Blustery winds for North Wales Road Runners at club’s Christmas handicap race

Report by Don Hale. Main photos by Kevin Slattery and John Hatton

Twenty-five members of North Wales Road Runners took part in the annual Christmas handicap race last Sunday, but they had to battle with cool and very blustery head and sidewinds as they negotiated a challenging four-mile course along part of the Great Orme.

Following a tough route out from West Shore and climbing up the Orme to the old WW2 gun sites and past what’s known as ‘Millionaires Row,’ the runners then turned via a further muddy track before returning back to the start.

This popular event, well organised by John Hatton, Martin Green and Carla Green, and a team of willing volunteers and marshals attracted a bumper attendance, which included newcomers and many seasoned athletes.

And with runners graded at the start based on their parkrun or 5k times, the handicap race was eventually won by Helen Hannam in 33.02, with Rachel Morris 2nd, and relative newcomer Nia Roberts 3rd.

The first male finisher was Steve Roberts (4th), with runner-up Steve Mason (5th), and Richard Scamans the 3rd male, (6th overall).

The final finishing positions were: 1 Helen Hannam, 2 Rachel Morris 3 Nia Anna, 4 Steve Roberts, 5 Steve Mason, 6 Richard Scamans, 7 Mark Mason, 8 Hannah Griffith, 9 Gwennan Charlton, 10 Samantha Williams, 11 Sarah Jones, 12 Dave Jones, 13 Daniel Hennell, 14 Cheryl Frost, 15 Kay Hatton, 16 Tony Gibson, 17 Iwan Evans, 18 William Evans, 19 Don Hale, 20 Carol Moss, 21 Karl Morris, 22 Steve Poupart, 23 Sion Thomas, 24 Gethin Jones, 25 Mike Hayton.
*Club entrants later donated various tins and other essential goods to the local foodbank as part of their regular festive support.

Other result

Prestatyn

Stuart Culverhouse finished 4th at the Nova Parkrun at Prestatyn on Saturday with a good run in 20.38 and he won his VM50 age cat.

Cross-country and indoor fixtures for the New Year

There are two cross-country league fixtures available in the New Year at Dolgellau and Oswestry, along with the North Wales XC champs at Wrexham on 6th January.

The first event at Dolgellau will be staged on Saturday 20th January: Postcode LL401UU, whilst the latter meeting will be held on Saturday 10th February, at the Marches School, Oswestry: Postcode: SY11 2AP.
*The North Wales cross-country championships will be held at Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, Wrexham, on Saturday 6th January 2024.
*And the North Wales Indoor T&F championships will be held at Coleg Cambria, Connah’s Quay, on Saturday 2 January 2024.

Charity cheque for over £9k from Run Wales athletes to St David’s Hospice

Chris and Tracey Yorke from local race organisers Run Wales presented a generous cheque last week to St David’s Hospice, their chosen charity partner for 2023, for £9,256.78. 

This was based on money raised through their Run Wales website, and by many runners who opted to fundraise for the Hospice, after utilising their races. Chris later confirmed: “Thanks to everyone who helped raise these amazing amounts of money. It’s truly appreciated.”

.Hot pace set by Morgan Kendall at cool and breezy Conwy Parkrun

Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery

It was cool, with very breezy conditions at the Conwy Parkrun last Saturday, but good to see talented local athlete and student Morgan Kendall set a hot pace from the start of this 5k event despite some tough opposition.

Returning home from Durham University for the festive holidays Morgan, representing Durham City Harriers, maintained his top form and gained a narrow victory over rivals James Smith (Menai T&F) and Harty Woodford.

He recorded another excellent time of just 17 minutes and 14 seconds to win his SM20 age cat, and finished just 9-seconds ahead of James, who claimed 2nd place in the same age cat as Morgan in 17.25, with Harty recording 17.25, despite a new course PB, but he won his SM30 cat in 17.42.

Carla Green (NWRRC) was the 1st female finisher, 24th overall in 22.45, and also won her VW50 age cat.

Alex Aldous gave Carla a hard chase though, and claimed 2nd spot, whilst winning her SW25 cat in 22.50, in 26th place overall, with Becky Sleath (Newcastle University Tri-Club), the 3rd female finisher in 23.44, and in 38th place overall.

North Wales Road Runners entered nine members and recorded four age cat wins with Will Williams leading the team home in 7th place in 18.54, and he won his VM50 cat, with Will Evans 9th in 20.02 and won his VM40 cat.

And Harry Driscoll turned in a good performance in 17th place and 3rd in his SM20 cat in 21.14, with Jamie Tharme shaking off his recent knee injury to finish 22nd in 21.55, and 3rd VM45.

Carla Green was the 1st female finisher in 24th place overall in 22.45, and she won her VW50 age cat, whilst master veteran Don Hale finished 64th in 25.48, and he also won his VM70 age cat.

Richard Scamans meanwhile took the lead in the canine event and ran with his dog in 83rd place in 26.54, whilst veteran John O’Shea was 107th in 29.53, and plaudits to Gwennan Charlton, despite battling with a touch of sciatica, who ran the course with her son Edward and finished 124th in 31.52.

After the event Jamie Tharme said: “My fastest parkrun for some time in really windy conditions, and I could still feel the knee, but getting there.”

And Gwennan Charlton confirmed: “Suffering with sciatica is not a fun thing, and Ed was tired, so we walked a lot of the way back.”

*Praise was given to the run director and to all the volunteers and marshals. These are the provisional results from the Conwy Parkrun:
https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/