North Wales Road Runners celebrate success at a very hilly Snowdonia Half Marathon

Report by Don Hale. Some photos by Lesley Goodson
https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmasters.co.uk

North Wales Road Runners entered seven athletes in the gruelling Snowdonia Half Marathon which brought mixed emotions, an age category podium place, and even the odd PB, on a very hilly but picturesque course.

This popular event again attracted a host of quality endurance and top road runners from across the UK, who opted to take on this extraordinary challenge, which recorded 659 finishers.

Well organised by RunWales, the race was eventually won by local athlete Steffan Sayer (Menai Track & Field) in 1 hour 23 minutes and 26 seconds, and he finished nearly four minutes ahead of rivals Nic Brook (Eryri Harriers) in 1.27.14, and Daniel Mitchinson (Leigh Harriers) in 1.28.21.

The Ladies race was won by Rosanna Andrews (Rugby & Northampton) in 1.34.18, with local athletes Rachel Shipley (Abergele) 2nd in 1.36.16, and Gemma Moore (EryrI Harriers) 3rd in 1.36.29.

The race also celebrated a unique family double with Nic Brook 2nd overall, and his partner Gemma Moore, the 3rd female finisher, with both also winning their respective age categories.

Stuart Culverhouse was the first NWRRC member home in 44th place overall, and he recorded a new chip time PB of 1 hour 42 minutes and 50 seconds. After the race he confirmed: “I am happy with a new course PB of about 90 seconds quicker than in 2021.”

Jamie Tharme had a good run in 1.54.29 in 142nd place, and later confirmed: “It was super-hard but a beautiful course.” Steve Roberts was also back in form, and he finished in 190th place, and he too was pleased with his time of 2.01.21 and finished 3rd in his MV55-59 age cat.

Club newcomers Sion Thomas and David Jones performed well on their race debuts with David finishing in 219th place in 2.04.26, and Sion running home in 257th place in 2.07.57.

Kelly Alford ran around with Hannah Griffith, and her sister Siwi. They all finished together with Kelly 508th in 2.31.58, and Hannah just one place and two seconds behind her, along with her sister.

Hannah later added: “Wow! That was tough. Hills, hills, and more hills. Great company and chat with Siwi and Kelly to pass away the miles.”

Other race results:

*Caerphilly: Steve Gardner ran in the Welsh 10k championships in Caerphilly on Sunday and finished 121st out of 1,400 runners in a great time of 40.43. Afterwards he said: “It was an undulating course, but I was pleased with my performance.”
*Penrhyn: Road Runner Martin Green finished 6th at the Penrhyn Castle Parkrun on Saturday with a new course PB of 17.11 and he also won his MV45 age cat.

Endurance runner Karl Morris forced to quit Snowdonia 100-mile race when his trainer fell apart

Special report by Don Hale

North Wales endurance athlete Karl Morris made a brave effort to tackle the Ultra-Trail Snowdonia 100-mile race, but unfortunately, he was forced to quit after about 32-miles when one of his trainers started falling apart.

The NWRRC member, who began his tough challenge last Friday lunchtime, had confirmed the UTL 100-mile event is a very serious race, with 30,000ft of climbing, and includes the majority of the major peaks of Northern Snowdonia.

At the start of the event, Karl said he was hopeful of completing this gruelling challenge but explained: “The odds are against me on this one, but I’ll give it a go. Anyone that knows me, knows that I don’t quit easily. My good friend Mark Davies called it his nemesis. Either way, I’m looking forward to a long adventure in the mountains.”

Unfortunately, though for Karl, he suffered some unexpected bad luck with his footwear, when, according to his Strava post, and after completing 51.48 kms (about 32 miles) with an elevation of 3,426m, he was forced to pull-out after running for an incredible 10 hours and 36 minutes.

Karl was obviously disappointed with the outcome and later admitted: “I was going well until one of my trainers started falling apart. My feet ended up ruined so had to call it a day!”

He later added: “Not one to make excuses though and in all honesty finding myself chasing cut-offs. I just wasn’t strong enough to get the job done. You win some you lose some. Big thanks to Michael Jones, and the team at UTS for such a great event .

“That’s it for big mountain ultras for me now for a couple of years. Hope to be back in the future to give it another go. Thanks for all your comments and support.”

Will Williams continued purple patch at Conwy Parkrun

Report by Don Hale

North Wales Road Runner Will Williams continued his purple patch of form to claim another personal best (PB) time at Conwy Parkrun on May 13 after claiming a hat-trick of other recent outstanding results on his travels.

Will stormed home during the latter part of the event to secure a notable result as the 1st finisher overall and recorded a new course PB of 17 minutes and 59 seconds, to additionally win his MV50 age cat. In the end his rival and debutant Aled Hughes had to settle for 2nd place and finished just 21-seconds adrift of Will in 18.20, with fellow debutant Jack Kelbrick 3rd, with a PB of 18.58.

Anna Drinkwater (Eryri Harriers) was the 1st female finisher and the winner of her SW25 cat in 20.09, with Ella Grundy (Colwyn Bay AC), the runner-up again despite a superb performance in 22.40, and she also claimed a deserved win in her JW15-17 age cat, with NWRRC veteran Kay Hatton the 3rd female finisher in 23.32, and the winner of her VW60 cat.

Will Williams led the Road Runners’ team home followed by Mal Preece in 11th place in 21.03, who also won his MV60 age cat. Stuart Culverhouse and his son Joe ran together with Joe finishing in 35th place, and the winner of his JM11-14 cat in 22.50, with Stuart one position and one second behind.

Gethin Wyn Jones ran well again and finished 41st in 23.27, with VW60 cat winner Kay Hatton 42nd and the 3rd female athlete in 23.32. Darren Griss enjoyed a good run and finished 102nd in 27.36, with veteran John O’Shea 108th in 28.06.

Master vet Don Hale was 115th and claimed the 2nd spot in his MV70 age cat in 28.28, with Rachel Morris improving again after her recent London Marathon experience, and finished in 170th place in 32.49.
After the event Rachel said: “I was over a minute faster than last week, legs still tired, but good to keep chipping away at the parkrun time each week. My goal is to get a PB at parkrun this year.”

*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/

*Plaudits were later given at Conwy Parkrun to popular local fundraiser Josh Mottram who completed another course PB of 21.43 in 21st place, and he also won his JM15-17 age cat; and to an amazing ski-racing youngster Xavier Poynton, from Colwyn Heights, on his parkrun debut, who highlighted his amazing recovery from serious injury to help fundraise for the supportive Ellie Souter Foundation by running 150k during May. Xavier has just launched a special online page for potential donations: justgiving.com/page/xavier-poynton