AS if running 26.2 miles is not hard enough, competitors in the third annual Anglesey Marathon on Sunday will be hoping not to have to contend with the tail end of Hurricane Gordon. Over 260 runners have entered the race, which has been highly praised by entrants over the past two years for the quality of the organisation and support along the route. The marathon is the highlight of a day of activities organised by Menter Mon - there is also a 10k race for the first time - and while entries are about 100 up on last year the quality of the field is disappointing. The event incorporates the Welsh marathon championships and fears that the top South Wales athletes would not travel to Anglesey have proved justified. Furthermore, few of the North's leading runners are in the line-up, and entries for the championship total only 21. The figure is particularly disappointing as the decision will be made next week on whether the Welsh championships should revert to the London marathon next year. It has been confirmed this week that the Welsh cross-country championships on February 17, 2007, will be hosted by Prestatyn Running Club and held at Ruthin School, where the North Wales championships have been held for the past two years. The last time the national championships were held in North Wales was four years ago in St Asaph. The winner of the Brooks Family Shield for services to road running in North Wales for 2005 is Neil Dunn of Deestriders, a long-serving coach, race organiser and official. The trophy for the outstanding performance on the road by a male will go to Steve Henshaw (Deeside), for his second placing in the Llandudno 10-mile race. The women's trophy will go to the Wrexham AC over-45s' team who won their class in the British Masters' road relays in Birmingham. | 
