Sad loss of Welsh Master veteran and award-winning marathon man Iorwerth Roberts

Special report by Don Hale

It is sad to report the loss of a popular award-winning Welsh Master veteran athlete and event volunteer Iorwerth Roberts from Glan Conwy, who has been a familiar face for decades at a host of local sporting and community events.

Iorwerth was a regular member of the Conwy Parkrun family, both as a runner and as a volunteer, dedicated to his marshalling duties, who always cheered on, and encouraged, hundreds of runners every week from his usual spot at the Castle turn on the parkrun course.

He was one of the longest serving parkrun volunteers and joined shortly after the very first event and remained a member of Eryri Harriers and always wore his club vest with pride at both parkruns, and at all major races. He passed away on Wednesday 29th March following a long period of ill health.

Iorwerth was previously honoured with a prestigious ‘Special Recognition’ prize in 2017 at the Conwy Sport Awards where his services to running and volunteering were justifiably recognised.

A keen marathon runner, Iorwerth quite remarkably competed in every Snowdonia Marathon from 1982 until 2018, when he was then in his 70s, and he became the only man to have run the first 30 Snowdonia Marathon race, which is recognised as one of the UK’s toughest, and hilliest marathons. And in addition he also took part in several other tough marathons at Jungfrau in Switzerland, and the Swiss Alpine Marathon.

His friend Russell Owen confirmed: “He had been unwell and in hospital for the past five months. He was a well-known character within the North Wales running community. He was a familiar face at road, fell, and mountain races, both as a competitor and/or a marshal.

“He was also a volunteer on the Ffestiniog railway for many years and he was a very active member of his community in Glan Conwy. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word.”

And Conwy Parkrun officials added: “Iorwerth was an accomplished runner. He was a proud Eryri Harrier and would wear his club colours at races. He would regularly volunteer for Eryri organised races and could often be found manning a checkpoint on a windy or rainswept hill-top in his distinctive hi-viz oil skin jacket.

“He was a respected and much-loved member of our Conwy Parkrun family. He will be greatly missed. We held a minutes’ round of applause in his memory at last Saturday’s parkrun. Nos da Iorweth, diolch am bopeth gyfaill.”

Soggy parkrun at Conwy for Easter holiday visitors

Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

It was another very soggy 5k course at the Conwy Parkrun on April 1 as a variety of club and social runners opted to run this puddle-filled event, which was boosted by many Easter holiday visitors from all parts of the UK.

The first runner home was Nic Brook (Eryri Harriers) who had a tough battle for honours with talented junior Oshi Adey and debutant Dave Hughes.

Nic eventually won his MV45 age cat in 17 minutes and 50 seconds, but he was only five seconds ahead of Oshi, who topped his JM15-17 cat in 17.55, with Dave third despite a course PB in 18.18.

The 1st female runner was Libbie Read (Heaton Harriers) who was 13th overall, and she also won her SW25 age cat in 20.49, with Gemma Moore (Eryri Harriers) and her baby buggy 19th overall and 1st VW35 in 21.51, with Emma Mills 24th, and 1st SW 20 in 22.09.

The attendance also included several cast member runners from the Welsh National Opera cast who were touring locally, and there was also a minute’s silence acknowledged by the 252 starters as a tribute to former marathon man, park-runner, and respected volunteer, Iorwerth Roberts (Eryri Harriers) who sadly passed away in midweek.

The Road Runners entered 17 athletes, but many of them took things easy due to another busy weekend of fixture clashes.

Steve Mason led the team home finishing 4th overall with a great new PB of 18.28, and 2nd in his MV45 cat, and he was followed by Steve Gardner, 5th in 19.15, and first MV60 with another PB!

Harry Driscoll enjoyed another good outing and easily won his SM20 age cat in 8th place in 20.07, and his mother Elizabeth Driscoll completed a family double by also heading her own VW55 in 115th overall in 27.13.

Club debutant Sion Thomas was pleased to finish in 25th place in 22.11, and returnee Steve Poupart was just two seconds and one place behind. And Kay Hatton continued her top form and won her VW60 cat in 23.09 in 40th place.

Josh Keogh and Martin Green jogged around the course with Josh 46th in 23.24, and Martin finished one place and one second behind him. Gethin Wyn Jones claimed the 3rd spot in his MV35 cat in 54th place in 23.43, with Richard Scamans 72nd in 24.37, and another returnee Tony Gibson finished in 93rd place in 25.44.

Mark Mason led home some fellow master veterans finishing 125th in in 27.43, and he was 2nd in his MV70 age cat, with Mike Hayton in close pursuit in 133rd place and 3rd MV70 in 28.10. John O’Shea was 140th in 28.22, with master vet Don Hale knocking another minute plus off last week’s result during his recovery plan to finish 148th in 28.51.

Rachel Morris continued her marathon preparations with a steady run in 205th place in 34.55.

*Praise was given again 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/