Bumper attendance at Rohan’s Run charity Dash from Deganwy prom
Report by Don Hale. Photographs from the Dash by Anthony Paul Davies
https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com
http://www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk
Rohan’s Run, formerly known as the Deganwy Dash, attracted a bumper attendance last Friday night.
The event help both commemorate and celebrate the life of an extraordinary young student, Rohan Ingley, who tragically lost his life to leukaemia in August 2018, aged just 17.
This popular annual race changed its name a couple of years ago as a special tribute to Rohan, from Abergele, who was a remarkable scholar and a keen sportsman, with the event now raising thousands of pounds for the Children vs Cancer charity and associated funds.
More than 300 runners turned out in magnificent sun-drenched conditions on Deganwy Promenade to run this challenging 5-mile Dash, which followed the Conwy Estuary towards Conwy Castle, and then onto the RSPB nature reserve via the Cob and back.
The event attracted some of the very best club athletes in North Wales, a fact later confirmed by some exceptional results, with the prom and large parts of this challenging course packed with friends, relatives, and supporters, who generated a terrific atmosphere.
James Yarwood (Wrexham AC) was the overall race winner, and he additionally won his MV35-39 age category in just 27 minutes and 17 seconds. He was closely followed by Tomos Land (GOG Triathlon), who was only seconds behind James in 2nd place overall, and the winner of his MU23 cat in 27.34, with Josh Keogh (NWRRC) winning his MSen age cat and finishing 3rd in 28.06.
Rachel Shipley (Abergele Harriers) was the 1st female finisher following a remarkable performance in 16th place overall in 31.50, and she additionally won her FSen age cat.
Emma Alofs (Cybi Striders) finished 2nd, and in 29th place overall in 33.09, and 2nd FSen cat, whilst club colleague Heidi O’Brien finished in 55th place, and was the worthy 3rd female finisher in 36.21.
North Wales Road Runners provided some exceptional support to the race with 26 members running, and several others involved with both the organisation, marshalling, and volunteering duties.
The results later confirmed nine podium places, including five age category wins, two second, and two third placings, but particular praise was given to club officials John Hatton and Carla Green, for their hard work and dedicated service.
Josh Keogh was the 1st club runner home in 3rd place overall in 28.05, and he was just six seconds ahead of Jonathan Kettle, who finished 4th, and won his MV45 age cat in 28.11.
Will Williams also enjoyed a good run out in 7th place in 29.51, and topped his MV50 cat, whilst Richard Eccles completed an excellent quartet of early finishers by winning his MV55 age cat in 13th place overall, in 31.09.
Stuart Culverhouse finished 3rd MV50 in 25th place in 32.57, with Tony Price-Jones 27th in 33.03, and newcomer Will Evans was 33rd in 33.46. Ben Hudson claimed the 39th spot in 34.35, and Sion Thomas was 49th in 35.38. Meanwhile, Steve Roberts had another fine run in 56th place in 36.29, and Steve Poupart was just one place and six seconds behind him.
Another newcomer Dave Jones ran home in 70th place in 37.43, with Richard Scamans 79th in 38.35, and Gethin Wyn Jones 93rd in 39.57.
Nicola Wylie continued her remarkable form to claim 1st FV55 in 98th place overall in 40.12, and Kelly-Marie Alford was another female athlete in excellent form, 98th in 40.58.
Veteran Tony Gibson was back on track, and was pleased to finish 114th in 41.37, with fellow veteran Rob Fryer 118th in 41.55. Hannah Griffith 120th and 2nd FV50 cat in 42.11, and master veteran Mark Mason 2nd MV70 in 146th place in 44.40, and veteran Len Jackson 175th in 46.42.
Helen Hannam produced a determined finish and took 178th place in 47.02, with newcomer Carol Moss 180th in 47.03. And master vet Don Hale finished 3rd in his MV70 age cat in 203rd place in 48.36, with Vicky Taylor 212th in 49.51 and Rachel Morris 243rd in 53.15.
*This is the link to the provisional results to Rohan’s Run:
https://my.raceresult.com/247284/results#0_3EF1B7
Other race results
*Abersoch: Four NWRRC members competed in the HR Abersoch 10k race on Saturday, with Harry Driscoll finishing 34th in 41.42, Kay Hatton winning her FV60 in 162nd place in 50.22, Mandy Owen 467th in 1.07.43, and Mike Hayton 557th in 1.20.41 and 2nd MV70 cat.
Perfect conditions as records smashed at the Great Orme Fell Race
Report by Don Hale
https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com
http://www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk
The annual Great Orme Fell Race (Y Gogarth) was held last Tuesday evening in some extraordinary warm weather conditions with dozens of experienced fell, endurance and club runners enjoying some spectacular views, as they smashed several established records.
