Queen of the mountain

Oct 1 2009 Wrexham Chronicle

ATHLETICS: Wrexham Athletic Club long-distance ace Gina Paletta produced a superb performance at the Mountain & Ultra Distance Commonwealth Games.

Paletta was the fastest Welsh finisher in 19th (56.28) in the women’s uphill race at the Lake District event.

Steve Brace, head of development at Welsh Athletics, has written to congratulate Keith Adams on winning the Official of Year title as part of the Welsh Athletics Club Awards 2009. Adams – the third Wrexham winner – was recognised for his outstanding work as chief timekeeper at all levels.

Welsh schools international Tom Cusworth raced to second in the boys 150m (16.73) at the Great North City Games in Gateshead.

William Poole won the Under 15s boys long jump (5.05) and high jump (1.50PB) at the Liverpool Harriers Jumps & Throws Meeting. Lydia David finished third in the U17s women’s discus (23.35) and shot (8.45).

Matthew Williams produced a personal best performance in winning the U13s boys shot (9.61) at the Wigan & District Harriers Arnold Seddon Memorial Meeting.

Melvyn Ollier was the third-fastest M60 in 88th (42.57) at the Guilden Sutton 10k. Ian James was 259th (2:44.24) and Louisa-Jane Edwards 4,287th (4:40.30) in the Berlin Marathon while, closer to home, Linda Hampton-Jones finished 6,374th (1:51.21) and Ruth Pearson 7,218th (1:53.07) in the Great North Run on Tyneside.

Benson leads the way

FENCING: Carolyn Benson was the star of the show for Wrexham Fencing Club at the Bristol Open.

The foilist powered to a 10th-placed finish at an event which attracted the best fencers from across Great Britain – all of whom were looking to start the season on the right foot. And Benson certainly did just that as she won all five of her poule fights before being knocked out in the third elimination round. Competing in the same category, Lydia Johnson finished 20th and Stephanie Collister 27th.

Ben Roberts got off to a flying start in the men’s foil, winning five of his six poule contests before a sustaining a foot injury which meant he had to settle for 37th. Daniel Lumb fared better in the men’s sabre to take 31st.

Wrexham’s rising stars were also in action in the first Leon Paul Junior Series foil event in Leicestershire.

Beth Ellis claimed a silver medal in Under 11s girls age group but Cassandra Eades just missed out on a top-three finish in the U13s girls. George Dolan was the pick of the club’s boys contingent, which also included Jed Houghton and George Morris.

Unforgettable season

CRICKET: Gresford Cricket Club’s second team are still basking in the glory of winning promotion from North Wales League Division Five.

The Clappers Lane outfit were crowned champions after beating second-placed neighbours Bersham 2nds on the final day at a sun-kissed Gresford Trust Cricket Ground.

With an 18-strong squad at his disposal, home captain Steve Griffin had a tough to team selection to make. But, having gone with the experience of Ian Weaver, James Williams and Nicky Clare and the youth of Farrukh Ali, Oliver Morris, Matt Daulby, Ross Willets, Cameron Murdoch, Gareth Bell and Jack Bunkell, it was a selection he got spot on.

Weaver cracked a super 109no to haul Gresford up to 204-5 before fine bowling and fielding – including a catch of the season from Bell – stopped Bersham short on 138.

The end-of-match celebrations took part in the Yew Tree in Gresford with Griffin thanking his squad for an unforgettable campaign.

Awesome foursome

GOLF: The team of Derek Lyon, Vinny Simpson, Dave Talbot and Colin Williams (58) fired five birdies, two bogeys and 11 pars to win the Seniors Kitty Competition Texas Scramble at Clays Golf Club. Brian Felgate, Gordon Roberts, Alwyn Williams and Steve Beech (62.1) were second.

Fred Court, Terry Jackson, Peter Fraser and Simpson (142) teamed up to triumph in the Seniors Yellow Ball Competition from Dave Lambert, Mike Hollings, Beech and Peter Almond (140).

Stuart Rogers (41), from MK Jones (39) and Dilwyn Jones (38), was the winner of Shop Saturday Stableford while the following day’s Shop Sunday Stableford honours went to Colin Bryan (73-5=68) from David R Edwards (89-21=68) and Paul R Williams (77-8=69).