Super vet Sandy Johnston sets new record at Helena Tipping 10k in Wrexham

Report by Don Hale

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

There was a good turnout at the Helena Tipping 10k race at Wrexham last Sunday with 15 North Wales Road Runners in action – and they claimed four prestigious podium places

Super veteran Sandy Johnston was perhaps the pick of the pack after winning his MV75 age cat with another outstanding display and a remarkable chip time of just 46 minutes and 18 seconds, finishing 226th out of nearly 700 entrants.

And Sandy’s time also set a new North Wales Regional record, taking 14 seconds off Emyr Davies’ previous best of 46.32, set in Caernarfon in 2019.

Young Harry Driscoll actually led the team home in 78th place in 37.32, with Carla Green next in 142nd spot overall in 40.49. Carla was 20th female, and also finished 3rd in her VW50 age cat.

Benjamin Brummitt was also in good form, 145th in 41.06, whilst Steve Mason placed 163rd in 41.51.

James Jones and Sion Thomas enjoyed a good tussle with James 176th in 42.43, with Sion just 14-seconds adrift in 42.57 for 182nd place.

Cheryl Frost finished 3rd VW55 in 241st place overall, and 43rd female in 47.19.

Nicola Wylie ran well in 271st place in 49.10, and master veteran Rob Fryer claimed a deserved 3rd MV70 in 52.35 in 320th place.

Kelly Marie Alford and her partner Cai Roberts ran the course together and finished in 55.43 in 364th and 365th places respectively, whilst Nia Lister was 398th in 58.30, with Vicky Taylor 420th in 1.00.22, and Rachel Morris 464th in 1.06.13.

*The race was won by Marc Scott (Richmond & Zetland Harriers) in 28.27, with Omar Ahmed (Birchfield Harriers) 2nd in 28.39, and his club colleague Kadar Omar was 3rd in 28.58.

Praise too for Martin Green, who has recently joined Meirionnydd RC as his new first claim club from NWRRC, and finished 33rd overall and won his MV45 cat in 33.46.

The 1st female finisher was Anna Bracegirdle (Salford Harriers) in 33.34, following a very close finish with Sonia Samuels (Sale Harriers), 2nd in 33.47, and Carla Davies (Preston Harriers) was 3rd in 36.00

This is a link to the provisional race results from the Helena tipping 10k:
https://runcheshire.niftyentries.com/Results/Helena-Tipping-Wrexham-10K-2024?

Podium place for Charlotte at International Snowdon Mountain Race

Report by Don Hale

North Wales Road Runner Charlotte Rose Wilton Jones competed in the gruelling Castell Howell International Mountain Race last Saturday, which included a challenging route up and down Mount Snowdon.

This popular event attracted a host of experienced and highly talented mountain runners from around the UK and Europe for one of the top sporting events on the Welsh calendar, which this year celebrated its 49th year.

Charlotte was one of nearly 500 finishers, and performed extremely well despite the inclement weather, completing her arduous 10-mile circuit of this famous Welsh mountain in just 1 hour 47 mins and 45 seconds and claimed a prestigious podium place of 3rd F35 in 191st place overall, and was the 38th female athlete.

After her race, Charlotte said: “Ras Yr Wyddfa was challenging in the rain, but I loved every minute of it!”

Charlotte’s added: “I’ll be taking part in the Ogwen25 | Yr Helgi Du on August 3rd held in Snowdonia this year which is a 25km hilly mountain race and I’ll be raising funds for Beat which is a UK eating disorder charity.”

*If anyone would like to donate a pound or two, please click on the link below:
https://www.justgiving.com/…/charlotte-wilton-jones…

Other results:

Liverpool: Kevin Higgins from NWRRC ran in the 9th event of his unique 12-run series of 10k races on Sunday and he galloped around the circuit at Aintree Racecourse in 54.09.

Rhos-on-Sea: Youngster Charlie Sheen completed his remarkable 75-mile run for the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital charity on Sunday with a final 5-mile dash from Llandudno pier to the Coast Café at Rhos-on-Sea, accompanied by many local runners. This amazing 11-year-old boy also received numerous plaudits for his gallant efforts, and he has now raised over £4,000 for this essential cause.

Steady performances in dry conditions at Conwy Parkrun

Report by Don Hale

Nearly 300 mixed ability athletes took part in another welcome dry event at Conwy Parkrun last Saturday morning from the RSPB Nature Reserve, with many entrants taking it steady in preparation for some other events the following day.

North Wales Road Runners had 15 in action, Steve Bozier leading the team home in 11th place and 3rd VM45 in 21.34, whilst Adam Lemalle was 19th in 21.58, and 2nd VM40

Steve Roberts was 3rd VM55 in 31st place overall with an excellent performance in 23.03, and Mal Preece returned to parkrun, finishing 62nd in 24.48. Newcomer Juana Hunter was pleased with her club debut at Conwy with a new course PB of 25.13 and she finished 3rd VW35.

Master vet Rob Fryer won his VM70 age cat in 85th place in 26.07, and Sion Thomas finished 91st in 26.26. Meanwhile, Gethin Wyn Jones was 130th in 27.51, and Daniel Hennell just four places behind in 28.12.

Vicky Taylor was 3rd VW45 in 152nd place in 29.15, and master vet Mark Mason finished 2nd VM70 in 164th overall in 30.01. Nia Lister was 181st in 31.23, and Rachel Morris recorded her best parkrun time this year of 32.54 in 211th. Elizabeth Driscoll came home in 39.21 in 260th place, with Steve Mason 286th in 51.03.

*The 1st finisher was student Bryn Woodall (Colwyn Bay) in 16.41, and he won his SM20 age cat, with Lloyd Williams (Cybi Striders) 2nd with a new PB of 17.28, and 1st SM30. James Williams (Lymm Runners) took 3rd in 19.23 and topped the VM45 cat.

For the ladies, Ceri Merwood (CDF Runners), was the 1st female finisher (4th overall), on her debut in 19.52, and won her SW25 cat, with Melissa Ward-Williams (Cybi Striders) 2nd in 21.56 (17th overall) and 1st VW35 cat, whilst Katherine Gregson was 3rd female (23rd overall) in 22.28, and was SW30 age cat winner.