Top Marks for Andi

Andi Jones

LOCAL teacher Andi Jones gained top marks and a place in the record books after winning the Snowdon International Mountain Race for a third consecutive year.

The 29-year-old, who works at Saddleworth School, triumphed in style, three minutes clear of his nearest rival in the gruelling 10-mile event, clocking a time of 66 min 02 sec.

Jones, a member of Salford Harriers, said: “I am not the first person to win the event three times, but the only one to do it three years in a row.

“And it is an achievement which ranks alongside me finishing 10th in the London Marathon.”

Yet the Carrbrook-based Jones only decided to enter at the last minute because he knew participating would rule him out of a big road race he planned to enter this coming weekend.

But the prospect of winning a place in the record books proved a temptation he could not resist.

He explained: “My legs are still sore and it will take about a week for that to disappear so there is no way I could race again so quickly.

“The soreness is not caused by the climb but descending at speed.”

Jones added that the heat - it reached 28 degrees - made it tough, though he led the field, which included international athletes, from start to finish.

Once Jones recovers, he will start training for the Florence Marathon which is at the end of November.