Magic Roundabout

Race Reports

It was great to see so many Croft runners at the start line for the magic roundabout 10k. I ran it for the first time in 2016 with two fellow Croft Ambrey runners. Today we had 17 runners at the start.
This is a race where you need to get there really early as it’s quite a walk from the car park to race HQ and then once you have collected your number it’s a further uphill walk to the start. Unfortunately it seems this weekend of racing has not seen the best of weather conditions and for us stood on the top of The Begwyns in the Welsh hills it was pretty bleak and windy with many runners sheltering behind a wall waiting for the start.
This race begins going downhill giving the opportunity to have a very fast first and second mile. As anticipated when told the start is downhill it would soon be followed by an uphill. Initially it was a short sharp ascent which tapered off slightly continuing uphill across a stream and then following the fence line around the edge of the mountain. At approximately 5k the course split where anyone running the mini roundabout veered right for the finish or the 10k runners veered left to continue the course. Shortly after this there was a water station  before crossing the road to continue the second half of the course. I had quite a clear memory of this course from last year and had in my head that there was two sharp ascents in the second half so was disappointed with my memory when I actually rediscovered there were four ascents. At 8k I had reached the top of the third ascent and we were now hit with a strong wind that added a little challenge for runners to get to the finish. Knowing there wasn’t far to go I just put my head down and pushed through, up the final ascent and to the finish line.
Although the start was windy and bleak and approaching the finish was windy, the in between had held off thankfully.

Some great results overall with Andy Salt winning overall race at 38:07. Well done Andy.
Next Croft runner was:
Neil Powell 44:46
Nigel Taylor winning M50 45:45
Kelly Bowen 50:26
Jasper Robinson 50:38
Robyn Gore 51:37
Antony Wade 51:50
David Millichap 51:57
Joanne Tilby winning F35 52.33
Frank Luscott 54:06
Guy Whitmarsh winning M70 54.35
Clare Evans 54:46
Tom Davies 56:45
Carol Powell 58:06
Scott Hardie 59:30
Gemma Davis 1:16:53
Elaine Blenkham 1:17:12

Croft ladies also won the team prize (Kelly, Robyn, Joanne)
Well done to all the runners. Great running.
Returning to race HQ to receive a lovely t-shirt for 10k runners, a lovely cup of tea and a great selection of cakes. What else could you ask for. Fortunately we didn’t have to wait long for presentations to start and it didn’t take long to do as the rain started to blow in so people were keen to head home. One last walk back across the Welsh mountain back to the car.

4 thoughts on “Magic Roundabout

  1. Well done to everyone. Although listed as unattached, also in the Croft contingent was Victoria Dickinson, and Claire Donkin is now also a member.

  2. Congratulations to Jasper, first Junior, but sadly not rewarded at the presentation. Well done, your performance is at least recognised by Croft! Well done too to Alison Davies, whose 5k time has not yet been published.

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