Hundreds of runners celebrate return of popular Twin Piers 10k

Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

The revised Arthur Bebbington Twin Piers 10k race returned to huge acclaim last Saturday following an absence of several years due to extensive renovation and flood protection works to the promenade at Rhos on Sea and Colwyn Bay.

Nearly 400 elite and mixed ability athletes, many from far afield, celebrated the reinstatement of this popular, yet challenging event from Llandudno Pier to Porth Eirias.

Despite the rather damp and dismal weather, they all welcomed a new course, which also included a closed section of the latest one-way road layout just below Cayley promenade. 

Well organised by Russell Godwin and his support team from Colwyn Bay AC, the race also formed part of the North Wales 10k championships and attracted numerous top club runners, who competed for prestigious medals.

Generous plaudits were later offered to all the marshals and volunteers including race MC John Hatton from NWRRC.

The overall 10k event was won by Daniel Bebbington (Blackburn Harriers & AC) with a very fast time of 29 minutes and 47 seconds, followed by Elliott Smith-Rasmussen (Newark AC) in 30.39, with Dion Griffith (Menai T&F) 3rd in 31.55.

Amie Smith (Cheshire Dragons) was the 1st female finisher, 26th overall, in 37.45, with Rachel Shipley (Abergele Harriers) just seven-seconds adrift as runner-up, in 27th place overall, in 37.52, with Emma Alofs (Cybi Striders) 3rd and 41st overall in 39.23.

North Wales Road Runners entered a large contingent of some 35 athletes and claimed five top-three finishes in the main race, in addition to winning six NW championship medals.

This included a well-deserved silver medal for the club’s veteran chairman Kevin Slattery, who recorded an incredible time of 43.47 in his M65 age cat, and fellow vet Cheryl Frost, who also won a marvellous silver medal winner in her F55 cat in 47.11.

Llyr ApGeraint Roberts was the first NWRRC club runner home following a superb performance in 21st place. He was 3rd in his M50 age cat in 37.05, and won a bronze NW champs medal.

Will Williams, who made a quick dash back from his holidays, gave chase to Llyr, and finished just one place and 22 seconds behind him in 37.27, with Iwan Evans 36th, and 3rd M45 in 38.55, scooping a bronze championship medal.

Steve Mason was 37th in 39.01, with Will Evans 45th in 39.47 and Harry Driscoll 49th in 40.08, whilst Stuart Culverhouse came 50th in 40.16. Richard Eccles placed 61st in 41.01 and Sion Thomas 92nd in 43.34.

Steve Gardner continued his impressive form in 67th and won a NW bronze medal after finishing 3rd M60 in 41.29.

Vet Kevin Slattery was on fire in his M65 cat, finishing 2nd with a silver medal in 43.47 in 96th place, and was just 13-seconds adrift of winning gold!

Mal Preece was 119th in 45.03, Steve Roberts 127th in 45.39, followed closely by Steve Poupart, just one place and one second behind. Dave Jones was on form in 133rd place in 46.18, with Jamie Tharme 138th in 46.29.

Cheryl Frost earned a superb silver medal after finishing 2nd in her F55 age cat in 149th place in 47.11, with Richard Scamans 158th in 47.45. And vet Kay Hatton won a bronze medal for 164th place and 3rd F60 in 48.00.

Adam Lemalle was 174th in 48.49, and both Sarah Jones and Daniel Hennell celebrated massive PBs after running together. Sarah was 185th in 49.56 and Daniel 188th in 50.15.

Veteran Tony Gibson was 217th in 52.20 and Hannah Griffith 219th in 52.23, with Nicola Wylie 233rd in 53.40 alongside Helen Hannam, who matched the exact same time and finished just one place behind.

Master vet Don Hale was pleased with his first 10k for years in 236th place in 54.03, but like several other NWRRC members, he just missed out on a medal after finishing 4th M70.

Gethin Wyn Jones continued his recent recovery in 245th place in 55.26, with Nia Lister 263rd in 57.35.

Another master vet Mark Mason took 265th place in 58.00, with vet Len Jackson 273rd in 58.20, whilst fellow master vet Mike Hayton positioned 275th in 58.39.

