Welsh athletes starred at Dublin International cross-country championships

Report by Don Hale

A large contingent of Welsh athletes travelled to Ireland last Saturday to take part in the 33rd British & Irish Open International Masters Cross-Country Championships which this year was held at Santry, near Dublin.

Nearly 400 elite athletes from five competing nations took part in this spectacular event which attracted entries from male and female club runners aged from 35 to 75 plus.

North Wales was well represented with runners from NWRRC, GOG Triathlon, Prestatyn, Eryri Harriers, Wrexham, Buckley and many other top local clubs involved in a series of very competitive races over varying distances.

Road Runners Martin Green and his wife Carla ran well, yet this dedicated duo appeared slightly disappointed by their results.

Martin finished a highly credible 26th in 30.13 in his M45 race, with Carla 14th W50 in 24.31.

Martin later said: “It was a very high standard, and I was a lowly 26th. Carla was ill, but as usual she played down her chances, but it was much better than could be expected.”

Wrexham runner Luke Northall enjoyed one of the best results on the day, and he later confirmed: “I came 12th yesterday. I am over the moon and the first Welshman home too, only beaten by two Englishmen. Two days racing and two sprint finishes and won them both. Days are gone where I was good enough to win races – now it’s about the Welsh team.”

There were some additional superb performances from other male team members, with plaudits given to Matt Edmonds, Matt Harvey, Huw Evans, Graham Jones, Martin Cortvriend and Barrie Parham in particular.

For the ladies, Lucy Marland, Gemma Moore, Helen Sharpe, Joanne Rees, Emma Collins and Fiona Davies claimed some great results, and all credit to master veteran GOG athlete Ann d’Albuquerque, who had an incredible run, not long after competing in the Snowdonia Marathon.

I have included the provisional results link (*below) from a complicated system, involving mixed age category runners in combined races, later separated by their finishing times in their respective age groups, and points gained.

I have shown where possible, the individual Welsh results with their placings and finishing times.

The Irish Masters Association of Ireland, who hosted the event, stated: “Participants were made feel very welcome and special, and so they should. Athletes qualified for their countries after battling it out for a place on their national team.

“Each year seems to increase with the quality and increased performance needed in the qualifying process. This makes that national team place feel better earned and gives the athletes even more pride in wearing their national singlet.”

Welsh male runners

M35: Luke Northall (12) 27.19; Matt Edmonds (16) 27.28; Daniel Trigg (22) 28.18 and Andrew Cleverly (26) 28.59. M40: Matt Harvey (9) 27.36; Steven Skates (15) 28.21; Joel Gomes (19) 28.30; Owen Schiavone (21) 28.50. M45: Simon Lewis (14) 28.29; Chris Callaghan (17); Mark Jennings (18) 28.55; Martin Green (26) 30.13. M50: Huw Evans (13) 29.07; Richard Jones (21) 30.33; Jon Carter (27) 32.04; Jez Brown (28) 32.44. M55: Colin Williams (15) 31.32; Jeremy Mower (16) 31.41; David Williams (18) 31.51. M65: Graham Jones (5) 23.00; Dave Watson (16) 25.23; Cyril Williams (19) 27.17. M70: Martin Cortvriend (23) 25.53; Mike Davies (47) 29.53. M75: Barrie Parham (9) 28.42; Paul Allen (15) 31.45; Gareth Hughes (16) 31.46; Dic Evans (20) 34.25.

Welsh female runners

W35: Lucy Marland (5) 21.17; Gemma Moore (10) 22.16; Louise Flynn (11) 22.37. W40: Helen Sharpe (15) 23.13; Georgie Parnell (16) 23.13; Wendy Price (1) 23.56; Llinos Jones 24.15. W45: Joanne Rees (16) 25.15; Jane Doughton (18) 25.46; Mel Morris (19) 26.04. W50: Tracy Collins (12) 24.05; Carla Green (14) 24.31; Kay Chapman (19) 26.51. W60: Emma Collins (9) 25.58; Cath Wheeler (10) 26.18; Margaret Ludden (17) 28.32. W65: Fiona Davies (9) 29.01; Tricia Hurst (13) 30.00; Andrea Webster (14) 30.02; Ann d’Albuquerque (24) 32.03; Maggie Oliver (29) 36.20.

*These are the provisional results from the Dublin International cross-country races:
https://www.myrunresults.com/events/british__irish_open_international_masters_xc/4580/results

Road Runner Mark dazzled in the sun at Conwy Parkrun

Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.

Road Runner Mark Jessett turned in another dazzling performance to match the bright sunshine at Conwy Parkrun last Saturday and ran home as the first finisher overall.

He also won his MV35 age category in a fast-finishing time of 17 minutes and 54 seconds.

Mark led home a team of nine club members, who collected six podium placings, including five age cat victories, and he finished about 30 seconds ahead of his nearest rival Dave Hughes who was 2nd with a PB of 18.21, with Osian Griffiths 3rd in 18.38.

The 1st Lady was Ella Leonard, who was 13th overall in 21.53, with Kristen Luke (Eryri Harriers) 2nd female and 19th overall in 22.21, with Ffion Roberts the 3rd female in 22.35 and 22nd overall.

This event attracted 200 finishers, including runners of all ages and abilities.

Will Williams was another NWRRC member in top form and he finished 4th overall and won his MV50 cat in 19.08, with club colleague Steve Mason pushing Will all the way to claim 6th place in 20.05 – and he topped his MV45 cat.

Club newcomer Mal Preece made a successful parkrun debut to finish 15th in 22.02 to win his MV60 age cat, and Gethin Wyn Jones was 36th overall in 23.38, with veteran Rob Fryer 56th in 25.32, and 2nd MV65.

Kevin Higgins made a rare appearance at parkrun in preparation for next week’s Conwy Half Marathon and ran well in 65th place in 26.01, with John Dalzell, running with his energetic young dog remained hot on Kevin’s heels and finished just three seconds behind in 66th spot in 26.04.

Master vet Don Hale continued his recovery from injury, and celebrated his 150th parkrun run by knocking over a minute off his time from last week to finish 89th in 27.45, and he also won his MV70 age cat.

Praise was again given to the race director and to all the volunteers and marshals.

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

Other race results

*Greenfield Valley: NWRRC’s Stuart Culverhouse won his MV50 age cat finishing in 5th place overall in 20.14 at the Greenfield Valley Parkrun last Saturday.
*Macclesfield: Master veteran Mike Hayton ran with his nephew Pete at the Macclesfield Parkrun and finished in 113th place, and he too won his MV70 age cat in 31.17.