking part, many of whom have the talent to be quality club runners.

For the third consecutive year, the event included the South Wales Regional Hill Running championships. A post race scrutiny of the entries highlighted an unexpected problem which was not picked up when the awards were issued on the night. In the Pentyrch race, the awards for the men’s master age group start with M40 and, as a result, athletes in the M35-39 category are listed as ‘senior men’ on the entry and on the results system. At Regional level, there is only one master category for men and women and both start at 35. This year, a significant number of senior men have reached ‘M35’ status. The difference in Master Men’s age group led to incorrect presentation of Regional awards on the night. The region also provides team awards on the basis of three to score. Only one award was issued on the night – to the Les Croupiers Master Women’s team.