Loyal athletes battle horrific weather in Run Wales 5k and 10k races

Report by Don Hale

Nine Road Runners took part in the Run Wales Loyalty 5k and 10k races last Saturday despite freezing conditions that included sleet, rain, and snow, and run over a tough course covered in mud with many deep puddles.

Race organisers confirmed this was a non-profit event and offered a free bonus place to runners who had previously entered at least two Run Wales events this year.

Both races utilised what was meant to be a very fast, flat, and scenic course long the cycle tracks from Conwy Bridge to Deganwy Quay and back, but the adverse weather conditions made the events far more of a challenge than expected.

The 5k race attracted 21 runners, and it was won by James Yarwood (Abergele Harriers) in 16.39, with Will Williams from NWRRC claiming a deserved 2nd place overall, and 1st in his MV45 age cat in 18.02, with new club colleague Steve Gardner finishing 3rd, and 1st in his MV60 cat in 19.55.

Jamie Tharme seemed to have recovered quickly from injury and claimed 6th place overall and 2nd in his MV45 cat in 20.46, whilst Mandy Owen ran with her friend Sarah Tuck. Mandy finished 18th in 28.29, and Sarah just ahead of her in 27.49.

The 10k race, which was won by Rob Grantham (Wirral AC) in 35.52, welcomed 79 athletes over the same shared and saturated course as the 5k entrants in similar horrific conditions.

Stuart Culverhouse led a team of four NWRRC members home and finished in 11th place and 2nd in his MV50 age cat in 39.51.

Nicola Wylie was 40th overall and the 6th female runner in 49.20, and she also claimed 2nd spot in her W50 cat.

Helen Hannam battled the elements to finish in 62nd place in 55.18, and Susan Smith was 2nd in her F55 age cat, and in 74th overall in 1.01.59. After the 10k race Helen said: “Loyalty 10k. Thank you to Run Wales. That was horrible, rain, mud, puddles, but the great support and marshalling made it much more bearable, thank you!”

*This is the link to the provisional results for both races:
https://www.runwales.com/calendars/sport-events/results

Telford 10k

Martin Green and his wife Carla Green competed at the Telford 10k last Sunday and battled a difficult course containing snow and ice.

Martin admitted he was not quite at his best due to the challenging conditions but still recorded a good time of 34 minutes and 32 seconds to finish in 269th place overall. Carla was 569th, and the 119th female athlete in 40.06 and she was 7th in her W50 age cat.

*Next weekend: NWRRC will be staging their club handicap 4-mile race next Sunday from West Shore to the old WW2 gun site and back. Registrations required on club FB page.

Josh celebrates his 50th parkrun at Conwy with his 10th win!

Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery

North Wales Road Runner Josh Keogh celebrated his 50th parkrun overall at Conwy last Saturday with another stunning result as the first runner home despite competing on a waterlogged 5k course in freezing cold, and very wet conditions.

For Josh, this was also his 10th win at Conwy and his 5th consecutive victory, finishing in 17 minutes and 32 seconds, which was some 27-seconds ahead of teenage rival James Smith (Menai Track & Field), who was 2nd in 17.59, and Osian Griffiths, 3rd in 18.35.

Anna Drinkwater (Eryri Harriers) was the 1st female runner home in 7th place overall in 20.47 and Ella Grundy (Colwyn Bay) finished 2nd, and 19th overall in 22.49, with another fine battle for both placings and age cat results by NWRRC athletes Cheryl Frost and Kay Hatton.

Cheryl eventually finished in 21st place overall, and she claimed 1st VW55 in 23.09, with Kay just 7-seconds adrift in 23.16 to take 2nd place in the same age cat.

The Road Runners became split this week due to the two Run Wales Loyalty races taking place just a couple of hours later and staged over much of the same puddle-filled course, so only nine members tackled the parkrun.

It still turned out to be a successful event however, as they claimed six podium places, including five age cat wins among the 111 entrants. Many other local parkruns were cancelled.

Josh Keogh was the first club runner home, finishing in 1st place overall, and he was also won his SM30-34 age cat in 17.32. He was followed by John Dalzell in 6th place and 1st MV45 in 20.21. Cheryl Frost was 21st overall, and 1st VW55 in 23.09.

Martin Green took it easy in preparation for his NW selection the following day at Telford and finished 23rd in 23.15, and he was just one-second ahead of Kay Hatton, who ran home in 24th place overall in 23.16, and 2nd VW55.

Rob Fryer continued his fine form to scoop 1st place again in his MV65 age cat, finishing in 40th place overall in 24.52, and master vet Don Hale also collected another MV70 win in 64th place in 27.07, whilst veteran John O’Shea finished 75th in 28.57, and Rachel Morris was 89th overall in 31.50.

*Plaudits were later given to race director Bethan Wyn Roberts and her dedicated team of volunteers on such a horribly wet morning. After the event, Bethan said: “Well done to the 111 brave runners who ran along the estuary today. A huge thank you to all the volunteers. It would not be possible without our high viz heroes. Shame about the weather but at least everyone went home with clean feet after running through our puddles.”

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