Taggart within seconds of Cader record
Lloyd Taggart at Cader Idris 2011
The rain and clouds cleared in time for the Cader Idris race to go off in sunny conditions last Saturday – meaning that fast times were on the cards. Regular North Wales visitor Lloyd Taggart took full advantage as he romped up and down this famous mountain in a fantastic 1.21.27…
Such was the Dark Peak runner’s pace on this classic 10.5 mile race, he ran to within 9 seconds of Colin Donnelly’s 15 year-old record (1.21.18). Taggart’s run is all the more impressive when taking into account that this was a time that Donnelly was at his zenith on a national and international scale in terms of mountain and fell running.
Taggart leads Rich Roberts onto the mountain
The excellent running didnt stop there though, as many of the top 10 recorded PB’s on this tough course. Welsh international Richard Roberts was second in 1.23.20, with Calder Valley’s Karl Gray in third (1.24.25).
Lloyd flying back into Dollgellau
Top 10 men
1 1:21:27 TAGGART, Lloyd Dark Peak Fell Runners Men 0/40
2 1:23:20 ROBERTS, Richard Eryri Snr Men
3 1:24:25 GRAY, Karl Calder Valley Fell Runners Men 0/40
4 1:24:42 CALE, Steve MERCIA FELL RUNNERS Snr Men
5 1:26:24 DAVIES, Andrew MERCIA FELL RUNNERS Snr Men
6 1:27:36 RICHARDS, Ifan Meirionnydd Running Club Snr Men
7 1:32:26 KALENBERG, Micheal Cardiff AAC Snr Men
8 1:33:52 JONES, Paul MERCIA FELL RUNNERS Men 0/40
9 1:34:51 BOURKE, Niall PudseyaBramleyAC Snr Men
10 1:35:19 JEFFERY, Craig STAFFMOORLANDS AC Snr Men
The women’s race was also a great example of a fell racing battle, as Jackie Lee led on the descent only to be overhauled by Les Croupiers’ Katie Beecher on the long run in to the finish in Dolgellau.
Katie Beecher
Top 5 women
1 1:49:39 BEECHER, Katie Les Croupiers Snr Women
2 1:50:53 LEE, JACKIE Eryri Snr Women
3 1:51:09 MCWILLIAMS, Emma Mynydd Du Snr Women
4 1:56:43 BARKER, Louise Aberystwyth AC Snr Women
5 1:57:27 FOX, Aiveen Durham Harriers Snr Women
Testimony to this excellent event, and the organisation of Graeme Stringer and Merrionnydd AC, that over 200 runners made the long trip west, especially after early morning conditions had looked very grim.
Some excellent photo coverage from Al Tye and Es Richards over at Fell Running Pictures, and some great shots of the run in from Gwynfor James at sportpicturescymru.co.uk. Full results are now online at the Cader Idris race site.
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Reactions so far
Mark Burgoyne May 30, 11:52 AM
Great race and even back in the middle of the field I ran a 17 min PB.
As always great organisation and let me record my thanks to the marshalls!
sbrt Jun 1, 12:48 PM
A cracking race.
A few more photos and a short write up here
http://sbrtrfr.blogspot.com/
Many thanks to all who made the 2011 Ras Y Gader possible.