North Wales Road Runners quartet star at Christmas indoor athletics event

Report by Don Hale

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

Four veteran NW Road Runners stood out at the North Wales Christmas Indoor Open Challenge event held at Coleg Cambria, Connah’s Quay, last Saturday afternoon.

They claimed new age cat PB’s, podium places and possible new records in their sections.

This was an extra meeting on the busy track and field race calendar and attracted a few hundred of the best junior to master athletes in the region, who competed in a wide variety of events within the indoor arena.

Steve Gardner, Michael (Pat) Finnie and Don Hale from NWRRC all ran in 60m heats, whilst Steve’s father Dave Gardner took part in the shot-put competition and won his super-master M80 age cat with an excellent throw of 6m36. 

Steve also helped to create a unique family double and recorded an impressive new PB time for the 60m of 9.20 seconds, and was 2nd in his M60 cat, and he was only narrowly beaten by an experienced and outstanding national sprint champion in Martin Weetman!

Michael (Pat) Finnie celebrated his 66th birthday in style by turning in another stunning sprint performance in his 60m heat with a very fast new PB time of just 10.98 seconds to win his M65 age cat, whilst master veteran Don Hale ran his first 60m dash for nearly two years after recovering from serious injury, and recorded the fastest indoor time this year for any M70 athlete, with a time of 12.91 to win his M70 age cat.

After the event Don said: “It was great to have three fellow members of NWRRC at this event, which was organised by Welsh Athletics, and their team of volunteers. We all performed well, and it was great to Dave Gardner back in action in the shot-put, and I was pleased to record my first sprint time for ages following my injury but felt a bit stiff from a standing start, which probably cost me some time, but I was very proud of all my colleagues.”

Records and top rankings for Welsh athletes during 2023

North Wales Road Runners Steve Gardner, Michael (Pat) Finnie and Don Hale are already in the Welsh record books for various T&F distances, with several other recent performances currently under review.

Veteran Steve Gardner has had a tremendous season, gaining Welsh Masters international recognition at several track & field meetings. And on Saturday, he ran the 4th fastest 60m indoor time of the year within his age cat for a new PB of 9.20.

He confirmed this week: “I looked at the MV60 800m and 1500m ranking times, which seemed a little slower than the times I ran at Yate. And on checking the Run Britain rankings list, it appears that I have the 2nd fastest times at 800m and 1500m in Wales this year.

“And coupled with top six times for Parkrun, 5k, 5-miles and 10k, I was pleasantly surprised. It’s given me a little boost to try and get in a few more events in during 2024.”

Michael (Pat) Finnie has also recorded some excellent times and rankings for the 60m, 200m, and 600m within his previous M60 cat, but has rapidly improved on his 60m indoor sprint times since joining the M65 age cat. 

This weekend’s indoor result at Connah’s Quay gave him another excellent PB and showed a massive improvement over the past three meetings from 11.35, 11.02, and now 10.98, and this was the 4th fastest time for a Welsh Master this year.

Don Hale already holds the Welsh national 600m indoor record in his previous M65 age cat, and during past times he has also added top ranking times for the 200m and 60m indoor events at that same age cat. This weekend added the best indoor time this year over the 60m distance within his current Welsh Masters M70 age cat, and he was also noted in the top five 5k road times for his age during 2023.

Ben and Sarah’s marathon run in the sun

Ben and Sarah Ferguson travelled to Spain this week to compete in the sun-drenched Malaga Marathon.

In complete contrast to the weather at home, the pair had to contend with very warm conditions, and in Sarah’s case, she also had to deal with some cracked and bruised ribs after a recent fall in her garden.

Ben recorded a good time of 3 hours 38 minutes and 40 seconds, with Sarah literally hot on his heels, despite her injury problems, she still finished well in 3.42.45.

After the race, Sarah said: “I was aiming for a PB, but I slipped over in our garden the day after the Conwy half, and cracked and badly bruised several ribs, and have only just become comfortable enough to run over the last few days.

“I’m over the moon to even finish it, let alone in that time. My ribs were so not happy from 15-miles, but after doing the first half in 1.44, I decided I had to give it a whirl! It was a challenge, and I had to stop at 17-miles to take some pain killers. It was very warm, and Ben definitely struggled in the second half with the heat – up to about 23 degrees so not crazy – but plenty hot enough!”

Other race results

Prestatyn

Cheryl Frost and Kay Hatton ran in the Offa’s Dyke half-marathon race which started at the Nova Centre in Prestatyn and continued to the summit of Moel y Parc.

Cheryl confirmed: “Kay and I ran the Sea to Summit – Offa’s Dyke run. We did it in 3 hours 40 minutes jointly, and we ran it as a challenge. It was super-muddy and slippery, and the total ascent was crazy 3946 ft, which made it a very challenging 14-mile race. Definitely not for the faint-hearted!”

Manchester

Kevin Higgins won his M60 age cat at the Heaton Park 10k race in 52.41.

He confirmed: “There were 298 runners in very heavy rain with lots of puddles, but it was very enjoyable.”

Preston

Helen Hannam and some family members ran in the Preston Parkrun last Saturday.

Helen made her debut at this venue and completed her run in 104th place in 28.12, and she finished 3rd in her VW45 age cat. Her brother Josh was 4th overall in 18.40, and her nephew Leo finished in 24.58.

Wild, wet, and windy at Conwy Parkrun – and tribute to former athlete

Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery

Ten North Wales Road Runners entered this week’s wild, wet, and windy Conwy Parkrun, which included 146 club and social runners who negotiated the usual rather soggy, and waterlogged riverside course, and they all paid tribute to a former athlete.

Jonathan Kettle was the first runner home overall in a fast time of 17 minutes and 50 seconds to win his VM45 age cat. He led back a talented team that collected five first-placed age category victories, in addition to one second and one third placing.

Will Williams finished 5th overall and he also won his VW50 cat in 19.08, with Stuart Culverhouse 12th, and 3rd VM50 in 20.45. Jamie Tharme was on form again and he finished 19th in 22.08, and 2nd VM45.

Carla Green also continued her rapid progress and won her VW50 age cat in 24th place overall, and was the 3rd female finisher in 22.39.

Karl Morris was pleased with 51st place and 1st VM40 in 24.37, and Tony Gibson made a welcome return to parkrun with a solid performance in 67th place in 26.24, whilst Gwennan Charlton finished 95th in 29.18.

Meanwhile, master veteran Mike Hayton won his MV70 age cat with another good run finishing 95th in 34.40, with Rachel Morris 120th in 34.27.

Jonathan Kettle (NWRRC) finished 1st in 17.50, with SM30 debutants Harty Woodford and Ben Grayson (Eden Runners), claiming the 2nd and 3rd male places in 17.55 and 18.24, respectfully. And Harty certainly gave Jonathan a scare with a determined challenge and finished just 3-seconds adrift.

Anna Drinkwater (Eryri Harriers) was the 1st female finisher in 20.00, with Naomi Wilson 2nd on her debut in 22.09, whilst Carla Green (NWRRC) was 3rd in 22.39.

*Praise was given to the Conwy run director Gwyn Williams and to all the volunteers and marshals on such an awful morning.

Gwyn also paid tribute and helped to celebrate the life of parkrunner Andy MacDonald, who sadly passed away this week. He told fellow runners: “Andy was taken far too soon, but he crammed so much joy, fun, laughter, and love into his life. I’ve had a few people who knew him come up to me to commiserate today, and they all mentioned what a lovely guy he was, genuine, warm, and always good company. Rock on Andy lad, you will be missed.”