Top placings battle by elite runners at Conwy Parkrun

Report by Don Hale. Most photographs by Steve Jeffery

Conwy Parkrun witnessed a keen battle for top placings by a host of elite athletes on a near perfect morning at the RSPB site, where several records were smashed and fast times recorded.

And despite three superb parkrun PB’s by North Wales Road Runners Martin Green, Josh Keogh, and Mark Jessett, all were unable to match the fast pace of the first-placed visiting man Jonathan Goringe.

Goringe from Birchfield Harriers easily won the challenge and also set a new course record for his M30-34 age cat, finishing 51 seconds ahead of Martin Green in 16 minutes and 6 seconds.

However, Martin won his VM 45-49 cat in 16.57, and Keogh finished 3rd in 17.48, and was 2nd M30-34.

Jessett seems to go faster each week, and he claimed another great parkrun PB in 17.50 and won his VM 35.39 age cat, finishing just two-seconds adrift of club rival Josh in a sprint finish.

NWRRC entered 17 club members among the 281 finishers and claimed three age cat wins, five second placings, and three in third. And the first 13 runners all dipped under 20 minutes.

Harry Driscoll was 9th and 2nd in his SM20-24 cat in 19.16, and it was good to see Rory Middleton back at parkrun following a long absence, finishing 15th overall and 3rd SM30-34 in 20.10.

Tony Price-Jones finished 46th in 23.00, and master vet Peter Armstrong ran the third fastest Conwy parkrun time for his VM70-74 age cat, finishing 2nd in his group in 23.28, and he was only beaten following a superb run by record-breaking speedy visitor Sandy Johnson (Les Croupiers), who completed the course on his debut in just 22.41.

Partially-sighted athlete Daniel Owens ran with guide Richard Eccles and finished 54th in a much-improved time of 23.29, with master vet Don Hale 58th and 2nd M65-69 cat in 23.41. Fellow vet Rob Fryer improved his previous time for 3rd MV65-69 cat in 24.22, and Jamie Tharme was 71st in 24.32.

Lesley Goodson was another club runner making a welcome return to parkrun and she was the first female club runner, and won her VW55-59 age cat, finishing 82nd overall and 7th lady in 24.56.

Mia Morris finished 113th overall and 2nd JW15-17 cat in 27.06, with another master vet Ian Turner completing a remarkable record of four consecutive parkrun PBs in 27.46. Mike Hayton was yet another veteran returnee, having a fine run in 214th place, for 3rd VM70-74 in 32.57, with Rachel Morris finishing 219th in 33.24.

*Stuart Culverhouse ran with his young son Joe at the Nova Prestatyn Parkrun last Saturday with the pair finishing in 26th and 27th places respectively in 23.58. Joe also won his JM10 age cat.

This is the link to Conwy Parkrun’s provisional results: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/

Podium place for Llyr in Sandman Duathlon challenge

Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts finished in 2nd place overall and claimed a podium finish in the challenging Sandman Duathlon event on Anglesey last Saturday.

The NWRRC athlete continued his remarkable progress in recent duathlons and won his age category.

After the race Llyr said: “This was a warm-up for the Caernarfon Half-Marathon, and I have to be happy with a podium place in this event. It was my first one since I started doing them. The winner was 13-years my junior, but I was second fastest in both the runs and the bike. The last few miles were on sand and sand dunes. My legs were gone but I’m really chuffed!”

Samantha competed at Llyn Alwen trail race

NWRRC athlete Samantha Williams ran well again at last weekend’s Llyn Alwen and Canicross trail race, finishing 12th female and 33rd overall out of 73 who completed.

Sam, who has taken a sudden shine to fell and trail running of late, completed the difficult and undulating 11.5k course in just 1 hour 9 minutes and 26 seconds.

*This is the link to the provisional results:
https://bespokefitness.niftyentries.com/Results/Llyn-Alwen-Trail-Canicross-11-5K-1?ResultSetupId=40709bff-3f08-47bc-be0f-ec0e6c8ea7cc#

Nick Beer race raised £2,500 for St David’s Hospice and Lions charities

This year’s re-arranged Nick Beer 10k race in Llandudno helped to raise over £2,500 for local charitable causes.

Event organisers North Wales Road Runners confirmed this week that donations including £900 from the 10k race income, and £500 from the children’s fun run have been handed over to St David’s Hospice, making a total of £1,400; with a further £1,100 donated to the Lions Club of Llandudno for their designated charities.