Gwennan Charlton and Samantha Williams ran the course together in 283rd and 284th places, and both shared the same finishing time of 60.04, whilst ultra-distance and marathon enthusiast Rachel Morris claimed 321st spot in 68.52.

*North Wales 10k championships: NWRRC medal results:
Male: M45 Iwan Evans (bronze) 38.55; M50 Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts (bronze) 37.05; M60 Steve Gardner (bronze); 41.29; M65 Kevin Slattery (silver) 43.47: Female: F55 Cheryl Frost (silver) 47.11; and F60 (bronze) Kay Hatton (bronze) 48.00.

*Some other notable gold NW 10k championship medal winners: Male: M55 Eddie Davies (Buckley) 39.15; M60 Eric Campbell (Buckley) 38.20; M65 John Jones (Eryri Harriers) 43.35; M70 Sandy Johnston (Les Croupiers) 46.05; M75 Gareth Hughes (Prestatyn RC) 56.16; M80 Jack Thomas (Buckley) 75.31; and M85 Roger Harrison-Jones (Prestatyn RC) 67.01.
*Female: F55 Debbie Cattermole (Meirionnydd) 46.31; F60 Margaret Ludden (Buckley) 47.10; F65 Christine Wyn Jones (Deeside) 50.56; F70 Liz Evans (GOG Triathlon) 51.58; F75 Ann D’Albuquerque (GOG Triathlon) 58.59.

Russell Godwin confirmed: “We had 451 entries which we were very pleased with. This included the fun run held in the morning. We had 375 finishers for the 10k and there is always an average of 10% dropout which could be for several personal reasons.

“The winner, Daniel Bebbington was Arthur’s grandson who won it last time it was held. The winning time was 29.47 a fantastic performance although not sure where this sits in terms of course records and will have to enquire within the club to ascertain. The course has changed to accommodate the various road closures and works over the years but essentially it is the same route.”

*This is the link to the provisional results from the Twin Piers 10k race:
https://www.niftyentries.com/Results/Arthur-Bebbington-Twin-Piers-10k-2024#

Good attendance at Conwy Parkrun despite a double date

Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery

It was another good attendance at the Conwy Parkrun last Saturday despite other events, including the Twin Piers 10k race held later on the same day, which offered a unique double date for a number of very keen athletes.

The parkrun event again attracted a good number of top club and social runners who were able to enjoy a picturesque 5k dash on an unusually dry but challenging course this week.

North Wales Road Runners were heavily depleted due to this fixture clash with just five members taking the parkrun option, yet they still claimed three first place age cat wins, and two second places.

Master veteran Barrie Wells finished 40th overall, winning his MV70 age cat in 24 minutes and eight-seconds, whilst Elizabeth Driscoll enjoyed a positive run back on home soil again following her recent deployment with the RAF in the Falkland Islands, and recorded a time of 27.23, and she also won her VW55 cat in 86th place.

Veteran John O’Shea claimed 2nd MV65 in 28.50 in 111th place, with another master, or rather super-vet, Edward Garner 159th in 34.21, and 1st VM75. Steve Mason and his dog Coco, volunteered to round-up the stragglers in 197th place in 52.10.

*The first parkrunner home was Harty Woodford who claimed an overall victory at Conwy after several near misses, and this week he also celebrated a new course PB in just 17 minutes and 33 seconds, to win his SM30 age cat.

Ian Lowe (Oswestry Olympians) was 2nd on his debut in 18.47 and 1st MV50 cat, with Richard Wilyman (Abergele Harriers) 3rd in 19.05 and 1st VM40.

The 1st female athlete was Hannah Craven (13th overall), who recorded a new PB of 21.52, and won her SW25 age cat, with veteran Vicky Cole (GOG Triathlon) 2nd, 17th place overall in 22.03, and 1st VW40.

Cole was just ten-seconds ahead of Alex Aldous in 22.13, who was 2nd SW25.

There were 207 finishers at Conwy and praise was given to the run director and to all the marshals and volunteers, and to photographer Steve Jeffery, and popular MC John Hatton.

• Lesley Goodson made her debut in the Rothay Park Parkrun last Saturday morning and won her VW55 age cat in 26.50 after finishing 48th overall.

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