STEPHEN Mitchell and Marilyn Kitching raced to victory in the Eryri 10k on Sunday as local clubs showed their strength in North Wales.

Helsby Running Club ace Mitchell clocked 32 minutes 30 seconds to win the Caernarfon race, which formed round four of the Borders Road Running League.

Mitchell runs as a second-claim member for Helsby, where his father Richard is also a member. He now lives in Bristol, where he also turns out for Bristol and West AC, but he will be back in the region tomorrow to run in the Cheshire Cross Country Championships in Winsford.

Kitching, of Tattenhall Runners, was the first lady finisher at Caernarfon in a fantastic 38:08 as her club clinched the ladies’ team prize.

Dave Alexander was West Cheshire’s first finisher, going round in 34:50 to secure ninth position. Club colleague Dave Tiernan completed the route in 37:37 for 32nd place, ahead of clubmates Gary Withers (54th in 39:17), Chris Rhodes (80th in 41:18), Paul Price (84th in 41:32), Richard Batterham (116th in 43:24), Dave Hough (140th in 45:19), Brian Hastings (144th in 45:48), Brian Beattie (153rd in 48:33) and Charles Thackray (173rd in 54:20).

Graham Jenkins was first home for Chester Triathlon Club’s men’s team in 37:13 for 24th position. He was followed by clubmates Kenny Begley (27th in 37:25), Peter Brooke (48th in 38:35), Matthew Gibbs (80th in 41:06), Gareth Blizzard (99th in 41:57), Chris Hulse (107th in 42:13), Phil Brown (113rd in 42:35), Sean Kelly (132rd in 43:33), Dave Taylor (139th in 43:58), Chris Morgan (154th in 44:51) and Derek Mason (210th in 50:54).

Chester Tri’s ladies’ team dominated the Division Two competition courtesy of strong performances from Louise Cooper (122nd in 43:14), Andrea Mageean (140th in 44:04), Janet Taylor (208th in 50:47) and Kim Mason (229th in 56:02).

First male runner home in a much-depleted Tattenhall Runners men’s team was Mark Smith in 40:57 for 77th. Not far behind was the ultra- consistent Steve Hammond in 41:42 for 94th, while Amanda Davies was second lady home for Tattenhall and 10th lady overall in 42:43, just ahead of Justin Realff in 43:00 for 118th.

Tattenhall’s Dave Oldfield pipped Sara Atkinson to the line by three seconds (43:23 for 128th and 43.26 for 130th respectively), and another close finish saw Alison Smith and Rob Webster breast the tape together in 44:08 for the 143rd and 144th positions.

Liz Crawshaw’s return from injury started as she clocked 44.35 for 149th, followed by Martin Durrant (156th in 45:01) and Steve Hornby (158th in 45:04).

Andy Blair, another Tattenhall athlete on the comeback trail following injury, clocked 49:46 for 196th and Grace Hart finished in 51:03 for 212th place. Haydn Johnson ran a fine race in 54:41 for 225th to complete Tattenhall’s chilly day out in Wales.

Race winner Mitchell was joined in the race by Helsby club colleagues Andy Smith (162nd in 45:34), Vanessa Griffiths (168th in 46:10), Carol Shaw (180th in 47:25), Jane Ashbrook (206th in 50:29), Bob Huntback (235th in 1.01:40) and Robbie Webster (236th in 1.07:17).