North Wales athletes raise funds and run the miles for RNLI Mayday appeal

Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Steve Jeffery.

Four mixed teams of athletes from North Wales Road Runners enjoyed a relay run in the sun last Sunday on Llandudno Promenade as they helped to raise funds for the RNLI as part of their Mayday Mile appeal.

For many of the 20 runners, this was their first competitive “live” run for about 15 months, and thankfully the cool, windy, and rainswept weather of recent days disappeared for a couple of hours to allow everyone to thoroughly enjoy the occasion.

Despite this necessary time absence from major events due to Covid-19 restrictions, several club runners still recorded PBs (personal best times), and the event included members aged from 16-70 years of age.

Team 2 eventually claimed victory in this RNLI run-a-mile relay challenge, which incorporated a half-mile route out and back along the promenade, starting from close to the new Lifeboat house.

Their overall time was 31 minutes 38 seconds, with Team 3 second in 35.08; Team 1 finished in third place, and they were just 17 seconds adrift in 35.34, with Team 4 (who competed virtually) in fourth spot in 41.55.

The fastest miler on the day was Josh Keogh in a remarkable time of just 5 mins 6 seconds, but Gethin Wyn Jones gave his colleague a very close run in second place in 5.43, with Stuart Culverhouse third in 6 mins 5 secs.

Out of the nine lady runners who took part, Carla Green was the first female finisher in 6.32, this time playing a *support role, with Sarah Ferguson-Hudson second in 6.44, and Mia Morris third in 6.57.

The high standard of the relay was additionally confirmed, as 11 runners dipped under 7 mins. And a stark contrast in ages was highlighted by similar, superb performances from relay team-mates, 16-year-old Mia Morris in 6.57; and M65 veteran Kevin Slattery in 6.26.
In addition, partially sighted runner *Daniel Owens made a welcome return to racing, and supported by Carla Green, deservedly formed a key part of the winning team, recording an impressive individual finishing time of 6 minutes 32 seconds.

There were plaudits too for Mia Morris’s mother Rachel, who had her first light run out for many months following a severe leg injury, and M70 vet Peter Armstrong, who has recently returned to club colours, enjoyed a very good run in 6.57.

Individual and team results in relay running order:

1st place Team 2: (31.38): Josh Keogh 5.06, Kay Hatton 7.09, John Doe 6.08, Gethin Wyn Jones 5.43, *Daniel Owens 6.32 (with Carla Green).
2nd place Team 3: (35.08): Peter Armstrong 6.57, Don Hale 7.06, Stuart Culverhouse 6.05, Hannah Griffith 7.15, Samantha Williams 7.45.
3rd place Team 1: (35.34): Charlie Owen 8.02, Steve Poupart 6.28, Vicky Taylor 7.41, Mia Morris 6.57, Kevin Slattery 6.26.
4th place Team 4: (41.55): Ben Hudson 6.23, Sarah Ferguson-Hudson 6.44, Pat Finnie 7.23, Helen Hannam 7.54, and Rachel Morris 13.15.

At the time of writing NWRRC have raised about £200 towards the RNLI appeal fund, and a generous donation from Tesco was also handed over to Lifeboat officials on Sunday by race organisers John Hatton and Carla Green, who each received due praise from all runners and supporters.

*Mayday is a call for help. Usually, RNLI lifesavers answer mayday calls and go to rescue others. But today, with a busy summer on the way, they need YOUR help. The Mayday Mile is a way to answer their call. If anyone is able to donate towards this worthy cause, please use this NWRRC fundraising link:
https://themaydaymile.rnli.org/fundraising/NWRRCforRNLI?fbclid=IwAR3Kco68lxyCuGRE4AFC7T-e2G2y8c0Li-RLgIJJVwQuFN_CzdC5yYSX3NM