Fast and furious running at the Welsh Athletics 5k race at Rhyl

Peter Armstrong in action in a previous race

Report by Don Hale

It was another fast and furious 5k Welsh Athletics race at Rhyl’s Marsh Tracks last Sunday afternoon, which was again run in very warm and humid conditions.

The race, which was the third in a special series of four events, attracted a wealth of high-quality male and female athletes.

Both the men’s and women’s events recorded incredibly fast times, with the first seven men dipping under 19 minutes, and the first seven women finishing below 22.

North Wales master veteran runners Peter Armstrong and Don Hale were the only NWRRC representatives due to several fixture clashes, but both recorded season’s best times, and each won their respective age categories.

Peter enjoyed a very good run and finished 15th overall in 23 minutes 2 seconds for his 1st place M70 cat win. Don was hot on his heels and improved his time on this course from last month by 23 seconds, finishing 16th in 23.18, and he was 1st the M65 cat winner, but was unable to match Peter’s extremely fast start.

Don Hale

Prestatyn entered six runners and claimed the first two placings with Steve Forsyth (M40) recording a fantastic winning time of 15.54, with club colleague Canyon Wilson (SM) finishing 2nd in 16.18, and exciting teenager Dion Wilson from (Menai Track & Field), ran a very close 3rd in 16.31, and claimed the 1st U17M age cat win.

Another Prestatyn athlete, Roger Harrison-Jones won his M80 age category in a magnificent time of 30.49; and in stark contrast, young Colwyn Bay athlete Iestyn Evans ran an amazing 22.04 as an U13B.

For the Ladies, Carol Parsons (Cheshire Dragons) and W40 winner, finished 1st in 17.31, with club colleague Sara Avery 2nd in 18.17 and 1st W55, with Lucie Goddard very close behind in 3rd place, from (Buckley AC) in 18.19, and she was also the 1st Senior Woman.

Once again, athletes travelled from far and wide to take part in this very fast and well organised Welsh Athletics event, with clubs from Wolverhampton and Bilston, Cheshire Dragons, Vale Royal, Maldwyn Harriers, and Menai T&F, amongst many others also represented.

*Men’s results link:
https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2021/GBR/rhyl5k3/event/1/1/1/
*Female results link:
https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2021/GBR/rhyl5k3/event/2/1/1/