Martin shares slice of the glory at Village Bakery Half Marathon

Report by Don Hale

North Wales Road Runner Martin Green shared a deserved slice of the glory at the Village Bakery Half Marathon at Wrexham.

And he was one of 13 NWRRC members who also battled for club championship points and claimed three prestigious podium places.

In a star-studded field of nearly 1,400 elite, club, and social runners, Martin performed well again to finish 15th overall with an impressive chip time of 1 hour 13 minutes and 53 seconds to additionally win his MV45 age cat.

The overall race was won by Gavin Tomlinson (Chorlton Runners) in a fast time of 1.08.01, with Russell Bentley (Kent AC) 2nd in 1.08.36 and Michael Young (West Cheshire) 3rd in 1.09.03.

With Martin leading the team home, his determined efforts also spurred on club mates Will Williams, who finished in 1.24.18 in 123rd place and Iwan Evans, 152nd in 1.27.39.

Carla Green was 26th female runner over the line, and claimed 3rd place in her VW50 age cat in 1.29.40.

Stuart Culverhouse was another athlete in good form, placing 216th in 1.31.32, and Jamie Tharme ran hard for 308th in 1.41.28.

Kay Hatton was pleased with her result as the 73rd female in 1.43.09, and 2nd MV55, with colleague Cheryl Frost 3rd MV55 and 76th female in 1.44.40, while Nicola Wylie recorded a new PB as the 110th female runner in 1.53.03.

In addition, Steve Roberts achieved 433rd place in 1.53.18, and it was good to see Kevin Higgins back to his best, coming home in 480th, and dipping just under the two-hour mark in 1.59.04.

Helen Hannam completed her marathon trial as the 149th female in 2.07.20, and veteran Len Jackson also put in another good shift in 585th place in 2.15.28.

Caernarfon Half Marathon

Mandy Owen was the only NWRRC runner in the Caernarfon half, which was run on the same day as the Village Bakery event.

Mandy said she was promised rain but had to endure boiling hot conditions, yet she still recorded a good result, finishing 79th female runner in 2.20.52.

*This is the link to the provisional results at the Village Bakery half-marathon:
https://runcheshire.niftyentries.com/Results/Village-Bakery-Wrexham-Half-Marathon-2022

Steve celebrated his birthday in style at Conwy Parkrun

Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery

Steve Forsyth celebrated his birthday in style at Conwy on Saturday, where he was the first parkrunner home and finished more than a minute ahead of his nearest rivals.

The North Wales Road Runner also brought the best out of the chasing pack with Hari Jackson (Manchester Metro University AC) finishing in 2nd place in 17.31, and Carl Shawcross (Medway), in 3rd spot in 17.52, with both recording impressive new PBs over this challenging 5k course.

The first female runner was JW15-17 runner Olivia Jones in 21.45

Steve, who finished in just 17 minutes and 21 seconds and won his MV40 cat, eventually led a team back of 11 other senior club members and one junior, claiming seven podium places altogether, including six age category victories.

Steve Mason was back to his best in 4th place, and he also won his M45 cat in 19.01, with Harry Driscoll additionally winning his SM20 cat in 6th place overall in 19.23. Endurance athlete John Dalzell finished well in 15th place in 20.22, and Stuart Culverhouse was 37th in 23.10.

Carla Green was the 5th female runner overall, in 40th place, but won her VW50 age cat in 23.30, and Carla finished just ahead of colleague Jamie Tharme in 42nd place in 23.37. Veteran Rob Fryer was another age cat winner in 68th place overall but was 1st in his MV65 cat in 25.19.

Dave Spofforth ran around with his son Ben in 95th/96th places, but Ben also won his JM10 cat in 27.11.

Sue Smith was 3rd VW55, finishing in 137th place overall in 30.28, with her husband Mike Smith crossing the line in 167th place in 32.45, and Darren Griss was 171st in 32.57.

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