Eleven 5k championship medals for North Wales Road Runners at Llanrug
Report by Don Hale
https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com
North Wales Road Runners (NWRRC) celebrated an exciting midweek 5k race at Llanrug last Wednesday night with 11 podium places in the NW championships, and collected four gold medals, four silver, and three bronze with some fast times recorded!
A high-quality field of top club runners pushed the pace throughout and the event winner was Tom Roberts (Meirionnydd RC), who set a new 5k championship record in just 15 mins and 25 secs. In 2nd place was Dion Griffiths (Cardiff AC), in 15.42, with Connor Rogers (Wrexham AAC) in hot pursuit in 3rd, and he was only 3-seconds adrift in 15.45.
The ladies race was won by Samia Jones (Liverpool Harriers) in 18.46, with Rachel Shipley (Abergele Harriers) 2nd in 19.00, and Elliw Haf Roberts (Eryri) 3rd in 19.46. There were 217 finishers.
Paul Brooks from North Wales Regional Athletics Council (NWRAC), later confirmed: “Tom Roberts time was a new NWRAC North Wales 5km championship best, taking 4 seconds off David Mountford’s 15:25 set back in 2010 in Rhyl. Thanks to TDL Event Services for their excellent help and to the event organisers for a great race.”
The main race awards were based on 10-year age categories, whilst the NW 5k championships included 5-year age group reviews. These are the NW championship medal results: *GOLD: M45 Martin Green, M60 Steve Gardner, F50 Carla Green, and Karen Butler F60. *SILVER: M45 Jonathan Kettle, M70 Rob Fryer, F50 Hannah Griffith, F55 Cheryl Frost. BRONZE: M40 Will Evans, M50 Stuart Culverhouse, and F60 Kay Hatton.
NWRRC members Martin Green and Jonathan Kettle had excellent runs, and both finished in the top-ten. Martin was 4th overall in 16.41, and he won his M40-49 age cat, with Jonathan in 10th place, and 3rd M40-49 in 17.28.
Steve Gardner continued his recent track form to win his M60-69 cat in 33rd place in 19.14, and Steve Mason enjoyed a good run, 40th in 19.47, and Will Evans ensured the club recorded five fast finishers, who all dipped under the magic 20-minute mark, following a positive pack performance in 19.54.
Some other members worthy of note included: Carla Green, 6th female and 1st F55-59 in 20.33, Cheryl Frost 3rd F50-59 in 23.46; Kay Hatton 3rd F60-69 in 24.01, newcomer Molly Evans 1st FU20 in 25.27, and master veteran Rob Fryer, 2nd in his new F70-79 cat in 26.30.
**The main race results were: *4th Martin Green 16:41,1st M40-49; *10th Jonathan Kettle 17:28, 3rd M40-49; *33rd Steve Gardner 19:14, 1st M60-69; *40th Steve Mason 19:47; *42nd William Evans 19:54; *45th Stuart Culverhouse 20:03, 4th M50-59; *57th Carla Green 20:33, 6th Lady 1st F50-59; *59th Adam Lemalle 20:43; *61st Sion Thomas 20:52; *62nd James Jones 20:54; *75th Steve Roberts 21:32; *96th Jamie Tharme 22:12; *101st Richard Scamans 22:36; *119th Daniel Hennell 23:34; *122nd Cheryl Frost 23:46, 24th Lady, 3rd F50-59; *125th Kay Hatton 24:01, 26th Lady, 3rd F60-69; *137th Karen Butler 24:50, 30th Lady, 4th F60-69; 138th Hannah Griffith 25:00, 31st Lady;145th Molly Evans 25:27, 35th Lady, 1st FU20; 153rd Elizabeth Driscoll 25:59;157th Gethin Jones 26:26; 158th Rob Fryer 26:30, 2nd M70-79;171st Vicky Taylor 27:29;190th Len Jackson 30:03;191st Rachel Morris 34.03.
Gwen Charlton completed the NW Pilgrims Trail Marathon in style
Report by Don Hale
https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com
Road Runner Gwen Charlton took to the trails last Saturday to compete in one of the toughest, but scenic races in the country, the North Wales Pilgrims Trail Marathon, and yet despite this extreme challenge, she ran extremely well, and afterwards said she was very pleased with her determined efforts.
Gwen eventually completed her trek in a highly credible time of 7 hours 50 minutes and 58 seconds to finish in 158th place overall, and she was the 71st female athlete.
