Positive news on award-winning mountain racer Mark Davies following devastating hit and run in January

Special report by Don Hale

There has been some positive news this week about the award-winning mountain racer and top fell runner Mark Davies who was seriously injured during a devastating hit and run incident close to his home near Llandudno in January.

Mark (48), who is a member of the North Wales Road Running club, and is also a top Welsh Master ultra-distance competitor, has faced extensive medical treatment at a specialist injury hospital in Stoke following the incident on 28th January, when he was in collision with a VW Polo.

This led to a lengthy period in a coma, and an operation on his legs, and during this period, Mark’s friend Darrel Lewis launched a special fundraising appeal via a GoFundMe page which raised over £20k for the star athlete, who is self-employed.

Darrel explained that he was trying to raise funds for Mark’s wife Leanne and his family.

The news of Mark’s horrific accident triggered shock waves around the running community nationwide and came within weeks of him receiving a ‘Special Achievement’ prize at the Conwy Sports Awards in North Wales for his incredible performance at the Swiss Peaks 360 ultra race, together with some other outstanding results in similar mountain challenge races and fell runs.

Mark’s popularity was acknowledged at his local parkrun at Conwy, when NWRRC and parkrun official John Hatton mentioned news of his accident less than a week after the incident.

John said: “You could have heard a pin drop when I made the announcement.”

And after the event, John added he noticed about £400 had been donated towards the appeal and said that even walkers had asked him where they could donate.
This week, after a long period of uncertainty. Mark’s wife Leanne Davies confirmed some good news, saying: “I would just like to thank everyone for the overwhelming love and support shown to me and my family during this most difficult time.
“I am sorry that I cannot message everyone personally – there are just too many – but I am so grateful and lost for words at the kindness shown.
“Mark (aka Dav) is now conscious and responsive however he still has a very long road of recovery and rehabilitation ahead. We are getting small positives and taking everything a day at a time. I will update you all, when possible, with further news.”

Llyr claims worthy top-ten finish at European Sprint Duathlon in Italy

Report by Don Hale

Veteran North Wales Road Runner Llyr ApGeraint Roberts competed well in his Great Britain vest during the Veteran’s MV50 European Sprint Duathlon Championships in Italy and recorded an excellent top 10 finish.

The international all-round Welsh Master was even leading the pack at one stage but admitted to a slight mishap during transition which pushed him back, but he recovered well to eventually claim a prestigious 8th place overall.

Held in Carole, which is about 50km from Venice, his split times included 16 minutes and 35 seconds for the first run of about 5k, and 36.20 for the cycle ride, with 11 minutes for the second run.

After the event Llyr confirmed: “I was really pleased, but it could have been higher if I hadn’t had trouble getting my feet into my bike shoes during T1 transition, but I’ll take the top 10 any day!”

Other results: NW Road Runners on the move…

by Don Hale

This has been another bumper weekend of excellent results by several NWRRC members on the road.

This is a summary of their exploits: – this includes Kay Hatton winning her age cat at the Liverpool half-marathon, Richard Eccles winning his age cat at the Welshpool 10k, Veteran Steve Gardner finishing 2nd in his age cat at the Welsh Sprint duathlon and newcomer Beth Williams competing in the World’s Steepest Street Race in Harlech.

*Liverpool: Three NWRRC members travelled to Merseyside last Sunday to take part in the Liverpool Skyline half-marathon, where veteran Kay Hatton deservedly won her F60 age cat with a superb run finishing as the 69th female, and 726th overall out of nearly 3,929 entrants in 1.42.39. Kay was supported at the race by Kelly Marie Alford and her partner Cai Roberts. Kelly ran well in 1,763rd place in 1.49.44, despite spraining her ankle during the final 100 metres, with Cai 2,404th in 1.58.47.
*Welshpool: Richard Eccles was in top form again at the Welshpool 10k where he finished in 17th place overall, and he also won his MV55 age cat in 39.27.
*Harlech: NWRRC member Steve Gardner competed for GOG Triathlon on Sunday in the Welsh sprint duathlon champs in Harlech. After the event he said: “I was very happy with my first run, then Andrew Haines from Risca Triathlon club Cardiff blew me away on the bike. I managed to pull time back in transition and on the last run to finish 2nd MV60 just 5 seconds behind Andrew.” These were Steve’s results: R1:20:28, B:45:33, R2:10:04. Total: 1:18:02:
*Harlech: Club newcomer Beth Williams travelled to Harlech on Saturday to compete in the World’s Steepest Street Race where she was 76th out of 107 entrants and finished 8th in her F-Open age cat in 44.11.
*Pwllheli: Stuart Culverhouse finished 6th at the Hafan Pwllheli parkrun on his debut last Saturday with an impressive time of 23.08 and he was 2nd in his MV50 age cat.
*Blackpool: Helen Hannam claimed 3rd place in her VW45 age cat at the Blackpool Parkrun finishing in 80th place overall in 28.33.
*Penrhyn Castle: Will Williams won his MV50 age cat at the Penrhyn Castle Parkrun finishing in 4th place in 18.51.
*Mold: Mike Hayton enjoyed a good workout in the 10k trail race at Loggerheads Country Park, near Mold, on Saturday. Mike completed his run in 74 minutes, and later said: “It was a nice course of two 5k laps with a steep section in each lap. An enjoyable run.”

Breeze for teenager Morgan Kendall in blustery conditions at Conwy Parkrun

Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery

North Wales based student Morgan Kendall, representing Durham City Harriers, made light of the rather cool and blustery conditions at Conwy Parkrun last Saturday to record a great new course PB of just 16 minutes and 30 seconds as the first male runner home.

The teenage prospect, aka Bananaman, from a previous fancy dress dash at this same parkrun, finished nearly two minutes ahead of his nearest rival, veteran Road Runner Martin Green, in 19.25, with debutant veteran John Brogan 3rd in 19.49.

The first female runner was Victoria Cole (GOG Triathlon) 10th overall in 21.20, with Alice Johnston (Les Croupiers) just ten-seconds behind in 2nd place, and 13th overall, in 21.30, whilst teenager Ella Grundy (Colwyn Bay AC) finished well in 37th place in 23.53. There were 221 finishers.

NWRRC entered 12 athletes and claimed eight podium places including five first-place age cat winners and three second placings, including Martin Green, who led the team home in 2nd place overall to additionally win his MV45 cat in 19.25.

Harry Driscoll returned to Conwy Parkrun again to win his SM20-24 age cat in 5th place overall in 20.36, with Dave Spofforth in close pursuit in 7th place in 20.51, and he also won his MV40 cat.

Youngster Joe Culverhouse enjoyed an unusual solo dash to win his JM11-14 age cat in 43rd place in 24.25, with Richard Scamans 46th in 24.41. Gethin Wyn Jones finished 67th in 25.48, and veteran Rob Fryer was 72nd, and 2nd in his MV65 cat in 25.56.

Elizabeth Driscoll finished in 90th place in 27.18, and she too finished 2nd in her VW55 cat, with master veteran Mark Mason 102nd in 27.40 and he won his MV70 cat.

Veteran John O’Shea meanwhile ran home in 115th place in 28.48, and another master vet Don Hale continued his battle with injury and finished 130th overall, and 2nd in his MV70 cat in 29.45 but he knocked several minutes off last week’s result, whilst Steve Mason jogged around the course as part of his marathon training in 186th place in 37.11.

*Praise was given to the Conwy run director, 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/