Bronze medal for Steve Gardner at Welsh National Cross-Country Championships

Report by Don Hale

North Wales Road Runner Steve Gardner swapped the tarmac for the mud last Saturday as he competed in the Welsh National Cross-Country Championships at Brecon and won a prestigious bronze medal and a podium place in this high-quality race.

The talented veteran athlete ran against 200 top Welsh club runners over a challenging 10.35k course in this male masters event and finished in 113th position in 41 minutes and 10 seconds to claim 3rd place in his MV60 age cat.

After the race Steve said: “I ran in the Welsh XC champs and managed to get 3rd place in my MV60 age group, the first 4 were all within I minute. 1st David Warren 40.25 2nd Peter Sowerby 40.43, 3rd me 41.10 and 4th Haydn Jones 41.14.”

This latest result confirms his recent top form where he recently collected a silver medal in the North Wales Cross-Country Championships at Wrexham, and 2nd place in the NW cross-country league fixture at Eirias Park, plus winning a gold medal in the Nick Beer 10k memorial road race.

*This National Championship event was won by Dewi Griffiths (Swansea) in 31.39, with Tom Wood (Eryri Harriers) 2nd in 31.54 and Dan Nash (Cardiff) 3rd in 32.00.

Fast-paced dash to the finish at a bright and busy Conwy Parkrun

Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery

It was another bright, sunny, but cold Saturday morning at Conwy Parkrun last weekend as 239 entrants from all parts of the UK enjoyed the splendours of this attractive but challenging 5k course.

This event included a very fast-paced dash by two young and promising athletes who dominated the parkrun from start to finish with Tomos Land the 1st runner home in just 17 minutes and 18 seconds, closely followed by rival John Davies (Eryri Harriers) in 2nd place, who was just 20 seconds behind, despite a new PB of 17.38, with Ian Slattery 3rd in 18.58.

Ian is the son of the NWRRC chairman Kevin Slattery. Ian was on a brief home visit and celebrated his run with a deserved podium spot and 1st place in his MV35 age cat.

The 1st Lady was Tara Truman (Stroud) in 20.38, with Alice Johnston (Les Croupiers) 2nd in 20.44 and Anna Smith (Hedge End) 3rd in 20.50.

Steve Bozier was one of only two other podium placed club athletes this week and led a depleted team of Road Runners back home due to other competing fixtures and marathon training plans, but he ran well in 16th place in 20.40, and finished 3rd in his MV45 cat.

Gethin Wyn Jones returned to parkrun to finish 67th in 25.11, with another returnee, Tony Gibson, close behind in 81st place in 25.41.

Richard Scamans became the third surprise but welcome club returnee following a knee operation and a long recovery period, but he was pleased with his performance in 84th place in 25.52.

Meanwhile, Vicky Taylor introduced her lively pet dog to parkrun and finished 28th in 29.18, whilst master veteran Don Hale continued his recovery from injury, and knocked over three-minutes from last week’s finishing time to finish 133rd and claimed 2nd place in his MV70 age cat in 29.35.

*Praise was given to the Conwy run director Mark Jessett, and to all the volunteers and marshals, who made the parkrun event such a success. This is the link to the provisional results:
https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/

Other results

*Tewkesbury: Ben and Sarah Hudson continued with their travels last weekend and visited the Tewksbury Parkrun where the couple both celebrated new PBs and age cat wins, with Ben finishing 6th in 21.17, and he was 1st in his MV45 cat, whilst Sarah was 13th, and won her VW40 cat in 23.02 and finished as the 1st female athlete.
*Bakewell: Stuart Culverhouse and his young son Joe journeyed to Bakewell in Derbyshire where they both competed in the Monsall Trail parkrun. Stuart was 9th overall and finished 3rd in his MV50 age cat in 20.12, with Joe 40th in 24.18, and he won his JM11 age cat.
*Penrhyn Castle: Will Williams and Jamie Tharme took part in the Penrhyn Parkrun where both athletes won their respective age categories. Will finished 19th in 19.15, and won his MV50 cat in 19.15, with Jamie winning his MV45 cat in 21.44.
*Carsington Water: Steve Mason was another club runner on his travels this weekend in Derbyshire, and confirmed: “Third place today (Sunday) at the Carsington Water half-marathon. What a tough course! I was powered by a week of drinking vermouth in Palma.”

Praise for hard-working event directors at Conwy Parkrun

Report by Don Hale

Conwy Parkrun officials announced some changes to the event director’s positions at this popular event and paid tribute to several important volunteers and their dedicated service.

Parkrun official and regular run director Gwyn Williams stated: “Well done to everyone who joined us to run, jog, and walk the course this morning on a crisp and beautifully morning. We had 50 first timers taking part and an incredible 34 runners recorded new PBs. Thanks also to the 22 wonderful volunteers who made the magic happen.

“I would like to offer congratulations to today’s Run Director Mark Jessett, who completed his 100th volunteering stint. Some of you may not be aware that Mark, along with Bethan Wyn Roberts took on the baton of the Event Directorship from Rob and Kelly Armstrong recently.

“Rob and Kelly having done so much good work at Conwy Parkrun over the years, in particular setting up the event eight years ago, and making it such a successful and much-loved parkrun.

“We are very lucky to have individuals like Rob and Kelly and now Mark and Bethan, who give up their time freely so that the rest of us can enjoy our Saturday morning social and physical workout. “I’m sure you’ll join me in congratulating Mark and thanking him, Bethan and Rob and Kelly for their service to Conwy Parkrun.”

Orienteering night shift for club quartet

Four female members of NWRRC took part in a unique Urban Orienteering event around Llandudno last Thursday night as part of a new and exciting series of races organised by Eryri Harriers.

Gwennan Charlton, a member of this talented quartet confirmed: “You are given a map and set of checkpoints, then you visit as many of these as possible within a one-hour time limit. Hannah Griffith, Tessa Bushnell, Elizabeth Driscoll, and me, teamed up, and finished as the second team, a close 10 points off the winning team. The next instalment of the urban orienteering series will be held in Conwy on 23rd of March.”