Familiar faces return to boost Conwy Parkrun

Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery

Conwy Parkrun welcomed back numerous familiar faces for the second week on the trot as the popular 5k returned to near normal again following several problematic weeks due to pandemic restrictions.

The event was also boosted by an increased attendance of 234 runners on a very cold Saturday morning, but this time it was run over a bone-hard course instead of the usual puddle-filled route and included many first timers and travelling tourists in addition to the usual group of elite athletes.

North Wales Road Runner Josh Keogh was one such returnee and celebrated his first-ever victory at Conwy, together with a superb new course PB, and a deserved age category win.

He was nearly a minute ahead of the talented 2nd placed local youngster Alfie Shiland, who easily who won his JM11-14 cat, in 18.17, and previous parkrun winner Simon Cole (GOG Triathlon) 3rd in 18.35.

Keogh however, led from start to finish and eventually guided home a team of 14 NWRRC members who also recorded four runners in the top-10, and claimed four age cat wins, six second placed wins, and one third placing.

Josh ran home in 17 minutes 36 seconds, knocking 20 seconds off his previous best time on this course, and won his SM30-34 age cat.

Steve Bozier was another man in fine form, and he too claimed an excellent new PB in 8th place overall in 19.33 and 2nd behind Josh in the same age cat.

Steve Mason was just 13 seconds adrift of Steve in 9th place in 19.46 and claimed 2nd spot in his MV45-49 cat, whilst Stuart Culverhouse finished 10th and won his MV50-54 cat again in 20.04.

Veteran Sean Butler was 29th and winner of his MV60-64 cat in 22.36, with youngster Joe Culverhouse 2nd in his JM11-14 cat in 23.21, and Gethin Wyn Jones enjoying a good run in 23.35 and 44th overall to claim 3rd MV35-39

Don Hale finished 2nd again in his master vet MV65-69 age cat and was 68th overall in 24.50, with Mia Morris 112th and 2nd in her JW15-17 cat in 28.04.

In addition, Sue Smith continued her incredible record of near successive weekly PB improvements with another great effort in 119th place overall, and she also won her VW55-59 cat in 28.29.

Meanwhile, Dave Spofforth and his son Ben enjoyed another parkrun outing together, with the junior runner claiming 2nd place in his JM10 cat with both sharing the same time of 29.55.

Mike Smith finished in 176th place in 33.05, and Rachel Morris this week opted to run with her mother Hilda Limacher in 186th position in 34.19. The event also marked three generations of Rachel’s family at parkrun.

*This is the link to the provisional results at Conwy parkrun:
https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/