NORTH Wales Road Runner Steve Forsyth was celebrating last weekend after reporting that his brother, Echen Obega, won a top Gambian 10k event.

He smashed the country’s race record after borrowing his trainers and completing just six weeks of extra training.

Steve, who has recently returned to Wales from his home country, has been busy recently collecting unwanted shoes and sports kit for underprivileged young sportsmen and women in Gambia, said: “This result has literally turned this man into a national hero overnight. I’m so proud of you, bro, I just wish I had been in Gambia to see it.

“My little brother was competing in my trainers, and in just six weeks, he literally went from running 30 miles a week with no motivation, to running 100 miles a week, and only going on to win the Banjul 10k in about 31 minutes, beating other established sponsored African athletes to break the Gambian 10k record!”

Steve added that Echen also picked up a cheque for 25,000 Gambian Dalasi but said most of it will be being given to his employer to reinvest back into athletics for the police, with some handed to his parents.

But he admitted that he wouldn’t spend a penny on himself, and all he wanted to do was to make sure everyone he could reach out to would be OK.

As he prepared to ship out much of his kit collection back to Gambia, he said: “Want to know how your kindness and donations may help young Gambian athletes... just see it here!”

Steve was also delighted to note that his friend Lamin Sanneh, a respected veteran athlete, just missed out on third place in the half-marathon race, due to the quality of the Kenyans’ running home in an incredible 66-minutes.

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Elsewhere, two North Wales Road Runners collected silver and bronze medals in their respective age categories after competing in the Welsh Duathlon Championships at Harlech last Sunday.

Llyr Ap Geraint-Roberts and Richard Eccles competed in the Harlech Sprint Duathlon event which involved two varied runs interspersed with a tough bike ride.

The race attracted 101 finishers, with Llyr winning a silver medal in his M40 age category in 10th place overall, in a total time of one hour, 10 minutes and 56 seconds.

Richard also finished well in 26th place overall, and he was third in his M50 category for a bronze medal in 1.17.55.

Llyr’s splits included a 5k run in 19.01, a 20k plus cycle ride in 40.49, and a final run in 9.11.

After the race, Llyr said: “I was pushed to the end, and the first 5k on the bike let me down, but the last part was the quickest I’ve biked in a duathlon.

“The second run was slowed down to cross the road, and I had to stop for traffic, but it was a stunning finishing place for a fantastic event.”

Richard’s splits included a 5k run in 19.54, cycle ride 45.01, and a final run in 9.31.

He said: “It was my first time out on the bike in a few years and I suffered for it, but I was happy to get third place, and I’m hoping my coach will forgive me for using a bike in-between runs.”

Meanwhile, Road Runner Martin Green hit top gear again and roared around the circuit last Sunday at the Running Grand Prix half-marathon race at the Bedford Autodrome to finish in second place overall.

He recorded a time of one hour, 14 minutes and 42 seconds to additionally win his M45-49 age category.

And five North Wales Road Runners took part in the high-quality Cardiff half-marathon last Sunday morning (March 27), which attracted more than 25,000 starters.

Mark Jessett continued his purple patch of form to lead home a team of four other club members to finish in 144th place overall in one hour, 18 minutes and 45 seconds, with Rory Middleton also celebrating another good run in 223rd place in 1.23.14.

Hannah Griffith just dipped below the two-hour mark with a determined display in 3,447th place overall and the 643rd female runner in 1.56.01.

Partners Kelly-Marie Alford and Cai Roberts were running together again, and finishing in 2.01.23, with Kelly recording 5,708th place overall. She was also the 1,501st female.