Road Runners dig deep to win podium places at tough Goldrush Trail races

Report by Don Hale

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

Ten North Wales Road Runners (NWRRC) had to dig deep to complete the tough Goldrush 8.5-mile trail and/or the Goldrush Canicross race at Coed y Brenin to win five prestigious podium placings.

This popular and well organised event attracted a wealth of experienced competitors from far afield, with entries generally sold out many months in advance.

Race officials claimed it included some of the best trails and singletrack that Coed y Brenin has to offer, and the event also incorporated one of the best Canicross (runners racing with their dog) races on the calendar.

Canicross participants competed on the same route as the trail runners but started 30-minutes later, and this year it attracted about 50 canine entrants, with another 150 plus athletes, tackling the earlier main race.

Jonathan Kettle led the NWRRC team home in 6th place overall with another fine display in 1.03.36, and he finished 2nd in his M40 cat.

Will Williams celebrated another great run in 1.08.07, winning his M50 in 11th place. Stuart Culverhouse was happy with his time of 1.13.34 in 23rd place and 3rd M50. ​

Adam Lemalle finished 32nd in 1.17.21, with Steve Poupart 51st in 1.23.05. Club newcomer and veteran athlete Philip Moss also celebrated an exceptional performance by claiming 2nd M60 after finishing 59th overall in 1.25.26.

Dave Jones managed to shake-off his injury woes to finish 66th in 1.27.35, with Tony Price Jones 71st in 1.28.29, whilst a determined Vicky Taylor recorded a highly creditable 132nd place in 1.54.34.

Charlotte Rose Wilton Jones eventually stole the show with a great new PB following her Goldrush Canicross race running alongside her cute dog Mollie, the pair coming home in 12th overall, and Charlotte was 3rd female finisher, and 2nd in her FSen age cat in 1.17.00.

After the race Charlotte confirmed: “3rd place today, and massive congratulations to Mollie for completing the Goldrush 8.5 mile, Canicross Trail Race. She was amazing, and a new course PB for me, thanks to Mollie!”

Other race reactions: Jonathan Kettle added: “Well done to everyone who ran at the Goldrush race. What a fantastic turnout in a trail race by the club, and I think I speak for everyone by saying it was very tough but so much fun. And a massive well done for finishing 3rd lady in the Canicross race.“

Dave Jones said: “It was a very tough trail race today in 1.27.29 for 66th place. Happy with that coming back from resting a foot injury for 3 weeks.”

And Will Williams, who ran on Friday night at the Mid Cheshire elite 5k, in addition to the Goldrush Trail Race explained: “What a weekend of racing and contrasts. On Friday evening, I competed at my favourite 5k road race, the Mid-Cheshire 5k. Hugely disappointed though, with how I ran and the time.

“I didn’t take much away except negative thoughts, but reminded myself where I was 4 years ago, and it’s just a matter of time, and I will be back hitting the times I want again.

“Roll on 24hrs, and the Gold Rush Trail Race at Coed y Brenin. 8m plus, and a change of trail with 1,394ft of elevation. No goals, no pace, no time target, no need to look at the watch, so just run hard to enjoy and run free with no expectation. Absolutely loved it, and the best I’ve ran this year, 11th overall, and 1st in age cat. Will definitely be running a lot more trail races this year.”

The Goldrush race was won by Harry Woodford in 1.00.28, with former NWRRC member Josh Keogh 2nd in 1.01.57, with Evan Davies 3rd in 1.02.37. The 1st female finisher was Annie Conway in 1.11.02, with Elly Blackwell (Meirionnydd RC) 2nd in 1.16.49, and Amanda Bailey (Wrexham AAC) 3rd in 1.17.27.
*This is the link to the provisional Goldrush race results: https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-embed.php?event=4003#0_A8C302

Other race results

Cheshire

Will Williams competed in the Friday night elite Mid Cheshire 5k race and recorded a superb time of just 17.57.

Bala

Mal Preece made his course debut in the Pont y Bala Parkrun on Saturday and enjoyed a great run finishing 2nd overall, and he also won his M60-64 age cat with a fast time of 20.36.

Fast times at Conwy Parkrun despite hard, dry and bumpy conditions

Report by Don Hale
https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

It was hard, dry and very bumpy, at the Conwy Parkrun on April 27 as some 239 mixed ability entrants from varied parts of the UK recorded new personal best times and enjoyed bright and sunny conditions over this picturesque but challenging 5k course.

North Wales Road Runners entered 10 members, with Will Evans finishing 4th and 1st VM40 in 20.01, but he was only three-seconds ahead of his talented young club colleague Harry Driscoll, following a lively final dash. Harry was 2nd SM20-24 age and seemed satisfied with 5th place overall.

Jamie Tharme was 3rd VM45 cat in 32nd place in 22.33, with promising youngster Joe Culverhouse 34th, and 1st M11-14 cat in 22.41.

Richard Scamans enjoyed a positive run, placing 44th in 23.49, and it was also good to see Gethin Wyn Jones continuing his fitness battle in 79th place in 26.22.

Master veteran Barrie Wells won his VM70 age cat in 26.37 after finishing 85th, whilst fellow master, Mark Mason was 3rd VM70 following another good run in 109th place in 28.13.

Nia Lister was the club’s only female entrant at Conwy, but she celebrated after a good performance of 28.48 in 120th place, with veteran John O’Shea 132nd and 3rd VM65 in 29.39.

The first finisher overall at Conwy was SM20 winner, Harri Jackson (Menai T&F), in 18.37, with VM45 cat winner James Williams (Lymm Runners) 2nd in 19.15 and VM35 winner Oliver Seddon 3rd with a new PB of 19.43. And it was good to note a rare parkrun appearance by RunWales boss Chris Yorke who finished 6th overall in 20.09.

The first female finisher was SW25 cat winner, Elin Jones, with a new course PB of 21.00, with rival Bethan Jones winning her VW35 with a similar PB in 21.46, whilst another highly promising young local athlete Rosie Parsley topped her JW11-14 with an excellent run in 23.54.

*Praise was given to the Conwy run director Gwyn Williams, and to all his hardworking crew of volunteers and marshalls. This is a link to the provisional results: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/

Debuts and PBs for six Road Runners at the Nova Prestatyn Parkrun

Six Road Runners travelled to the Nova Parkrun at Prestatyn and recorded some impressive results, with several members also making their course debuts.

Carla Green was the 1st female finisher (11th overall), with a new PB of 20.58, and she also won her VW50 age cat.

Karl Morris was 21st on his debut in 22.59, and 2nd VM40, with anotherfirst-timer, Hannah Griffith, claiming 2nd VW50 in 49th place in 26.13.

Elizabeth Driscoll was the final debutant in 89th place in 29.05, and 2nd VW55, whilst Gwennan Charlton set a new PB of 29.50 in 101st place, with Rachel Morris 166th in 35.41.