Carla Green leads North Wales pack at Chester Half-Marathon

Report by Don Hale

North Wales Road Runners entered eight athletes at the Essa Chester Half Marathon last Sunday and Carla Green was again the pick of the pack finishing as second female in her respective age category and seventh lady in this prestigious race which attracted over 3,000 entrants.

And it proved a hectic weekend for the local club now that most parkruns are back to near normal – and the fact the Chester race clashed with the new Caernarfon Half Marathon.

Carla Green, however, confirmed her top form and celebrated a superb run at Chester in 92nd place overall with a chip time of 1 hour 25 minutes and 55 seconds, and she was also 2nd in her F45-49 age cat.

Jon Evans also made a welcome return to endurance racing with a very respectable time of 1.46.48 in 556th place, and Kay Hatton kept up her consistent pace for the ladies as the 90th female runner and 690th overall in 1.51.08.

The ever-present duo of partners Kelly-Marie Alford and Cai Roberts ran together and finished in 2.05.10 for 1,334th and 1,335th positions, with Mandy Owen improving her fitness to finish in 2.09.11 in 1,471st place.

Rachel Morris was another vast improver and recorded a good result of 2.31.50 in 2,052nd position, with Mandy’s husband and popular local football referee Charlie Owen tackling the course, despite previously blowing the whistle at four matches over the weekend.

Following her Chester run, Rachel Morris, confirmed: “I’m absolutely made up with my time today. My fitness is returning much better than I expected. Not too shabby considering I’ve been badly injured. My whole body hurt by miles 7-10, but then I got a second wind and powered on through. I absolutely love this race.”

*The race attracted 3,272 finishers and was won by Jonathan Escalante-Phillips (Cambridge & Coleridge AC) in 1.06.36, with 2nd Charlie Hulson (Liverpool Harriers) 1.07.02, and 3rd Daniel Jarvis (Bedford & Country) 1.07.09. The Ladies race was won by Tracy Barlow (Thames Valley) in 1.20.12.

*This is the link to the provisional results from the Essar Chester half-marathon:
https://ale.niftyentries.com/Results/Essar-Chester-Half-Marathon-2021

Podium finish for Jonathan Kettle at Caernarfon Half Marathon

Report by Don Hale

Seven members of NWRRC entered the new Caernarfon Half Marathon last Sunday with two club runners finishing in the top 10, and Jonathan Kettle enjoyed a podium finish in 3rd place.

Jonathan also won his VM45-49 age category and confirmed a steady performance to clinch his bronze medal placing in 1 hour 17 minutes and 22 seconds.

He was closely followed by Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts, who was back on his home patch again and finished 5th overall and 2nd VM45-49 in 1.21.43.

Stuart Culverhouse ran very well and was 24th in 1.30.51, and Steve Roberts was another athlete in form, claiming 2nd place in his respective FV55-59 age cat and 35th overall in 1.37.36.

Jamie Tharme enjoyed his race and finished 69th in 1.45.17. Helen Hannam recorded a great new PB in 106th spot in 1.53.54, and Vicky Taylor was pleased with her performance in 169th place in 2.04.47.

After the race, a delighted Helen Hannam admitted: “Caernarfon half-marathon PB smashed! I’m absolutely chuffed to bits. I‘ve been training hard for that. It was a lovely course, well marshalled and great support throughout.”

*The race highlighted 284 finishers, and it was won by Rhodri Owen in 1.14.23, with Dion Griffith 2nd in 1.16.40, and Jonathan Kettle 3rd in 1.17.22. Clare Walton won the ladies race in 1.27.15.

*Caernarfon half-marathon provisional results:
https://www.runwales.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Overall-Results.pdf