Hello to Sunday, and goodbye to a very somber week here at Croft Ambrey Running Club. I did think hard about whether it would be appropriate to write an update for this week. But, as many a Croftie has told me before, it’s their highlight of the week and I just know, as Mike put it on our Facebook page, “I am certain, though, that Tom would have wholeheartedly wished for it to be a case of “business as usual” for his beloved running club.”
Before we get onto the running, we’ll start with our beloved Tom Davies. I have taken Huw’s words from our Facebook page:
“I’m sure this will come as a great shock to so many in the running community. Last evening (Tuesday), while taking part in a club handicap race, one of our founding members, Tom Davies, passed away. To say Tom was loved by everyone in the club is an understatement. He was kind, generous and encouraging – not only to every new runner finding their feet, but also to long-standing members who valued his friendship and quiet support. In many ways, he embodied everything that we always strive for the club to be. The run, a challenging 3 miles around beautiful Bircher Common close to Croft Castle, was one of his favourites. We are grateful for the assistance provided by our own members, particularly Ingrid and Emma, together with the Air Ambulance team for their expertise and compassion. In many ways running clubs become extended families, and there are many who will be grieving the loss of Tom. Over the coming weeks we’ll find a suitable way to come together to remember Tom. Fittingly, it will involve a run in beautiful countryside. Our thoughts are with Tom’s family.”
As a club, we’d like to thank the greater running community for all of their support and lovely messages that we have been receiving. This week has shown the love and unity that comes with, not only being a Croft Ambrey Running Club member, but as a runner as a whole. Tom Davies will forever be a part of CARC and our wonderful legacy.
The plan was to keep this brief this week, but all of you Sky Blues have been putting in some brilliant runs and races that will we have no choice but to show off all of your fabulous results!
On Monday, we welcomed back our Juniors after a few relaxing weeks off in the sun! Although we were only met with a handful of young, eager runners, it was a fun, yet tough session, that put our youngsters speed to the test, especially when they found themselves running against coaches; Kelly and Eric! And, fair play, they knew how to tire their coaches out!
Our 2025 Bryan Markham Handicap Series drew to a close on Tuesday evening with the final race of six up at Bircher. For obvious reasons, we have held back from sharing the results for a few days but, after some cracking runs, our runners needed celebrating in the midst of sadness.
On the evening, Emma J Jnr would take her first win of the series, improving on her PB by nearly 2 minutes. Mia, who was on a charge to break the Women’s Course Record, did just that, with the CR now standing at 25:17. She finished 2nd after overtaking near enough the whole field. In 3rd was Emma J Snr, she now holds the FV50 record. Alongside Mia’s Women’s Course Record, there were 16 PBs and 5 new Age Category records. Results from the evening:
With the final race also comes the overall results! This year’s Handicap Champion is Steph K who finished on 51 points. Henry would take second with 61 and Grant in third with 66 points. Sam H just missed out on a top three spot in fourth with 68 points, with Tom, fittingly, rounding out the top five.
Well done to all runners who took part over the course of our 2025 edition of the Handicap Series!
On Wednesday, the tough decision was made to postpone Thursday’s training, with Chairman; Huw, instead choosing to host a run/walk around Croft Ambrey on Thursday evening in reflection of Tom. After a miserable and wet Thursday morning, the sun shone brightly in the evening as over 40 runners and walkers ascended onto the Croft Ambrey Hill Fort. Huw said on the evening: “We were blessed with perfect weather this evening as the runners and walkers enjoyed some time together after the sad loss of our beloved Tom Davies. It was just about coming together to run, walk, talk or just reflect. We’ll be doing something in the next few weeks and inviting all of running club friends to help celebrate the life of a true gentleman.”