Staged over as challenging 4.1-mile, (6.6kms) course, with 1,306ft (398m) of elevation, organisers welcomed a perfect evening for racing, with many entrants travelling from far afield just to take part in this ever-popular event, which included both junior and senior races and varied age categories.
One of the local event organisers, Mike Blake from Eryri Harriers, later confirmed: “Perfect running conditions at the Great Orme for Round 12 of the Joe Brown Shops’ mid-week fell race series.
“And our thanks to the organiser Greenman Jones, all the helpers, and to Ceris for organising the juniors, the Ski Centre for hosting us with the customary £30 going to the Hospice.”
North Wales Road Runners had five members involved in the race from Happy Valley, and they all competed well, and paid tribute to the race organisers and the picturesque route selected.
Ultra-distance and endurance athlete Karl Morris was the first club man home in 42 minutes and 55 seconds, followed by Steve Bozier in 44.15 and Sion Thomas in 46.38.
Helen Hannam and club colleague Nicola Wylie, both recovering from injuries, took it steady and ran much of the course together with Helen recording a time of 1.12.25 on her Strava, with Nicola finishing a few seconds adrift. *At the time of writing the full results list was not available.
Afterwards, Steve Bozier, from NWRRC said: “That was one hot tough race, but well worth doing it!”
Helen Hannam commented: “A great fell race with Nicky. It was tough, so I took it easy but great fun. I got completely lost and ended up nearly last but such a laugh. I’ve not done fell running for about 30 years, but yes really enjoyed it.”
Nicola Wylie added: “My thigh was a little painful, so we took our time. I got lost but thanks to some Prestatyn AC runners we were found. What a hilarious race, and so much fun.”
*The category winners and record breakers (old records in brackets) in finishing order were as follows: 1st Gavin Roberts 30.27 MO, 2nd Noa Vaughan 32.56, 1st U19, 3rd Ben Sergent 33.06 1st U17; 6th Jez Brown 34.38 (34.59) M50; 8th Joanne Henderson 35,09 (39.30) F40; 13th Matthew Fortes 36.21 M40; 31st Efa Baines 41.02 F U/19; 33rd David Baugh 41.19 M60; 38th Sarah Barnwell 41.50 F 50, 47th Gee Outten 42.49 FO; 69th Anne Mynott F60 46.23 (47.31); and 77th John Jones 47.43 M75.
Visitors travelled from far and wide at Conwy Parkrun
Report by Don Hale
Conwy Parkrun welcomed numerous visitors including social and club runners from as far afield as Perth in Australia, last Saturday to enjoy the picturesque course and the bright, warm, sunshine of North Wales.
And it was another first-time runner to this event who again took the plaudits with an amazing dash from start to finish along this dry and extremely dusty 5k course. Connor Rogers (Wrexham AC) won his SM25 age category, and he was the first runner home in a very fast time of 16 minutes and 17 seconds.
Connor finished more than a minute and a half ahead of two other fellow debutants to Conwy, with Aled Hughes claiming a new PB of 17.48, in 2nd place overall, and 1st MV35, with David Bagot (Clayton le Moors) finishing 3rd in 18.10 and 1st SM30.
Anna Drinkwater (Eryri Harriers) was the 1st female finisher, in 7th place overall in 19.13, with club colleague Gemma Moore – whilst pushing her child buggy – ran home in 2nd place, and in 27th place overall, in 22.02, and she was just two seconds and one place ahead of rival Tracey Holdcroft despite a new PB. There were 263 finishers.
North Wales Road Runners only entered 11 runners due to the 5-mile Dash the previous evening, and other fixture clashes, but still claimed seven podium places including two age cat victories and four second spots.
Steve Mason led the club runners back home finishing in 13th place overall, and 2nd MV45 in 20.02, with Will Williams continuing his great form in 16th place, and 2nd MV50 in 20.40.
Endurance athlete Karl Morris enjoyed another good run out in 32nd place in 22.17, and Steve Roberts was back in business finishing 42nd in 23.15, and 2nd MV55.
Cheryl Frost continued her superb form to win her VW55 cat in 23.28, with veteran Barrie Wells finishing 2nd in his MV65 cat in 59th place in 24.13, and club colleague Rob Fryer was 3rd in the same age cat in 100th place overall in 26.39.
Another club vet, John O’Shea finished in 143rd place in 28.45, and master veteran Don Hale won his MV70 age cat in 148th place in 29.05, whilst Darren Griss was 183rd in 31.59 and Rachel Morris 191st in 33.11.
*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/