FOUR Wrexham members secured top placings at the North Wales Cross Country Championships.
Mike Robbins, Ray Billington, James Roberts, and Gina Palleta all finished first in their respectively age group races staged on the Rhug Estate, near Corwen.
Mike Robbins finished first with a time of 41 minutes 32 seconds in the over-45 age group and 10th overall in the senior men’s race.
Ray Billington, who won the North Wales men’s title in 1963 and 1967, was the oldest runner at the event and won the over-75 age group category in 38:53 and finished fifth in the over-70 age group.
James Roberts claimed the gold medal in the under 17 men’s event with a time of 20:59, and Gina Paletta grabbed first place in the under 20 women’s race with a time of 23:11.
Marilyn Kitching, of Tattenhall Runners, celebrated victory in the senior women’s race for the third consecutive year.
The Wrexham-based distance-runner won the over-40 veteran title, ahead of second placed lady Erica Robinson, of Buckley Runners.
Wrexham’s Chris Evans was third in the over-45 men’s age group and 22nd in the men’s race with 44:17, ahead of Geoff Richards (39th in 48:38), and Simon Phillips (47th in 50:52).
Arthur Egan finished third in the over-65 age group and fourth in the over-60 age category with a time of 37:55, while Peter Norman, finished second in the over-70 age group with 30:37, and John Tipping clocked 43:33 for sixth position.
Tom Csizmadia rounded the under 20 men’s course in 34:04 for fourth position, while Harry Arnull was seventh in the under 13 boys event with 13:06.
Kim Harrison (33rd in 31:38) and Gill Csizmadia (37th in 34:59) completed the senior women’s race.
Emily Rowlands (third in 13:56) and Megan Roberts (fifth in 14:09) completed the under 15 girls race, while Tia Phillips finished sixth with 10:28 in the under 13 girls race, ahead of Jade Johnson (10th in 12:35).
Gary Norgrove of Wrecsam Tri Club secured a silver medal in the over-40 men’s age group with a time of 40 minutes, and Buckley’s Huw Lewis was third in the over-50 age group category, competing alongside Paul Donoghue, Jack Thomas and Chris Willman.
FIXTURES this weekend include the North Wales Cross Country League fifth round at Oswestry, on Saturday (2pm); while Sunday sees the North Wales Indoor Championships staged at Deeside (11am start); the Nick Beer 10k Road Race, at Llandudno (12 noon); and the Alsager Five Miles Road Race (11am).