Onto Parkrun Saturday and, although no plans were put in place, over 30 Croft runners turned up to take part in Ludlow Parkrun. Huw was race director for this event, giving runners a lovely speech before hand. Eric would finish first, along side Mark to bring home a 1-2 for Croft. It was a 1-2 (and 4) for our female runners; Kelly, Steph K and Naomi. There were also several PBs for the Sky Blues. These went to Mark, Oliver T, Steph K, Paul L and Wren. Volunteering was Angus, Jamie, Michelle, Neil, Tim, Guy and Huw. Only 1 more Parkrun result for you this week. Sam J is currently over in Texas, USA and ran at the Terry Hershey Parkrun in Houston. He finished in 1st place, with a time of 16:07, over 3 minutes ahead of the second place finisher.
After her victory at the final Handicap race, Emma J Jnr took on the RIDUM Ultra Marathon in South Wales. This ultra is “a 30 mile challenge around the hills of South East Wales and The Rhymney Valley Ridgeway Walk.” As per their website, there is about 4,252 feet of elevation. Emma ran with a running friend and, although I’m able to find official results, I can tell you, as per her Strava, they finished in 9 hours and 47 minutes. Emma said: “Brilliant day at RIDUM Ultramarathon. We self navigated slightly wrong & ended up being 32 miles instead of 31.4 miles. So not too bad. Gorgeous friendly support, amazing check points with amazing cake thank you all. Even met the race director who can walk faster than my jog!”
Also this weekend, Louise P headed up to Snowdonia to have another crack at the Yr Wyddfa Snowdon Ultra 100 – “an 100 mile race with checkpoints spanning Snowdonia National Park and 5788m of ascent over 100 stunning miles and over the beautiful mountains of Snowdonia Eryri!” This wasn’t Lou’s first attempt at this race, giving it a go in September 2018. However, she would find herself timed out at 45 miles. Unfortunately for Lou, the clock would run dry once again, this time at around 66 miles (as per her Strava) and at Check Point 8. Regardless, this was a brilliant effort from Lou! She said: “I had forgotten how utterly bad the Devil’s Kitchen descent is. Cracking day out in the mountains though, last night not so much.”
On Sunday, Eric headed down to the Brecon Beacons to run in the Blaenavon Heritage 5 Miler. After a 10 mile warm up (marathon training!), the heavens opened just in time for the race start. And, after 5 miles along the Blaenavon and Pontypool Heritage Railway, Eric would battle through the sheets of rain to finish in 2nd, with a time of 29:00. Unfortunately for Eric, despite setting a time that would have been good enough for the course record, first place did one better.
Up in Shrewsbury, Steph M ran at the Severn Bridges 10k, hosted by the Shropshire Shufflers. This race is described as “Not a race for PB’s, unless it’s your first! It’s a race where you can enjoy the River Severn and the Quarry.” Steph finished in a time of 54:23 and 7th in her age category.
CARC’s Fell runners were also busy on this very wet Sunday morning. Sam M, Nigel, Flora and Gary all headed down to Talgarth to take part in the Waun Fach Fell Race. This fell race is a “classic horseshoe route suitable for runners of all abilities.” It measures at 7 miles, with 2,000ft of ascent. Sam would be first Croft home in 7th position, with a time of 54:42. He was also 1st in his age category. There was also an age category top three for Flora, finishing 2nd in FV60. Full CARC results:
Sam Mayglothling – 54:42 – 1st MV40
Nigel Taylor – 01:06:57
Flora Gunner – 01:23:09 – 2nd FV60
Gary Gunner – 01:37:24
Rounding out the week is Saffi who, on Sunday, ran track in Birmingham. She came away with two podium positions after two races, and recording big PBs in both the 1500m and the 200m.
Well done all! Please remember that if you would like your race and achievements included in the weekly report, please get them to me (Bronwyn) by 6pm at the latest. Any that come in after, I cannot promise they will be included. The upcoming training schedule will be live on our Facebook on Monday morning. In the meantime, don’t forget, we’re always on the look out for your race reports for the website, so get posting them on Facebook or send them to either Sam H, Huw or myself (Bronwyn).