Two podium places for the Road Runners at rare North Wales cross-country fixture

Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery

The Road Runners claimed two excellent podium places at the North Wales Cross-Country League meeting at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay last Saturday, despite a very muddy and challenging course.

It’s the first time since October 2010 that this senior league fixture has been staged at this venue, and the tough course certainly brought back many mixed memories for experienced athletes.

The event probably attracted a few more local club runners than expected due to the Conwy Parkrun being cancelled due to heavy frost just a few hours before.

NWRRC entered 11 members and Josh Keogh was the pick of the team in the Senior Men’s race, finishing 5th overall out of 122 quality finishers in 41 minutes and 24 seconds, yet he could only claim the 4th spot in his SM age category.

Josh was closely followed club colleague Martin Green in 9th place in 42.40 but he won his MV45 age cat. Steve Gardner also continued his good form in 60th place, and he was 2nd V60 in 49.51.

Endurance runner John Dalzell made light of the conditions to finish 87th in 53.47, with Stuart Culverhouse just two places and 11 seconds adrift, and running home in 54.08. The men’s team finished 4th overall.

After the race, Martin Green seemed delighted with his performance and his age cat win but added: “Sorry guys, I had no idea that course was so brutal. If it’s any consolation I suffered just as much as the rest of you. Well done to everyone who battled through. That’s easily the hardest one I’ve done, so well done again.”

Mike Hayton competed in the Male Masters race and ran well to finish 21st and 7th in his MV70 age cat in 48.15, whilst five NWRRC ladies took part in the Senior Women’s event.

Kay Hatton was 5th in her VW55 age cat despite having her 60th birthday this week. Apparently, the rules are based on your age at the start of the cross-country season.

Kay however, still enjoyed another positive run finishing 50th overall in 38.09 from 103 quality entrants, Nicola Wylie finished 65th in 40.09, with Tessa Bushnell 89th in 45.31, Helen Hannam 95th in 50.20, and Gwennan Charlton 97th in 51.39.

Helen Hannam later confirmed: “OMG, that was brutal. My legs were dead, but I enjoyed it and the support was fantastic!”

*This is the link to the provisional results from the Colwyn Bay meeting:
https://www.northwalesxc.com/…/Eirias-Park-DRAFT-21-1…

Other race results

Heaton Park

Kelly Marie Alford and Cai Roberts travelled to Heaton Park in North Manchester last Sunday and competed together in the half-marathon race.

Kelly enjoyed her first run this year and celebrated with a three-minute course PB, finishing 3rd in her VW35 age category, the 37th female athlete, and 216th overall in 1.59.11, with Cai 245th in 2.03.17, among nearly 400 starters.