Round 4 Borders League
Abergele, 3/2/2008

Abergele Harriers hosted the fourth round of this season’s Borders Road Running League on Sunday and made full use of home advantage with the men’s team achieving the best ever score by the club in the seven years that it has been in the League, and managing to win the race on the day with the best score by any club this season. The ladies, despite only two members running, also achieved their best score this season. Over a measured five mile out and back course, the club managed ten home in the first 51 places, with only 23 seconds separating the first five Harriers in.

The club was lead home by Borders League Manager Darren Blazier in 28mins 17secs for 14^th position overall, a performance hampered by a recent training injury and the fact that he was up most of the morning setting out the course. Just six seconds and two positions further back was Club Captain Geran Hughes, who ran his usual very measured race, moving up from fourth to second Harrier in the last 300 meters, being rewarded with second MV40 on the day. Two seconds and one position behind was John Ford, making a fantastic debut in the Borders League, and finishing himself just four seconds and two positions ahead of John Earlston, who like a number of Harriers, was making his way back from injury, but still managed to finish as first MV45 and extend his overall lead in that age category. Sean McCormack was next home just eleven seconds further back, in a time of 28mins 40secs for 22^nd overall, third MV40 on the day, and moving him up one position to third in the overall standings also. Gareth Roberts continued his recent outstanding performances finishing in 29mins 27secs for a personal best League position of 30^th, while brother Dewi was just two seconds, but four positions, further back. Tim Cahill, continued his excellent comeback from injury with an extremely satisfying 41^st position in 29mins 50secs, while Matthew Ashton and Steven McCormack, continued their recent battles, finishing in 50^th and 51^st positions, in 30mins 24secs and 30mins 28secs respectively. Ed Reid, as usual, ran an excellent race finishing in 31mins 40secs, for 73^rd to move him into 9^th position in the MV40s overall. Keith Elliott ran a superb race to finish in 34mins 41secs for 120^th, while Grahame Shone unfortunately got injured during the race, but bravely ran on to finish in 35mins 48secs for 131^st.  Peter Smith, once again travelled a long way to make the race, and was rewarded with an excellent 36mins 51secs for 139^th, while John Essary and Alan Lucas had their own personal battle finishing in 39:03 and 39:21 for 154^th and 156^th respectively. The men’s team was completed by Steve Ward in 48mins 56secs for 175^th, completing a record men’s score of 294 points to win on the day and keeping the men third overall in the first division.

First Lady home for the Harriers was Carol Willgoose, 6^th female on the day, in a time of 33mins 51secs to win her age category for the first time, and places her a very strong second in the age category overall. Second lady was Angie Hughes in a tremendous 36mins 20secs, 18^th lady on the day and 5^th in the highly competitive FV40 category. The ladies score of 124 was their best all season, while the club’s veteran team easily won on the day and extended their overall lead at the top of the table to over 200 points, with just three races to go.

The club would like to thank all those who helped on the day, especially Race Director Steve McCarten, Lead Cyclist Haydn Jones, and Thornley Leisure Parks for allowing the race to run through their private property.

Abergele Men’s Team Results;

Total Points; 294

 Abergele Ladies Team Results; 

Total Points; 124

Individual Results
Team Results
League standings after Race 3