Nine Ellesmere Port RC runners headed into Mid-Wales on Sunday for the ever popular Lake Vyrnwy Half Marathon.
With entry to this race being full months ago, over 1200 runners were present at the start and Wilf Taragon of Kenya was the eventual winner in 1 hour 2 minutes and 14 seconds followed by Andi Jones of Salford 1.04.38 and Dave Norman of Altrincham & District 1.07.10
First runner home for Ellesmere Port was Dave Winder who posted an excellent personal best time of 1.21.03 for 39 th position overall.
Denis Duret running his first half marathon for sometime was the next runner home for the club in a time of 1.24.34 (62 nd)
Mark Dodd was next to finish for the club after reaching 10 miles in 1.07.36 and on course for a sub 1.30 finish, however a struggle over the last 5K saw Mark's pace slow but he still set himself a personal best time of 1.32.05 for 152 nd place.
Brian Griffiths was next to finish for the club in 1.32.29 (156 th) and was followed by Matt Whitfield running for the first time in weeks following injury 1.33.02 (160 th)
Steve Blaylock was next to follow in 1.36.48 for 204 th position and was followed home by Alan Durston 1.38.36 (225 th), David Roberts 1.38.52 (230 th), Andrew Hunt 1.45.32 (363 rd) and finally a gutsy performance by EPRC's only lady runner on the day Mandy Penfold 1.54.15 (137 th Female)
Earlier in the day two Ellesmere Port runners header to Partington for the biannual Trafford 10K which saw Andy Norman of host club Altrincham & District win the race in 30.06
First runner home for EPRC was Steve Crowe who bounced back from illness the previous weekend to smash his personal best by over half a minute after posting 34.22 and finish the race in 12 th position.
Not to be out done, Ian Cooper also knocked over 20 seconds off his Personal Best to come home in an excellent 34.40 and finish 18 th overall and second in the V40 category.
On the same day over in Last of the Summer Wine land Yorkshire, two Ellesmere Port runners took part in the very scenic but hilly Netherthong 10K.
First home for the club was Mike Burns who finished the race in 41.55 and was followed by girlfriend Alison Macdonald who was third lady overall and finished in a time of 46.52.
A full report will follow on races in the Wirral Multi terrain series, as soon as results are to hand.
