Tourist boost as Conwy Parkrun attracts a massive turnout

An amazing 368 people took part in last Saturday’s Conwy Parkrun despite the breezy and very muddy conditions.

The event also attracted runners from as far afield as Lincoln, Ireland, Birmingham and Harwich, with 106 first-timers noted.

Seven North Wales Road Runners Club members also took part in the challenge with Tony Price-Jones and Mark Jessett enjoying a very close tussle for 10th and 11th places respectively, with Tony finally edging ahead by just one second in 19 mins 25 secs to claim 2nd VM35 cat placing. Mark, however, was still able to land 1st spot in his own SM30 category.

Teenager Harry Driscoll had a good run to finish in 17th place in 20.37 for 2nd SM18 cat, with veteran Don Hale in 41st (23.11) for 2nd M65 cat. Stuart Culverhouse, running with his young son Joe, was 94th in 25.29 and Helen Hannam finished 121st in 26.40 for 2nd VW40, with colleague Rachel Morris close to her PB in 30.43.

Newborough Parkrun

Marathon man Jon Evans, just back from his exploits in Poland, ran on tired legs with 209 other runners at the Newborough Parkrun on Anglesey last weekend but still recorded an excellent time of 23.38 for 23rd place.

Club duo on the run overseas

Two NWRRC hopefuls took part in very hot overseas races last week as tourists with Michael (Pat) Finnie surviving the 30-degree heat of Almuñécar in the Province of Granada, Spain, to record a time of 28 mins 20 secs during a 6k event; and marathon man Jon Evans claimed a new course record in similar hot conditions at the Gdańsk Marathon on Poland’s Baltic coast last Thursday to finish in 3 hrs 56 mins 26 secs.

And on Saturday, after dashing back home, Jon later ran in the Newborough Parkrun, and then travelled to Fleetwood on Sunday to compete in a half-marathon, and despite a strong headwind still finished in a very decent 1 hr 48 mins 15 secs.

Quarry challenge and Tywyn Race the Train event

Husband and wife duo Ben Hudson and Sarah Ferguson-Hudson celebrated good runs and course records last weekend at the Tywyn ‘Race the Train’ challenge.

Despite having to contend with very muddy, hilly, and windswept conditions over this gruelling 14-mile course, Ben ran home in 1 hr 58 mins 41 secs, with Sarah finishing in 2.18.01.

Meanwhile, club colleague Kay Hatton claimed 2nd place in her age category battling identical conditions at the associated Quarry Challenge 10k race, finishing strongly in 56 mins 40 secs.

TWO MEMBERS IN INTER-COUNTIES RACE

Two NWRRC athletes were in fine form last Sunday as they represented North Wales at the Inter-Counties Challenge within the Birchwood 10k race.

Competing against the best athletes from Staffordshire and Cheshire, Martin Green finished 14th overall in 34 mins 24 secs, and Gemma Moore was 17th in the ladies section in a good time of 40.54.

Both the male and female placings were very close with the North Wales men’s team finishing with 26 points – just a point behind Staffs – and a point ahead of Cheshire.

The ladies just missed out on the honours, finishing in 3rd spot with 27 points, two behind winners Cheshire, and one less than Staffs.

CLUB TRIO IN TREFRIW MILLS TRAIL RACE

Club endurance athlete Mark Davies finished 4th in the difficult Trefriw Mills trail race last Saturday.

The experienced fell and trail runner battled hard over the 10-mile plus course, which also included some 3,000ft of ascent.

Colleagues Karl Morris and Kevin Slattery also competed in the same event with Karl finishing as the second club member home, and Kevin also running well to claim a deserved MV60 cat win.

NEW PBs AT BLACKPOOL LIGHTS 10K

Three club runners claimed new PBs at the Run the Lights 10k at Blackpool last Saturday evening.

Steve Roberts celebrated a new fastest time and was 1st M50 cat in 41 mins 34 secs, with partners Kelly Alford and Cai Roberts enjoying new course PBs.

Held in very breezy and wet conditions with a strong headwind along the prom, Kelly clocked 51.26, missing her overall best time by just 22 seconds, and was 5th in her age category, with Cai recording a highly credible 53 minutes.