North Wales Road Runners win nine regional medals at Holyhead championship race

Report by Don Hale. Main photos by Steve Jeffery
https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

North Wales Road Runners celebrated some great individual performances and won nine regional medals at the Holyhead Breakwater 5-mile race last Sunday despite battling a strong and blustery wind.

The NWRRC team entered 15 athletes and recorded five podium places in the main race, including one age category win, three second, and one third; and in addition, they also claimed nine prestigious North Wales medals, including five gold, in the associated regional championships, run in conjunction with this event.

This popular annual race again attracted many quality club runners, and despite the challenging conditions many still achieved some remarkable results and some excellent PB times.

John Higgs was the overall race winner in a chip time of just 26 minutes and 57 seconds as the 1st MSen age cat finisher. He was followed by Simon Cole (GOG Triathlon), who was also the 1st MV40 cat winner in 27.23, and Simon was only five-seconds ahead of Gavin Stuart (Cybi Striders), who was 3rd overall, and 2nd in his MSen cat in 27.28.

For the ladies, former NWRRC member Gemma Moore (Eryri Harriers) was first female athlete in 31.25, and she also won her FV40 age cat. Rachel Shipley (Abergele Harriers) was the 2nd female finisher, but won her FSen age cat in 32.21, whilst Emma Alofs (Eryri Harriers) claimed the 3rd spot, and the 2nd FSen cat place in 33.27.

Veteran athlete Steve Gardner was the first NWRRC member home in 26th place, and he was 2nd in his MV60 age cat in the main race but struck gold in the NW championships in 32.46.

Iwan Evans was just six seconds adrift of Steve in 27th place in 32.52 but won a silver medal in the NW champs, and Jamie Tharme finished 41st in 35.07, collecting a deserved bronze championship medal.

Sion Thomas was 47th in 35.48, with Sarah Ferguson Hudson 51st, and the 5th female athlete with a new PB of 36.18, and she finished 2nd in her FV40 age cat in the main race but won a gold medal in the NW champs.

Steve Roberts was 62nd in 37.15, and Cheryl Frost had another great run finishing in 69th place as the 10th female athlete, and she additionally won the FV50 age cat prize in the main race, and the FV55 age cat title in the NW event to win a gold medal in 38.23.

Kay Hatton was 2nd FV60 runner overall in 39.22, in 77th place, and she also won silver in the NW race.

Kelly Marie Alford finished 82nd overall in 40.32, and she was another gold medal winner after finishing 1st in her FV35 age cat in the NW champs; with Cai Roberts sharing the same time as Kelly, and just one place behind her.

And veteran Rob Fryer won a NW bronze medal in 102nd place in his MV65 cat in 43.57, whilst master veteran Mark Mason struck gold in his MV70 age cat in the NW race, and he was 3rd in the same age cat in the main race in 45.06.

Vicky Taylor finished well in 116th place in 48.04, with Kevin Higgins 117th in 48.06 and Rachel Morris 122nd in 50.11.

Plaudits were later given to the race director, Kevin Clark, Cybi Striders, and to all the volunteers and marshals, in addition the MC excellent John Hatton.

*North Wales Holyhead Breakwater 5-mile championships results:
The Road Runners collected nine prestigious North Wales regional medals at the Holyhead 5-mile race including five male and four female awards.

The men’s team won two gold medals, one silver and two bronze. Steve Gardner (gold) 1st MV60; Mark Mason (gold) 1st MV70; Iwan Evans (silver) MV45; Jamie Tharme (bronze) 3rd MV45; and Rob Fryer (bronze) 3rd MV65.

The ladies team won three gold medals and one silver. They included: Sarah Hudson (gold) 1st FV45; Cheryl Frost (gold) 1st FV55; Kelly Alford (gold) 1st FV45 and Kay Hatton (silver) 2nd FV60.
*The mixed team of Steve Gardner, Iwan Evans, Sarah Hudson and Cheryl Frost later claimed the 3rd place club team prize.

*This is the link to the provisional results from the main Holyhead 5-mile race, and to all the NW championship and medal winners: –
https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-embed.php?event=3962#0_3EF1B7

Bright and breezy for double the numbers at Conwy Parkrun

Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

It was bright and very breezy at last Saturday’s Conwy Parkrun, which was in stark contrast to the previous week’s rather soggy 5k course with continual rain, and these much-improved conditions proved quite an attraction with almost double the previous attendance.

And it was another promising teenage athlete, James Smith (Menai T&F) who stole the show with another impressive performance as the first male runner home in just 17 minutes and 24 seconds to win his SM18-19 age category. Quite remarkably, this was his sixth victory at Conwy!

Visiting runner Brian Corley (Bushfield Joggers) finished 2nd on his debut in 17.47, and he won his MV45 cat, with Aled Hughes claiming the 3rd spot, whilst winning his MV35 cat, in 17.53.

Holly Chipman (Silverdale RC) was the 1st female finisher in 21.01, and she also won her SW30 cat, with Suzy Wallace 2nd in 21.27, and 2nd in the same age cat as Holly, with Ella Grundy (Colwyn Bay AC), 3rd in 21.54, and she won her JW15-17 cat,

North Wales Road Runners entered 11 runners and collected eight podium placings, including five age category wins, one second, and two third placings.

Josh Keogh and Will Williams hit top form and earned plaudits for two stunning performances against quality opposition, with Josh finishing 4th in 18.14, and 1st SM30 cat, with Will 6th and 1st MV50 in 18.31.

Jon Doe recorded another course PB of 19.31 and claimed 2nd MV45 in 12th place overall, and Steve Mason finished 20th and 3rd MV45 in 21.13.

And it was good to see Carla Green back in action again after several months, and she enjoyed a steady outing in 58th place and won her VW50 in 24.28.

Lesley Goodson was another welcome returnee, and she won her VW55 cat in 25.08 in 73rd place, and veteran Rob Fryer was back to his best again in 25.38, plus 3rd MV65.

Master vet Don Hale won his MV70 cat in 117th place in 27.42, with veteran John O’Shea 130th in 28.19.

Meanwhile, Rachel Morris placed 187th in 32.01, and Richard Scamans jogged around the course with a young family member and was 203rd in 32.54.

*The event also noted that Ian Slattery – son of NWRRC chairman Kevin Slattery – made a flying holiday visit, and finished 14th overall in 19.48, and 3rd in his MV35 age cat; and in addition, Kay Hatton commemorated her 150th volunteering event at Conwy.

*Thanks were expressed to the race director Kevin Clark, and to all the volunteers and marshals. This is the link to the provisional parkrun results:
https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/

Other Parkrun results:

*Prestatyn: Jon Evans won his MV55 age cat on his debut at the Nova Prestatyn Parkrun last Saturday, finishing 15th overall in 21.23.
*France: Helen Hannam took part in a virtual parkrun at Fenioux in France last Saturday after arriving overseas at the start of her holiday and consequently missed her local parkrun event. She ran an approved 5k (not) parkrun course in 34.10.