On a blustery but warm day, in complete contrast to the icy cold of the last two years, a record 52 runners galloped down the slopes of Moel Famau from the Jubilee Tower. Reputations count for nothing in an event like this and various downhill fliers revealed impressive descending speed and technique as big guns fell by the wayside. Despite the double handicap of being dressed as Father Christmas and running into a gale force headwind, Adam Peers knocked over a minute off the men's record to descend to the Goldie in an astonishing time of 10.24. And despite me telling her at the prizegiving that she was just outside the ladies' record, Amy Jones was in fact inside it with a very strong new ladies' best time of 13.55. Batman and Robin (aka Rob Butler and Maxine Brockley) declined using their superpowers to any significant effect and were happy to amble down comfortably, taking in the applause of the surprising numbers of spectators en route. An assortment of Clwydian Range Runners demonstrated their local knowledge to good effect and there was quite a Merseyside feel this year with great support from Pensby Runners and Liverpool Harriers.
Martin Cortvriend