Large turnout for NWRRC’s 40th anniversary gathering

Report by Don Hale. Exclusive photos by Steve Jeffery

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http://www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk

There was large turnout of North Wales Road Runners both past and present as they celebrated their 40th anniversary gathering last week in the rear gardens at The Nevill on Vaughan Street, Llandudno.

Club chairman Kevin Slattery welcomed all the guests and running club members, together with their friends and families, and spoke about his surprise that the club has continued to flourish over four decades since its initial formation with very limited facilities and optimism.

He said he looked forward to the continued expansion of the membership and hoped the club would meet again for the 50th, 60th, plus other additional and future anniversaries.

Declaring the club now has more than 100 active members, it competes regularly in most major championship events, parkruns, cross-country, at track and field and at many other races.

Kevin also brought some archive club newsletters, photos, old race results and reports, that in days gone by had to be typed up each month.

These documents obviously attracted much attention, especially from some of the older veteran members.

Many of the athletic attendees had run at the Chester Half Marathon that morning.

The afternoon included drinks and a generous buffet, with some memorable photos from the event taken by one of the earlier/founder members Steve Jeffery.

All past and present club members were later given special commemorative coasters to mark this occasion, which had also welcomed bright, warm sunshine for this special event.

Visiting athlete sets hot pace in the sun at Conwy Parkrun

Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery

There was another large entry for the Conwy Bank Holiday Parkrun which again attracted a host of mixed ability social and club runners from all parts of the UK and abroad.

Run in bright and very warm sunshine, visiting athlete Alastair Campbell (Stroud & District AC) soon set a hot pace over this picturesque but dusty 5k course, and was first runner home in 17 minutes and 23 seconds, and won his MV35 age cat.

Despite a strong challenge throughout, Alastair remained narrowly ahead of Road Runner Mark Jessett, who finished second overall in 17.53 and 2nd MV35 cat, with David Clarke 3rd and 1st MV40 cat with a PB of 18.09. There were 316 finishers.

Praise too was given to MV70 master veteran Sandy Johnson (Les Croupiers) who ran well last week for Wales at the Chester Half and won his age cat at Conwy Parkrun with another great effort in just 22.50.

Gemma Moore (Eryri Harriers), and a former NWRRC runner, topped her VW35 age cat and was first female finisher in 19.40 and in 11th place overall, with Beatrice Cordingley (Sale Harriers) 2nd, and 1st SW30, 17th overall, with a new PB of 20.00, whilst Tracey Holdcroft was 3rd female, 45th overall, with a PB 22.31 and the winner of her VW50 age cat.

Jessett led a team of 13 NWRRC members home and was followed by Stuart Culverhouse, who finished 19th, and 3rd MV50 in 20.05, with Tony Price-Jones just three seconds and one place behind, and Steve Bozier was 23rd and 2nd MV45 cat in 20.50.

Endurance runner Karl Morris was back to his best in 43rd place in 22.28, and Richard Scamans was 56th in 23.13, with Adam Lemalle 64th in 23.29.

Veteran Barrie Wells enjoyed a good run finishing in 81st place and 3rd MV65 in 24.23, and Gethin Wyn Jones placed 102nd in 25.15, whilst master veteran Mark Mason maintained his positive form to position 2nd MV70 and in 144th place in 27.36.
Another master vet Mike Hayton enjoyed a steady run in 174th place in 28.43 as the 3rd MV70 cat, with fellow master Don Hale running home in 187th place in 29.05, whilst Rachel Morris was pleased with her ongoing marathon recovery plan to finish 250th in 33.15.

• Conwy Parkrun run director Gwyn Williams was delighted by this latest well-attended parkrun event and the subsequent results and confirmed: “That was a warm one! Great see so many taking part today on a glorious bank holiday weekend. Shout out to Amanda Durber on her 300th parkrun, and to Julie Peverell on hitting her 250, great to see the dedication by you both.
  “We had a group of gentlemen joining us from Outdoor Lads, a friendly group of gay, bisexual, and trans-guys who were camping up in Llanrwst on a weekend of adventure and outdoor activities.
  “We also had a big group joining us today from NWRC (North Wales Recovery Communities) in their distinctive orange Hogan’s running shirts. NWRC are an organisation that aim to create a network of recovery communities that support individuals to establish and maintain abstinence from long term substance misuse.
  “Fantastic stuff and great to see three of the group achieve PBs today, made up for you, keep at it guys! It’s also great to see the positive effect parkrun has on our communities, and so proud to be part of this event and really enjoy seeing you guys enjoy yourselves.”

*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/

Other race results

*London: NWRRC member Pat (Michael) Finnie enjoyed his break in London last weekend and claimed 3rd MV65 on his debut in the Highbury Park Parkrun, finishing in 218th place overall in 25.54. This was Pat’s first parkrun since last July and following his recovery from injury. After the event he said: “I was in London on Saturday and did the Highbury Park run, which was a five-lap course. I took it easy and managed to finish in 25.54. Slowly getting back.”