Jonathan Kettle sets hot pace around freezing 16-mile race circuit

Report by Don Hale

Jonathan Kettle set an incredibly hot pace around the freezing cold Oulton Park racing circuit on Sunday morning to easily win his 16-mile endurance race which formed part of the final events schedule for the 2021 Running Grand Prix promotions.

The event held at Little Budworth, Tarporley, included a variety of six different distance races ranging from a 5k to a full marathon, but the talented North Wales Road Runner soon hit top gear in his preferred distance race and adopted cruise control around each of the gruelling six-laps of this famous and undulating course before dipping under the chequered flag.

Jonathan deservedly claimed 1st place overall, despite the bitterly cold and windy conditions, and he also achieved another podium placing after winning his MV45 age cat in 1 hour 36 minutes and 36 seconds.
And quite remarkably, Jonathan finished about 15 minutes ahead of second-placed rival Eloise Eccles (West Cheshire), who was the 1st female finisher in 1.54.09, and the 3rd placed athlete Jonathan Skinner (Hucclecote Harriers) in 1.58.25.

Jamie Tharme claims great new PB at Wilmslow Festive 10k race

North Wales athlete Jamie Tharme knocked more than three minutes off his personal best time at the Wilmslow Festive Half Marathon last Sunday to complete a superb set of results in recent weeks over various distances.

Jamie finished 487th out of more than 4,000 finishers at this popular Cheshire event, recording a great time of 42 minutes and 5 seconds, which was 3 minutes and 12 seconds better than his previous best.

In a very fast race, the overall winner was Matthew Clowes (Cardiff AC) in 28.57, with Paulos Surafel (Thames Valley Harriers) 2nd in 29.13 and Nigel Martin (Sale Harriers) 3rd in 30.07.

*North Wales team manager Paul Brooks took a team to the same event and was delighted by several individual and record-breaking performances.
He said: “Congratulations to Lee Jones (Deeside) on a new NWRAC all-time M50 best of 32.26 set today at the Wilmslow 10km, breaking Mike Weedall’s 33.43, set back in 2006 at Partington. At the same race: Ricky Challinor’s (Cardiff) 30:52 moves him into 9th on the all-ages list and 8th senior. Steven Hayes (Deestriders) is now 2nd M45 with 32.46 and Christine Wyn-Jones (Deeside) is now 10th F60 with 52.35.”

Harry Driscoll raced well at Doncaster

Harry Driscoll continued his impressive form with another quality performance within the Doncaster 10k race.

The NWRRC youngster finished 7th in his junior age cat and was 182nd overall among 1,818 finishers to record an excellent time of 39.32.