Fast times for North Wales club trio at Mid-Cheshire 5k race
Report by Don Hale
Three North Wales Road Runners competed in the Mid-Cheshire 5k road race last Friday night which proved to be another ultra-fast event for a host of top club and elite athletes.
Run over a course known for its speedy times and personal best results, the race attracted 848 finishers for this popular summer challenge.
Just 30 seconds eventually separated the first 10 finishers, and incredibly, some 28 athletes all dipped under 15 minutes!
Martin Green was the first NWRRC man home, 124th place in a superb time of 16 minutes and 10 seconds, and yet he was 7th in his MV45 age cat.
Will Williams was delighted with his time of 17.39 in 289th place, with Harry Driscoll (364th) following another excellent run in 18.52.
The overall race was won by Adam Craig in just 14.09, with Kurt Taylor (Bristol & West AC) 2nd in 14.15 and Ben Brown (Southampton AC) 3rd in 14.18.
*This is the link to the provisional results from the Mid-Cheshire 5k race:
https://runcheshire.niftyentries.com/Results/Mid-Cheshire-5k-Summer-2022
Road Runners battled for club points and podium places at Nova Parkrun
Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffrey
Eleven members of NWRRC travelled to Prestatyn last Saturday to compete in the Nova Parkrun as part of their revised 5k club championship events, with the run organisers recording their best attendance since lockdown.
With numerous open races either being cancelled or rescheduled this year due to the pandemic, the club opted to include this parkrun as an important middle-distance alternative, and members later celebrated with seven podium places, including four age category wins.
And, for all but one of the Road Runners, it meant a course debut at this parkrun venue, which was also boosted in the sunshine by supporters of the cancer charity – ‘Your Way, Move Against Cancer.’
Martin Green led the club team home despite competing in an elite 5k race in Cheshire the night before.
He eventually finished 4th overall out of 162 runners, in a time of 19 minutes and 45 seconds – and also won his MV45 age cat.
Stuart Culverhouse, the only club finisher to have run at this event before, was 6th and won his MV50 cat in 20.13, with Gethin Wyn Jones 12th in 21.21.
Carla Green was the first female finisher in 14th place overall and won her FV50 cat in 21.29. Cheryl Frost and Kay Hatton enjoyed another bout of friendly rivalry, with Cheryl narrowly finishing just one-second and one place ahead of her colleague. Cheryl was 29th overall and won her FV55 cat in 23.29, with Kay 30th and 2nd FV55 cat in 23.30.
Nicola Wylie ran well to claim 37th place and 2nd FV50 in 24.34, with veteran Rob Fryer 41st and 3rd MV65 in 25.39. And it was a rare parkrun outing for fellow vet Len Jackson who finished 63rd, and 4th MV65.
Helen Hannam was 4th FV45 in 28.43, whilst Rachel Morris finished 92nd overall, and 4th FV40 in 31.01.
The event was won by Andrew Wallace in 17.52, with local runner Stephen Skates (Prestatyn RC) 2nd in 18.23, with Matthew Baker 3rd in 18.25.
*This is the link to the Nova Prestatyn parkrun results:
https://www.parkrun.org.uk/novaprestatyn/results/latestresults/
Josh and Steve claim age cat wins at Conwy Parkrun
Report by Don Hale
Only two North Wales Road Runners took part in the Conwy Parkrun last Saturday due to the club 5k dash at Prestatyn and other fixture clashes, but both members won their respective age categories and finished within the top 10.
Josh Keogh was the first club man home in 2nd place overall with a fast time of 17 minutes and 13 seconds to win his SM30-34 age cat, and Steve Mason also produced a rapid ending to take ninth overall in 19.04, and top MV45.
The event was won by first-time Conwy parkrunner and tourist Keith Swainson (Sheffield RC) in 17.04, who finished just 9 seconds ahead of Josh.
Ian Hales (Redhill Road Runners), claimed the 3rd spot in 18.11, and first female athlete was former NWRRC member Gemma Moore (Eryri Harriers) in 19.57.
This week’s parkrun at Conwy attracted a bumper Bank Holiday attendance of 241 finishers, with many travelling from far afield just to enjoy this picturesque 5k course staged in bright, warm, and sunny conditions.
First medals for juniors at fell race
It proved to be a family affair at the Dufton Show fell race last weekend after NWRRC member Dave Spofforth made a last-minute decision to run.
He competed in his road shoes and said he even stopped at the top for a moment to take some photos.
His young son Ben and daughter Elowen ran in the junior event, with Ben finishing 2nd overall, but won his JM10-11 junior age cat, whilst Elowen claimed the 3rd spot.
Dave explained that it was not a huge entry but said both youngsters won their first medals.