Race for the ages

Three athletes who have triumphed at Barry have gone on to win the World 100 km crown. And in the past 24 editions of the event, 57 world best performances have been set. That was a figure that was to be revised yet again.

An excellent field of 25 athletes from all parts of the UK entered, of whom 22 toed the line. However, the one factor that can never be determined is the weather. As the gun went at 10am the heavens opened. This wasn’t quite what the runners were hoping for. Temperature-wise, 8 degrees is pretty much ideal, but the other deterrent was the energy-sapping blustery wind that seemed to be snapping at the heels of the athletes all the way through.

The first circuit of so arduous an event is always revealing, for it displays each athlete's intentions of how they plan to tackle the race. Most start conservatively. Alan Ryder (Erme Valley Harriers) started fast, making a statement of intent to the rest. His first lap took just 1 minute 28 seconds, and his next lap was only marginally slower.

The other race favourites appeared content to let him go. A chasing group of three formed, comprising defending champion George Dayantis (Christchurch Runners), 2008 champion Colin Gell (Sale Harriers) and Paul Fernandez (Abingdon Amblers).

Alan Ryder continued to maintain his fast early pace. As a past winner of the very tough Dartmoor Discovery 32 mile race from 2009, his credentials were certainly sound enough. By 5 miles, which he reached in 30:18, he had already lapped the entire field. The chasing group had also split up, leaving each athlete with a personal battle with the elements. George Dayantis was now 1 minute 40 seconds in arrears on 31:58, with Colin Gell just behind with 32:06 and Paul Fernandez 32:24.

The next 5 miles saw Alan continue to pull away, though not as fast. At 10 miles the clock showed 61:54, with George 2:08 adrift on 64:02. A short pit stop meant that Colin Gell had conceded third place to Paul Fernandez and they came through in 65:34 and 64:57 respectively. It was still very much anyone’s race.

Mark Shepherd (Team Kennet) and Mike Robbins (Wrexham AC) came through together next in 68:16, thereby contesting the Welsh Ultradistance Championship which was again incorporated into the event.

Mike Robbins is an athlete with local connections – in his entry he mentioned that his first ever race whilst at Cadoxton Junior School was at Jenner Park, and his grandfather played soccer for Barry Town prior to the outbreak of the First World War.

Meanwhile, the ladies race was shaping up very nicely too. Adela Salt (Trentham RC) who had placed 16th lady in the 2006 London Marathon in an outstanding 2:47:41, led through in 68:57.

However, Karen Rushton (South West Vets) was still close in 70:59, as was Jen Salter (Les Croupiers), who’d finished runner-up in 2010, clocking 74:32. Loretta Daley (Les Croupiers) completed a very impressive quartet of ladies on 82:10, and all looked very comfortable.

Shortly after this juncture Alan Ryder took a tumble whilst taking a drink at the feeding station. He quickly regained his composure and was straight back into his running, but such misfortunes can be disconcerting. The early rain had by now thankfully relented, but the wind remained a nuisance.

By lap 78 (of the total of 161) the first major psychological turning point occurred. Having been a lap and a quarter ahead for quite some time, Alan found that George was beginning to eat into his lead, and on this lap George reduced the deficit to exactly one circuit.

This meant that the two athletes were actually running shoulder to shoulder, so that each could sense the relative strength or weakness of the other. These moments can prove critical. Whilst ultradistance can often see many swings and roundabouts in fortunes, it was clear the George was the man with the momentum, at least for now.

By halfway Alan still held the lead with 2:06:43, though his lead over George was slowing shrinking and was now down to 1:28. George’s clocking of 2:08:11 meant that he had extended his advantage over Paul Fernandez (2:11:06) to almost three minutes, with Colin Gell by no means out of the picture on 2:12:36. Realistically, these were the only athletes with a chance of still winning. Mark Shepherd and Mike Robbins were still locked together in equal fifth and thereby contesting the Welsh Championship with 2:16:38.

Meanwhile, the relative positions in the ladies race remained unchanged, with all four athletes going really well. Adela Salt had moved up to 7th overall and clocked a superb 2:18:12. Karen Rushton had actually speeded up marginally and came through in 2:25:53, and Jen Salter was now ahead of her 2010 schedule in 2:29:16, as was Loretta Daley on 2:47:19. With so many of the athletes still going so well it was obvious that there were some hugely significant personal performances being recorded.

However, for now the focus remained on the ongoing battle up front. The difference between the relative momentum of Alan and George was becoming increasingly apparent and by lap 99 George swept into the lead. He is a relentless athlete and was showing no signs of letting up.

George actually passed the 20 miles point a minute quicker in this event last year, but it was evident that he was actually judging this effort significantly better. Passing the marathon in 2:48:58, he went on to post 3:14:25 for 30 miles, thereby revising his own Greek National record (set in Barry last year) for this distance by 29 seconds. Just a few minutes later he posted his second national record, this time for 50 kms, with the clock showing 3:21:43.

Nevertheless, as a race, the outcome still wasn’t settled. Paul Fernandez had now moved into second and was still only 3:26 behind (approximately 2 circuits). Athletes have reached 30 miles with much larger leads than this and still lost. The race was still on! Colin Gell had moved into third with 3:26:13, whilst Alan Ryder was still fighting hard, even though he was losing ground, and was 4th in 3:29:58.