She later confirmed: “This must be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Absolutely stunning route along the top coast of Llyn Peninsula with lots of steps, fields, cows, sheep, wonky paths, rocks, gates, beaches, sun, hills, cliffs, fab runners and most importantly – awesome marshals.
“Also, a nice little surprise as the Red Arrows fly past! Glad to have done it, another bucket list item ticked off.”
*There were 286 finishers in total, and quite amazingly, the race winner was Jake Davies who ran home in just 3.35.50, with Llyr Davies 2nd in 3.37.06, and DW Thomas 3rd in 3.42.21. The first female finisher was Georgina Roberts 4.23.21, with Lucy Bracegirdle 2nd in 4.25.10, and Eleri Wright 3rd in 4.33.56.
Other race results: Helen’s Cancer Research runs:
*Stoke: Helen Hannam completed her second Race 4 Life charity 5k run within a few days for Cancer Research last week. Her first run was at Rhyl last Sunday, where she finished as the 6th female in a time of 26.56, and then she travelled to Trentham Lake at Stoke to meet up with her family for another similar and popular charity event, this time walking the course in just under an hour.
*Port Sunlight: Kevin Higgins completed race number three out of his twelve-week 10k challenge on Sunday at Port Sunlight, recording a good time of 53.32.
Five age cat wins for Road Runners at blustery Conwy Parkrun
Report by Don Hale
https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com
Eighteen North Wales Road Runners took part in the Conwy Parkrun last Saturday amidst a good mix of club and social entrants, and recorded five age category wins on a bright, sunny, but cool and blustery morning.
Martin Green continued his superb form, and he was the outstanding and runaway first parkrun finisher with a fast time of just 18 minutes and eight seconds, to win his VM45 age cat.
Harry Driscoll was also on fire again, claiming 3rd place and winning his SM20 cat in 19.38, whilst Carla Green made it a hat-trick of early placing age cat victories, finishing 9th, and the 2nd female athlete in 20.35, to additionally win her VW50 age cat.
Adam Lemalle was 16th in 21.26, and 2nd VM40, with James Singleton 31st and 2nd SM25 in 22.59.
Jamie Tharme was back to his best in 34th place in 23.05, with Richard Scamans 45th in 23.43, and Phil Moss was 66th and 2nd VM60 in 25.07.
Hannah Griffith impressed again, and now seems to have become a welcome regular at Conwy, this week finishing 73rd in 25.34, and 2nd VW50. Gethin Wyn Jones took 88th place in 26.05, and master vet Barrie Wells won his VM70, just three-seconds behind Gethin in 89th place, with Carol Moss also winning her VM55 cat in 105th position in 26.42.
Additional master vets, Rob Fryer and Don Hale, ensured a clean sweep in the VM70 section, with Rob 2nd cat in 106th place in 26.43, whilst Don celebrated his 200th parkrun during his comeback from injury and claimed the 3rd cat spot in 26.54, and knocked about two-minutes off last week’s time.
Elizabeth Driscoll was another milestone runner, who completed her 100th parkrun, with a fine display in 117th place in 27.18, and was 2nd VW55. And veteran Len Jackson was on form again after his recent midweek races, finishing 145th in 29.10, with fellow vet John O’Shea 149th in 29.20. And it was good to see Steve Mason and his dog Coco working the course as tail markers again in in 52.22. There were 268 finishers.
*The first three finishers were: Martin Green (NWRRC) in 18.08, with Belinda Brennan (Bramhall Runners) 2nd overall (and the 1st female), with a new PB in 19.18, and Harry Driscoll (NWRRC) was 3rd in 19.38. The 2nd and 3rd female athletes included, Carla Green (NWRRC) in 20.35 and Jamie Lee 3rd in 21.17.
*Praise was given to the run director Gwyn Williams, and to all the volunteers and marshalls. This is a link to the provisional results from Conwy: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/
Other parkrun results
*Gloucester: Regular travellers Ben and Sarah Ferguson performed well again on their debuts at Gloucester last Saturday, where Ben finished 20th in 22.29, and 2nd in his VM45 cat, whilst Sarah was 26th, the 3rd female finisher, and 2nd in her VW45 age cat.
*Prestatyn: Stuart Culverhouse finished 8th at the Nova Parkrun at Prestatyn and he won his VM50 age cat in 20.36.
*Penrhyn: Nia Lister made her debut at the Penrhyn Castle Parkrun and enjoyed her outing in 94th place in 29.30.