Ceiriog Canter

Race: Ceiriog Canter fell race (11.5k/1307ft)
Area: Glyn Ceiriog (Vivod Mountain)
Time/Position: 53.45 (5th from 37)
Driving down the Ceiriog Valley, I always think I should spend more time there. This is the only fell race based in the valley, and another of those I have never got round to doing. The weather was rather unpleasant: steady drizzle, low cloud, rather chilly. But the race is runnable and excellent, almost closer to a trail race in places. It leaves Glyn Ceiriog to join a rutted and steep track. Our plod up this was enlivened by a wedged Sainsbury's delivery van, presumably a disastrous sat-nav error. It was quite a job to squeeze through the vegetation to get past the van. The track eventually emerges at a road, then takes a great path up the side of Nant y Dramwys. This gives excellent running, with good (albeit misty) views of the Berwyn. A group of six pulled away from the rest of the field during the climb. At a gate, the route turns left for the final climb up to the top of Vivod Mountain, all runnable. I began to fall behind Simon on the climb, and lost more ground initially on the descent, which takes a different route north of Y Foel to emerge at Finger Farm: at this point there was a great clearance in the mist and drizzle to reveal the verdant Ceiriog Valley. A road section meant I could catch Simon up, and a great contest ensued. I didn't get enough of a gap to cancel out his descending skills, though, and we were neck and neck on the final descent into the woods above Glyn Ceiriog. This was enlivened by a collapsing gate and numerous fallen trees. Eventually he pulled clear and finished up 15 seconds ahead back at the finish in Canolfan Ceiriog. We were around 90 seconds behind the winner.