Meanwhile, the ladies were all still going superbly. Adela clocked 3:30:44 at 30 miles and looked assured of a very high ranking on the World All-Time lists. She had improved to 5th position. Karen came through in 3:41:29 and was up to 7th. Jen lay 8th in 3:47:03 and Loretta 14th in 4:16:54. As is often the case, the ladies’ pace judegment and overall control was superior to the men, and they were all coping wonderfully well. Watching an ultra is like seeing a number of sub-plots unravel simultaneously, and it’s difficult to know who to concentrate on at times. It’s something like a soap opera. The star of the show, just as he has been many times in the past, was just beginning to emerge.

Step forward, Geoff Oliver. Having demolished three world bests for the M70-74 age group in two visits to the Barry 40 in 2005 and 2007, Geoff had subsequently made two unsuccessful attempts on the M75-79 records in 2009 and 2010. Surely, at 77, and in such unfavourable weather, he couldn’t better them this time.

Part of the battle is knowing what the records are, and planning specifically to better them. Heinrich Gutbier’s 30 mile time of 4:21:02, set at Ottweiler, Germany in 2000 was the target. At 20 miles the record was a possibility, but that’s the time when the going starts to get hard. By 25 miles Geoff was still ahead of schedule.

The word began to get round. The record was "on", Geoff knew it, the other athletes knew it, the supporters knew it, the whole stadium knew it. The countdown continued lap by lap. Three quarters of the way around lap 121, with the clock showing 4:18:45, Geoff took the record by 2 minutes and 17 seconds. A gentle wave of the hand, and then head down once again.

The 50 km mark lay just over a mile away, and the chance of another record. Gutbeir’s time for that mark was 4:30:51; Geoff clocked 4:29:29. However, the difference between the two times was now just 1:22 – a sure sign that Geoff was fading. He had given his all, but two more world bests were his. That makes Geoff’s tally 5 world bests at Barry, and the event can now boast 59!

After that flurry of excitement, the focus returned to George Dayantis. He came home in splendid isolation in 4:24:17, marginally outside his 2009 time, but a decisive winner by seven and a half minutes. He also completed a hat-tick of titles, only the second athlete to do so (the first being Simon Pride 1997-99). In many ways it was a triumph for pace judgment and clinical execution.

Paul Fernandez came next, repeating his runner-up position from 2009, but his time of 4:31:47 was eight minutes faster. The battle for third was very exciting. Colin Gell was third at 30 miles, but it was evident that he was being closed down by Adela Salt. Having been four and a half minutes ahead at 30 miles, by 39 miles the gap was down to 11 seconds. With 3 laps to go it was 8 seconds. The prospect of a sprint finish was looming large. Colin dug in. Adela was still chasing. Both athletes were being cheered all the way as they emptied every last ounce of effort. Colin looked a very relieved man as he clung on in 4:47:41.

Adela’s reward for a brilliant 4:47:59 was that she had just put herself No:9 on the All Time World ladies lists for 40 miles. 5 of the fastest 13 times have been recorded in Barry, including the outright best mark of 4:26:43 by Carolyn Hunter-Rowe in 1993.

Meanwhile, Karen Rushton was posting a super-fast time of her own, clocking 4:59:29 for 5th place. This was also remarkable as it was the longest race of her career, and she judged it brilliantly. For the first time ever two ladies had bettered 5 hours at Barry. Third lady in an equally brilliantly judged effort was Jen Salter, 8th place overall and a personal best by ten minutes in 5:09:15.

This won Jen the Welsh Ultra championship, and for the first time, the fastest Welsh lady also beat the fastest Welsh man. Loretta Daley also recorded a personal best of 5:50:48, this time by five minutes in taking silver.

Mark Baker (Northbrook AC) took the Welsh Men’s title in 5:37:03, a triumph for persistence as he had previously won silver and bronze in four attempts. Alan Mann (Les Croupiers) was another athlete showing amazing consistency, and he matched his debut in 2003 by taking silver. From a total of 25 entries, 22 started and 16 completed the 40 miles, a remarkable achievement. Unfortunately one of those not to make it was local man, Gary Hyatt, who has been one of the staunchest supporters of the race over the years. Gary will now concentrate on the London Marathon next month, which will be his 30th consecutive run in the event, an amazing sequence.

Thanks are due to team Hyatt, that includes wife Pip and daughters Kate and Sally for the catering that kept the army of supporters going on a bitterly cold day. Thanks also are due to ground staff Bill Cooke and Mike Dodds for all their help and support on the day.

Geoff Oliver, at 77, remains an inspiration, and it was a privilege to watch yet another master class. RESULT 1. George Dayantis (V45) Christchurch Runners 4:24:17 2. Paul Fernandez Abingdon Amblers 4:31:47 3. Colin Gell Sale Harriers 4:47:41 4. Adela Salt (FV35) Trentham RC 4:47:59 5. Karen Rushton (FV40) South West Vets AC 4:59:29 6. Eamonn Dorling (V55) Thorney RC 5:01:14 7. Alan Ryder (V45) Erme Valley Harriers 5:05:12 8. Jen Salter (FV35) Les Croupiers 5:09:15 9. Rasmivan Collinson (V40) Sri Chinmoy AC 5:28:13 10. Mark Baker (V45) Northbrook AC 5:37:03 11. Mike Feighan (V45) Exeter Harriers 5:40:50 12. Robert Treadwell (V40) Headington RR 5:42:13 13. Anth Courtney Serpentine RC 5:42:53 14. Loretta Daley (FV45) Les Croupiers 5:50:48 15. Edward Otto (V45) Road Runners Club 5:53:46 16. Alan Mann (V50) Les Croupiers 6:21:37