Youngsters lead way to fast times at a soggy Halloween Conwy Parkrun

Report and photographs by Don Hale

It was a rather soggy and spooky Conwy Parkrun with mist and a steady drizzle, yet this heavy weather still failed to deter a hardy bunch of regular and travelling athletes from enjoying a Halloween special event last Saturday morning.

And despite another waterlogged 5k course, with many runners wearing Halloween outfits, a posse of five youngsters, including one from Yorkshire, and another from the West Midlands, ensured it made for a fast pace at the top end of the scale, with 12 competitors dipping under 20 minutes.

Teenager Dion Griffith claimed 1st place, and also won his SM18-19 age cat in just 16 minutes and 27 seconds, which was quite a remarkable time in those conditions. He was followed by Alex Mosley (Doncaster AC) in 17.21 and 2nd SM18-19 cat, while local youngster Alfie Shiland (Colwyn Bay AC) finished 3rd, but won his JM11-14 age cat in 17.50.

The next two places also went to some exceptional young athletes with James Smith (Menai Track & Field) 4th overall and 3rd SM18-19 in 18.07, and Cian Wood (Dudley and Stourbridge) finished 5th, but won his JM15-17 in 18.25.

Anna Drinkwater eventually took prime position for the ladies in 19.53, and was 12th overall, with Ella Leonard on her debut recording 21.30 in 20th place, and Colwyn Bay junior Ella Grundy claiming the 3rd spot, in 22nd overall, and won her JW15-17 in 21.37.

North Wales Road Runners entered eight and claimed seven podium places including two age category wins, but it proved to be a tough challenge in trying to chase down this amazing pack of youngsters for Mark Jessett, who was the first club man home in 6th place overall.

Mark, however, was still very pleased with his time of 18.28 to win the MV35. Steve Mason was 10th in 19.28 and 2nd MV45, with Will Williams 13th in 20,10 and first MV50.

Gethin Wyn Jones was 2nd MV35, finishing 28th in 22.22, and Adam Lemalle ran well again in 31st place in 22.33, but was 3rd against both Mark and Gethin in the same MV35 cat.

And Rob Fryer tried to shake off a niggling injury but still enjoyed his ‘puddle-run’ in 63rd place overall, and finished 2nd MV65 in 25.41.

Meanwhile, Helen Hannam made a welcome return to parkrun and finished 97th overall and 23rd female finisher in 28.45 to claim 3rd FV45, with Rachel Morris putting in a determined display in 33.35 for 137th place.

*Generous plaudits were given to race director Gwyn Williams and his hard working team of volunteers and marshals and to John Hatton from NWRRC who helped organise and promote last week’s Dark Run which raised about £7k for Hope House and Ty Gobaith Children’s Charities.

Following the parkrun and suitably dressed in his Halloween costume, Gwyn Williams said: “Well done to all 165 runners who joined us today and braved a ridiculously wet Saturday morning. I was genuinely considering cancelling as I drove down at 8am through sheet rain but the volunteers were keen to soldier on so that was that.

“We are very fortunate to have such devoted and hardy volunteers that turn out in all weathers to ensure that parkrun goes ahead. And a particular well done to Cheryl Frost (NWRRC) who completed her 100th volunteering stint, and to Conwy ‘Pete’ regular, Pete Freestone, on completing his 250th today, and tourist Nils Hollmann who chose a waterlogged Conwy Parkrun to reach his own 250 milestone.”

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

Monmouth

NWRRC veterans’ Kay Hatton and Richard Eccles have both been selected to represent North Wales at the Welsh Inter-Regions cross-country challenge in Monmouth on 19th November.

The duo will form part of a large contingent of junior and senior athletes selected on merit. This is the link to the complete list to other selected runners:
http://www.northwalesxc.com/…/Selection-Letter-Welsh…

Bridgnorth

Steve Forsyth and Will Williams took part in the very hilly Bridgnorth 10k race last Sunday and both athletes won their respective age categories.

Steve finished in 5th place overall and won his MV40-49 age cat in 36.23, and Will also won his MV50-59 age cat in 17th place in 39.55, and said he was pleased with a much-improved performance from the previous week at Knutsford.