Great fundraising night at Rohan’s Run for children’s cancer charities

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

The Deganwy Dash, now known as Rohan’s Run, attracted nearly 350 finishers on a warm, and sun-drenched evening on Deganwy promenade last Friday night.

Many thousands of pounds were raised by local athletes for children’s cancer charities.

This popular 5-mile race, well organised by John Hatton, and Carla Green, and supported by their hard-working back-up team of club members, marshalls, and volunteers, was run in memory of a very talented sportsman and student Rohan Ingley, from Abergele, who tragically lost his life to leukaemia in August 2018.

His parents, Sanjay and Aradhana Ingley, together with their daughter Shreya, have remained determined ever since to help commemorate Rohan’s short but extraordinary life, by fundraising for essential children’s cancer charities, and following an offer from race organisers a few years ago, they gladly accepted the opportunity to re-name this event to Rohan’s Run.

And Rohan’s sister Shreya Ingley also took part in the race again and ran well to finish 218th overall, the 70th female finisher, and the 16th FSen, in 45.56.

The race was eventually won by Tom Wood (Eryri Harriers), following an outstanding performance over this picturesque coastal course, which started at Deganwy, and then followed a narrow and winding route pathway around Conwy Cob to the RSPB Nature Reserve and back.

Tom finished in just 26 minutes and 20 seconds, and won his M24 age cat, with Josh Keogh 2nd, and despite his determined efforts, he was still over a minute adrift in 27.56, but won his MSen cat, whilst Andrew Bromley took the 3rd spot in 28.21, and was 2nd MSen.

For the ladies, Amie Smith (Cheshire Dragons), was the first female finisher in 31.19, and 1st FSen, with Emma Alofs (Cybi Striders) 2nd and runner-up in the same cat as the winner in 32.24, whilst Jane Doughty (Buckley RC) finished 3rd and 1st F45 33.47.

The event created a superb atmosphere and was well attended by a wide assortment of mixed ability runners from across the country, in addition to a generous number from athletic clubs, and local groups including GOG Triathlon, Porth Eirias Runners, Black Cloak Runners and Dalzell Runners, among many others.

North Wales Road Runners entered 31 members amongst the 341 finishers, with many other club athletes helping out with other volunteering duties, and Jonathan Kettle was the first club man home.

The team celebrated with nine podium places including four age category victories for Kettle M45 and M70 Sandy Johnston, in addition to Nicola Wylie F55 and Karen Butler F65.

These are the final results for NWRRC team members: •4th Jonathan Kettle 28:29 4th overall, 1st M45 •19th Iwan Evans 31.38, 18th M, 3rd M45 •24th Steve Mason 32:21, 23rd M, 4th M45 •34th Will Evans 33:20, 32nd M, 8th M40 •41st James Jones 34:14, 37th M, 14th M45 •48th Sion Thomas 34:37, 44th M, 11th M40 •56th Adam Lamelle 35:20, 56th M, 12th M40 •67th Mal Preece 35:47, 61st M, 3rd M60 •69th Dave Jones 36:01, 63rd M, 2nd M50 •70th Steve Poupart 36:02, 64th M, 7th M45 •78th Ben Hudson 36:28, 72nd M, 9th M45 •85th Sandy Johnston 37:13, 77th M, 1st M70 •86th Sarah Hudson 37:11, 9th F, 3rd F45 •94th Richard Scamans 37:47, 83rd M, 8th M50 •116th Cai Roberts 39:30, 111th M, 17th M40 •119th Nicola Wylie 39:38, 17th F, 1st F55 •122nd Sarah Jones 39:54, 19th F, 4th FSen •123rd Dan Hennell 39:54 104th 12th M45 •127th Karen Butler 40:15 22nd F, 1st F65 •136th Phillip Moss 40:53, 114th M, 6th M60 •146th Tony Gibson 41:40 119th M, 4th M65 •150th Helen Hannam 41:59, 29th F, 7th F45 •156th Rob Fryer 42:12, 124th M, 2nd M70 •164th Greg Taylor 42:40, 129th M, 10th M55 •177th Kelly Alford 43:51, 43rd F, 7th F40 •178th Gethin Jones 43:53, 135th M, 13th M35 •192nd Nia Lister 44:44, 51st F, 8th F35 •198th Carol Moss 44:47, 54th F, 5th F55 •252nd Mike Hayton 49:17, 160th M 6th M70 •253rd Gwen Charlton 49:09, 93rd F, 12th F35 •306th Rachel Morris 56:14, 135th F, 19th F40.
Praise was later given to the organisers, volunteers, marshalls, and sponsors, which included Tesco, Conwy CBC, with main sponsor MKM, and their director Konrad Roberts later presented all the prizes.

