Conwy Parkrun celebrate NHS 75th anniversary with special event

Report by Don Hale

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com
http://www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk

Almost 250 starters took part in a Conwy Parkrun which celebrated the 75th anniversary of the NHS.

The event was well supported by a large team of volunteers from Porth Eirias Runners, who also provided some special birthday cake.

Another hot and humid affair welcome visiting runners travelling from many parts of the UK, and even from as far away as Australia, to enjoy the splendours of this scenic course.

And one such experienced traveller was top international track star Samuel Gebreselassie (Belgrave Harriers), a very talented young athlete with an excellent pedigree.

Not too surprisingly, he was first runner back home over this challenging 5k route on his debut at Conwy.

He recorded a fast time of just 16 minutes and 40 seconds, and won his SM25 age cat.

Samuel is a highly respected 1500 m, 3000 m, and 5000 m track champion with his credentials confirmed on the Power of 10 athletics (PO10) website.

In April 2022, he won the prestigious Comeback 5k track challenge in Battersea Park, London, for the Highgate Harriers – Night of the Champions race – finishing in 14.32.84.

And in June this year, he won the 1500 m National Athletics League Championship race at Bedford in 3-59.01.

He followed this great result with 3rd place in the Dave Clarke – One Mile Night and 1500 m split event – at Wimbledon, recording 4.11.69 for the mile, and on July 1st, Samuel was 3rd again in the BMC Grand Prix – World Athletics Challengers’ 3000m race at Watford – following another good time of 8.17.27.

Samuel’s best parkrun time is 15 minutes and 58 seconds, which was achieved when he finished 1st at the Amsterdamse Bos in Holland in March, compared to his track 5k time of just 15.03, so this latest dash at Conwy of 16.40, was probably only completed at his training pace.

Samuel was closely followed by the popular MV45 cat winner Jonathan Kettle (NWRRC) in 17.31.

Jonathan gave him a good chase and finished less than a minute behind him in 17.31, with Lloyd Williams 3rd in 17.36.

Anna Drinkwater (Eryri Harriers) was 1st female finisher in 19.40, and she won her SW25 age cat in 7th place overall, with Emily Hanlon 2nd in 20.36, and 1st SW20 athlete in 12th place, with Harriet Ridley 3rd, despite a new PB of 21.00, and she won her VW35 in 14th position overall.

Jonathan Kettle additionally led home this week’s team of nine North Wales Road Runners, who collected two first-place age category victories, in addition to one second, and one third place.

Jamie Tharme was back to his best following a battle with injury and he finished 17th in 21.33, with Steve Forsyth 40th in 23.27 and Richard Scamans 47th in 24.16.

Nicola Wylie continued her remarkable form to finish 59th and 1st FW55 in 25.08, whilst Rob Fryer recovered from a brief period of ill-health to claim 3rd MV65 age in 71st place in 26.06.

Master veteran Don Hale finished in 101st place in 27.24 during his 170th parkrun, and was 2nd MV70, whilst Adam Lemalle ran with his eight-year-old son Ethan on the youngster’s parkrun debut, and subsequently finished in 121st in 29.14, with Ceri Jones 168th in 31.51.
*Plaudits were later given to the usual Conwy crew of volunteers, run director Bethan Wyn Roberts, and to the Porth Eirias team of runners for their hard work, and especially for the provision of a plentiful supply of birthday cake.

*This is the link to the provisional results from the Conwy Parkrun: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/

Kelly records another course PB in the heat at the Wilmslow 10k

Report by Don Hale

Four NWRRC members took part in the very well attended but hot Wilmslow Summer 10k last Sunday, with Kelly Marie Alford probably the pick of the team after recording another course PB of nearly one and a half minutes.

Kelly eventually finished in 1,063rd place in 48.33, with Cai Roberts next in 1,110th place in 49.03. And Kevin Higgins was also in form and finished 1,212th in 53.00, with master veteran Mike Hayton 1,585th and enjoying a steady run in 58.35.

Kevin later added: “A great race and well organised but it was bit hot” The race attracted over 2,500 entrants.“

NWRRC duo compete in Snowdonia Trail 10k race

Report by Don Hale

Charlotte Rose Wilton Jones and her club colleague Hannah Griffith competed in the Xterra Snowdonia 10k Trail Race last Sunday.

Charlotte finished in 63rd place in 1 hour 12 minutes and 26 seconds, and ran with her friend Hope Carter, who was 68th in 1.12.43, whilst Hannah was pleased with her 156th place in 1.31.41.

After the race, Charlotte admitted: “We did it! That was tough, but a massive well done to Hope Carter on running her first ever race. You smashed it! A fantastic time of 1 hour and 12 mins.”

*Former NWRRC member Gemma Moore (Eryri Harriers) was the 1st female finisher, and in 3rd overall in the 10k event in 50.24, and she was almost seven minutes ahead of her nearest female rival.

Her partner and club colleague Nic Brook ran in the challenging Snowdonia Trail half-marathon race and finished 4th overall, and 2nd MV40 athlete in 2.01.27.

*This is the link to all the Snowdonia results:
https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-embed.php?event=3954#0_4446CB

Other events and results:

*Chester: NWRRC member Helen Hannam and her mother Carol Acton, power-walked the Race 4 Life fundraising event at Chester on Sunday. Helen later said: “I am so proud of my mother. A lovely route, and amazing atmosphere and crowd support. Thank you to everyone who have donated and sent messages – Smashing Races to Smash Cancer!”

*Ellesmere Port: Jon Evans enjoyed another good performance in the Ellesmere Port Parkrun and he was just 20 seconds short of recording a new course PB. Jon was 13th overall in 21.25 and he finished 2nd in his MV55 age cat.

*Penrhyn Castle: Will Williams finished 3rd at the Penrhyn Castle Parkrun, and he also won his MV50 age cat in 18.25. After the run, Will confirmed: “A steady effort, feeling fit and strong at the moment, and being able to pick it up on the last mile felt good.”