Fundraising appeal launched by RNLI for runners to support their Mayday Mile

Report by Don Hale

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has launched an urgent fundraising campaign for individual runners or running clubs to help them promote and support their Mayday Mile Appeal.

Catherine Tudor, community manager, for North and Mid Wales, said: “RNLI lifesavers answer Mayday calls and rescue others, but this May, we’re asking for your help, so will you answer our call?

“As the beaches fill up this summer, our lifesavers will be at their busiest. With more people drawn to the water, more people will get into danger. It could be you or someone you love, and crews needs to be ready, and that takes lifeboats, training kit, lifeboat stations, and fuel.

“Can you help get our lifesavers ready for rescue this summer? Would local runners, or your own running club consider taking part in our Mayday Mile Appeal?

“We’re asking supporters to get creative and create their own challenge – like running a mile every day in May, organising a relay challenge, or even running a mile every 24-hours?”

Catherine also added that the Mayday Mile can be completed any time in May wherever you want, on the beach, in the park, on a treadmill, or running around your garden. There are no rules!

If anyone has any questions, queries, or other ideas, on how you can get involved, she is available via email: Catherine_Jones@rnli.org.uk

*Anyone interested in supporting the RNLI appeal can sign up as a team or individually, with full details available on their website: http://www.RNLI.org/Mayday

Hot pace for top athletes at Conwy Parkrun

Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery

It was an incredibly bright, sunny, and warm start for nearly 200 Conwy parkrunners last Saturday with the first 11 athletes setting a hot pace to record some superb times and all dipping under the 20-minute barrier.

Ian Lawton (Mersey Tri) was the first finisher overall in a very fast time of just 16 minutes and 4 seconds over this challenging 5k course, with James Yarwood (Abergele Harriers) second despite a great new PB, and finishing exactly one minute behind Ian in 17.04, whilst local junior Alfie Shirland (Colwyn Bay AC) claimed third place with another good run in 17.43 to win his JM11-14 age cat.

North Wales Road Runners entered 11 senior members and one junior with Will Williams continuing to impress following another fine effort in 7th place, and he was also 1st in his MV45-49 age cat in 19.24, with Martin Green 9th and 2nd in the same cat in 19.40.

Three other club members packed well and fought a close battle for additional top placings, with Stuart Culverhouse 10th overall and 3rd in his MV50-54 cat in 19.55, with Steve Mason just one-second behind Stuart in 11th place, and 3rd in his MV45-49 cat in 19.56, and Gethin Wyn Jones also ran well to finish 14th and 2nd in his MV35.39 cat in 20.26.

Veteran Sean Butler turned in another good performance in 29th place, and he was also 2nd in his MV60-64 age cat in 22.10. And young Ben Spofforth running with father Dave, recorded a second consecutive PB, knocking 40-seconds off his previous best to finish 96th overall and 2nd in his JM10 age cat in 27.53, with Dave 97th in 27.54.

Sue Smith deservedly won her VW55-59 age cat with another determined display in 111th place overall and the 25th female in 28.44, whilst Gwennan Charlton claimed 3rd place in her VW35-39 age cat finishing 122nd overall, and the 31st female in 29.37, with veteran Mike Smith 154th in 32.40.
*This is the link to the provisional results at Conwy Parkrun: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/