Welsh call-up for Martin and Kay at Mid-Cheshire 5k International

Report by Don Hale

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

North Wales Road Runners Martin Green and Kay Hatton have been selected to represent Welsh Athletics Masters versus England within the Mid-Cheshire 5k International at Kingsley on Friday, August 25.

On receiving his confirmation letter, Martin said: “Thanks as always for the opportunity at Welsh Athletics Masters.

“Really looking forward to this after a hefty block, specifically for 5k (for the first time ever). Hopefully do the team proud, thanks to the new coach @russell_runner who has gradually changed me from an aging plodder to an aspiring speedster, now just for Running Cheshire to sort the weather out.”

Kay Hatton was also thrilled to be selected: “It was very pleasant surprise to be selected as I only put my name forward after a second request from WA for Master Ladies to put their names forward if they met selection criteria, which I did. Selection is based on the Power of Ten times, and I ran 23.12 at the Easter Dash.”

Road Runners trio ran fast at Sale Sizzler 5k

Report by Don Hale

Three members of North Wales Road Runners competed in the Sale Sizzler 5k race, which included a quality field of 642 elite and top club runners.

Martin Green enjoyed another great run and finished 37th overall and was 3rd MV45 age category in a fast chip time of 16 minutes and 19 seconds. Will Williams continued his excellent form in 87th place and was 4th MV50 in 17.35, with Jamie Tharme 223rd in 20.24.

This popular summer event again attracted a massive field and incredibly there was only a matter of a few seconds between the top nine athletes, with the first 27 runners all dipping under 16 minutes.

The overall race was won by Nicholas Barry (Sale Harriers) in 15.00, with Thomas Charles (Chorlton Runners) 2nd in 15.02, and Rhodri Owen (Meirionnydd RC) finished 3rd in 15.04.

Jen Walsh (Leeds City) was the 1st female athlete home in 17.01, with Emilia Platt (East Cheshire & Tameside AC) 2nd in 17.50 and Elizabeth Renondeau (Vale Royal) claimed the 3rd place in 17.50.

*This is the link to the provisional results from the Sale Sizzler 5k on 3/7/23:

https://sale-harriers.niftyentries.com/Results/Sale-Sizzler-4-2023#

Road Runners stage annual inter-club relay challenge

Report by Don Hale. Photos by John Hatton

North Wales Road Runners recently held their annual inter-club relay competition on Llandudno promenade with a couple of dozen athletes taking part over a variety of distances.

Seven teams, each consisting of three mixed ability and/or mixed aged athletes, plus one volunteer, entered this fun relay event, which was well organised by John Hatton and Carla Green, and included several other willing club and support volunteers.

All the distances were different and approximated. The first leg was just over 1k, with the second about a mile, and the third just over two miles. Individual times and distances entered where known.

The names are in the order of their running, with the 1k leg first, followed by the mile sprint, and then the two-mile dash.

The challenge attracted some fast times and made for a close and exciting competition with a sausage and chips meal later provided by NWRRC at the ROAB club, with praise given to chef Kevin Higgins for his hard work, and his very welcome catering services.

*Team 1 were the eventual winners and included Tessa Bushnell (1k 4.32), Charlotte Rose Wilton Jones (1 mile 6.45), and Jonathan Kettle (2 miles 12.29). Runners-up were Team 3, and included John O’Shea, Richard Scamans, and Steve Mason, whilstTeam 2 – including Karen Butler, Steve Roberts (1 mile 6.42), and Iwan Evans finished 3rd overall.

Other teams included: Team 4 – Don Hale (1k 4.29), Kay Hatton (1 mile 6.57), and Jon Doe. Team 5 – Mal Preece (1k 3.30), Cheryl Frost, and Sion Thomas (2 miles 14.57). Team 6 – Gwennan Charlton (1k 5.03), Steve Poupart, and Will Evans. Team 7 – Rachel Morris (1k 5.31), Rob Fryer, and Josh Keogh (2 miles 12.45). One of the event organisers, Carla Green, also made a welcome return to competitive action with a light run over the mile distance in 7.08.

Very wet, windy and swamp-like conditions for Conwy Parkrun

Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.

It was another very wet and windy day for nearly 200 hardy athletes at the Conwy Parkrun on August 5 on a challenging course that resembled swamp-like conditions.

Despite the awful weather, which was part of Storm Antoni, this event still attracted 62 debutants, and recorded 13 new personal best times (PBs), with club and social runners travelling from varied parts of the UK.

The first male runner home was Owain Morris (Les Croupiers RC), who amazingly completed his run in just 17 minutes and 11 seconds, and won his SM30 age cat.

Promising SM20-24 youngster Harri Jackson (Manchester University AC) had to settle for 2nd place this week in 17.28, and at the time of writing, the 3rd placed finisher remained unknown.

For the ladies, debutant junior runner Lexi Dundas enjoyed a fast dash around the puddles in just 20.26, and she also won her JW11-14 age cat in 11th place overall, with Dee Jolly (Sarn Helen Club) winning her VW35 cat in 21.00 in 17th place, and Jackie Lee finished 26th overall, and claimed the 3rd spot in 22.24 to win her FV45 cat.

NWRRC entered seven members and collected one age cat victory and two second-placed finishes.

Will Williams continued his top form in 6th place, and he also won his VM50 age cat in 18.54, with Jon Doe 19th, and 2nd MV45 in 21.09.

Jamie Tharme was 25th in 22.22, with Richard Scamans 40th in 23.24. Master vet Don Hale finished 91st in 27.46, and 2nd MV70, whilst veteran Rob Fryer struggled with an injury, and he came home in 102nd place in 28.34, with Rachel Morris 136th in 32.05.

*Praise was given to the Conwy run director and to all the volunteers and marshals. This is the link to the latest results: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/