Road Runners celebrate age cat wins at Anglesey Half Marathon and 10k

Report by Don Hale

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

It was a bumper turn-out at the Anglesey Half Marathon and 10k races on March 3 with more than 1,100 runners tackling this tough and very challenging course on an unusually bright and sunny morning.

North Wales Road Runners entered five athletes in the half-marathon event, with a further six members competing in the 10k.

Once again they celebrated with an excellent M65 age cat victory by club chairman Kevin Slattery in the longer distance race, whilst Alastair Canaway finished 3rd overall in the 10k, and master vet Don Hale won his M70 cat, with fellow vet Rob Fryer ending up 3rd M65.

This very popular double event was well organised by Always Aim High, and the conditions also attracted a large crowd of enthusiastic supporters, who cheered the runners from start to finish.

Stuart Culverhouse was first NWRRC member home in the half-marathon with a gritty and determined display, finishing 64th out of 640 starters, in a very good time of 1 hour 34 minutes and 20 seconds. He was followed by Kevin Slattery, who had an outstanding run again to win his M65 age cat in style, finishing 87th in 1.37.01.

Adam Lemalle was 286th in 1.52.54, and Samantha Williams returned to racing in 479th place in 2.07.58, whilst Hannah Griffiths ran well with her sister, Siwan Kalatzi (Thames Valley Triathletes). Hannah was 566th in 2.17.41, with Siwan just one place and one second ahead.

In the 10k race, which included nearly 500 starters, Alastair Canaway blazed a fast trail despite the undulating course, and claimed a well-deserved 3rd place overall as the 3rd O/Sen cat in 37.08, with promising newcomer James Jones making his club debut, finishing 19th in 41.44, and Sion Thomas was 78th in 49.59.

After the 10k, a delighted Alistair confirmed: “I’m very happy to finally be back racing after a long eleven months of injury. I really didn’t feel good today, so I’m happy to come away with 3rd place and blew out the cobwebs.”

The vets then took the plaudits in the same demanding race, with Don Hale winning his M70 age cat with a new course PB of 53.54, and his best 10k time since 2021, in 122nd place; whilst Rob Fryer was back to his best and claimed the 3rd spot in his M65 age cat, finishing 145th in 55.30; with fellow master vet Mike Hayton 5th M70 in 1.02.12.

Other race results

Cheshire

Three NWRRC members hit the track running at the Oulton Park 10k and 5k races with all of them winning their respective age categories.

Kevin Higgins won his M60 cat in the 10k race after finishing 63rd in 51.59 with his best time for about two years, and Tony Gibson was just one place behind in 52.15, and was 1st M65.

Meanwhile, Steve Gardner also won his M60 cat in the 5k race with a good performance in 7th place in 19.19.

Manchester

Will Williams and Jamie Tharme competed in the very fast and elite-packed Trafford 10k, which attracted over 1,500 top athletes. Will finished in 417th place overall in 37.02, with Jamie 757th in 43.53.

Dolgarrog

NWRRC members Charlotte Rose Wilton Jones and Nicola Wylie competed in the gruelling Pipe Dream 7k fell race at Dolgarrog, which celebrated its 20th anniversary.

Charlotte finished 60th overall in 59.07, and Nicola was 72nd and 2nd F50 in 63.53.

Charlotte later admitted: “This was very hard, especially going up the pipe-line steps. It was absolutely brutal!”

Other parkrun results

Ruthin

Carla Green was the second female finisher at the Ruthin Memorial Playing Fields Parkrun, but won her VW50 age cat in 20.54, finishing in 5th place overall.

Llangollen

Karl and Rachel Morris went on tour to the Old Railway Trail Parkrun at Llangollen after their run at Oswestry was cancelled.

They both performed well with Karl finishing 12th overall out of 96 entrants, and 2nd VM40 in 22.37, whilst Rachel celebrated her first 3rd-place parkrun finish in her VW40 age cat, and was 87th in 37.17.

Erddig

Ben and Sarah Hudson made their debuts at the Erddig Hall Parkrun, near Wrexham, with Ben finishing 17th in 22.40, and 2nd VM45, with Sarah 27th overall, the 5th female finisher in 24.22, and 1st VW45.

Prestatyn

Nia Lister was another parkrun tour debutant, and she finished 2nd VW35 at the Nova Parkrun at Prestatyn, coming home 47th overall in 28.29.

Ice-breaker Michael Finnie and his stick ensure safe passage at Conwy Parkrun

Report by Don Hale

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

North Wales Road Runner Michael Finnie used a large stick to break up all the icy puddles at Conwy Parkrun on March 2, which eventually allowed the event to start safely on another very cold and frosty morning.

Michael’s innovative idea came as a huge relief to 176 eager and enthusiastic entrants, who feared the worst over this very challenging, muddy, and puddle-filled 5k course. 

And his unique plan, backed by run director Sharon Hughes, confirmed a determination to provide a safe route following last week’s late cancellation due to similar problems.

Nine Road Runners took part, led home by Steve Poupart, who finished 19th overall in 22 minutes and 36 seconds, and 3rd VM45.

Youngster Joe Culverhouse and his dad Stuart ran the route together with Joe completing his 100th parkrun, and he finished 4th in his JM11-14 age cat in 23.12, whilst Stuart was just one place and second behind, and was 2nd VM50.

Daniel Hennell enjoyed another good run despite a slight knee problem, and he finished 34th in 24.01, whilst master vet Don Hale celebrated his best parkrun time since last November, to win his MV70 age cat in 51st place in 25.27.

Three other club vets also celebrated good performances in their respective VM65 age cats, with Rob Fryer 62nd and 3rd VM65 in 26.22, with Len Jackson 90th in 28.08 and John O’Shea 112th in 30.30.

Steve Mason was a tail walker again with his lively dog Coco in 171st place in 49.30, and he claimed that Glyn Wise from TV’s Big Brother 7 finished 5th.

*The first male finisher was Sam Liddell VM35 in 19.35; with Paul Hulland VM45, 2nd on his debut in 19.45; and Billy Thomas (GOG Triathlon) SM25 was 3rd with a new course PB in 19.54.

*The first female finisher was Anna Drinkwater (Eryri Harriers), 4th overall in 20.01; with promising youngster Rosie Parsley 21st overall, the 2nd female finisher, and the winner of her JW11-14 age cat in 22.53 and Josie Morgan 3rd, and 45th overall in 24.52.

*Praise was given to the run director Sharon Hughes and to all the volunteers and marshals and particularly on such a cold morning. These are the provisional results:
https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/