TWO of St Helens Sutton A.C.’s veterans tackled the Snowdonia Mountain marathon at the weekend.

This is definitely not a race to enter for a fast time with the winner only clocking 2 hrs 35 min. Andrew Wilson (V45) finished an excellent 21st in a field of 1500 runners in a time of 2 hrs.59 min.49 secs and Ian Robert (V40) was 606th with a time of 4 hrs.2 min.3.

Men’s captain, Matt Crehan’s call for this to be Sutton’s year on cross country was emphatically answered when 15 athletes competed at Arrowe Park in Birkenhead. Matt led the way opening a big lead until he was slowed down by a bad stitch but continued to finish tenth.

“Dropping out wasn’t an option,” he said after the race.

Tom Griffiths ran steadily for ninth (34min.01) and Steve Anders came home twelfth in 34 min38 to lay the foundations for the place in the top three Matt had demanded.

Peter Fairclough (17th, 35 min.43), John Greenall (29th, 36 min.30.) and Ian Hayburn (31st, 36 min.33) completed the count which gave the club a four point advantage over home club Wirral for second place.

Ian Costello (41st, 37 min.11) led the second team with Rachael Fairclough (49th, 37 min.56 secs.) second counter winning the women’s contest.

Dave Twigg made a steady return to competition in 58th place in 38 min.47 secs, Barry Graney (64th, 39 min.28), Andy O’Connor (105th, 43 min.44) pushed all the way by Rachael Beesley (112th, 44 min.28 secs.) and Amy Corfield (116th., 45 min.10) who were ninth and tenth ladies respectively on their debuts in the League.

The Liverpool and District President Ray Vose completed the course in 149th. place in 50 min.42 at a venue where he won a medal as a youngster. Rachael McGoldrick bravely attempted the course despite a recent illness but was forced to stop after the first of the three laps.

ST HELENS Striders marshalled the second Strider Trail race on Sunday.

After leaving Blackbrook, 200 runners took in a loop down the Sankey Canal, through Carr Mill Dam and surrounding woodlands over the tough five-mile course terrain.

The top three positions were placed by St Helens Sutton runners Matt Crehan, Tom Griffiths and Steve Saunders.

The course record was broken by winner Crehan in a sub 30 minute time.