Good performances by father and son at Menai Open events

Report by Don Hale

Road Runners Steve Gardner and his father – super-vet Dave Gardner – both competed in the midweek Menai Sprint track challenge last Wednesday night. Steve ran in both the 200m and 400m events, whilst Dave set a new PB in the veteran’s shot-put competition.

After the events, Steve confirmed: “Dad and I competed in the Menai evening events, with dad achieving a new shot put PB, and I was very pleased with my 200m and 400m performances. Dad won 1st place in the shot-put in his MV80 age cat, with a throw of 7.09 to set a new PB record, and I completed the 200m in 29.05, and was 2nd MV60 cat, and I finished 1st MV60 cat in the 400m in 1.03.63.”

Race for Life at Rhyl

Helen Hannam ran in the Race for Life 5k for Cancer Research from Rhyl promenade last Sunday, and she finished well despite tired legs from her busy weekend of events in 26.37. 

And it was good to note that Josie Davies and her 10-year-old son Jordan also completed this special fundraising charity race, in addition to Janice Jackson and Pam Grant, among many other local runners. 

Josie later said: “The boy smashed it, not bad for only ten, and completing a 5k in just under 30-minutes. Well done buddy! It’s always an emotional day, but such a great cause. Well done to everyone who took part.”

Other race results

Abersoch: Will Williams and Vicky Taylor competed in the Abersoch 10k race last Saturday, with Will finishing well in 23rd place in 39.28, and 2nd VM50. Vicky was 549th in just over the hour in 1.00.21.
*Runcorn: Kevin Higgins completed his second 10k race within his unique challenge to run 12 similar events this year. This week he took part in the Jubilee Bridge race at Runcorn, and finished in 57.16.

Bright and beautiful at Conwy Parkrun despite Friday Night Dash

Report by Don Hale

There were a good few tired legs at Conwy Parkrun last Saturday morning following the participation of many athletes in the previous evening’s 5-mile charity event at Rohan’s Run formerly known as the Deganwy Dash.

Despite this slight handicap, this week’s parkrun was backed by beautifully warm and sunny weather conditions, and still attracted over 300 mixed ability entrants from all over the UK.

North Wales Road runners claimed five age cat victories from 13 members, and Martin Green claimed the top spot overall as the first male finisher.

Martin also won his VM45 age cat with an outstanding run in just 17 minutes and 19 seconds, whilst his talented wife Carla Green, also hit good form as the second club finisher, in 10th place overall, and she was 3rd female in 20.34, to additionally win her VW50.

Meanwhile, Adam Lemalle won his VM40 cat in 21.37, and Jamie Tharme was top VM45 in 22nd place in 21.59, with James Singleton 52nd in 23.57.

Master vet Rob Fryer celebrated his new VM70 age cat with a deserved win in 87th place in 25.53, and Gethin Wyn Jones showed his improved fitness with another positive run, just four-seconds and one place behind Rob in 25.57. And another master vet, Mark Mason was back to his best in 111th place in 27.17, also 2nd VM70.

Len Jackson made a welcome return to parkrun and enjoyed a good performance in 28.01, in 124th place, and he was 4th VM65, whilst another master vet, Don Hale had his first outing in about four-weeks due to injury but was pleased to run around unscathed in 137th place in 28.40, and he too was 4th at VM70.

Veteran John O’Shea showed much improved form to finish in 156th place in 29.51, and Gwennan Charlton was 166th and 3rd VW35 in 30.42.

And praise too to one of the event tail walkers in Steve Mason, 298th in 52.30.

*Praise was also given to the run director Mark Jessett, and to all the volunteers and marshalls.

Other parkrun results

*Hamburg: NWRRC members Elizabeth Driscoll and her son Harry made debuts at the Alstervorland Parkrun in Hamburg, Germany, last weekend. Elizabeth won her VW55 age cat in her fastest parkrun time this year after finishing 48th, and the 6th female athlete in 25.43, whilst Harry also enjoyed another good run, 10th overall and 2nd SM20 in 19.30.
*Prestatyn: A quartet of Road Runners took part in the Nova Parkrun at Prestatyn, with Mal Preece 28th with a good run of 23.08 to win his VM60 age cat, whilst Will Evans ran with his daughter Molly, to make their debuts on this course. Will was 44th overall in 24.51, and Molly was just one place and one second behind, but won her SW18 age cat, with Rachel Morris 162nd and 4th VM40 in 37.56.
*Penrhyn: Ben and Sarah Ferguson continued their travels and became debutants at the Penrhyn Castle Parkrun. Ben finished 32nd in 22.40, whist Sarah was the 11th female athlete in 42nd overall in 23.42.