Four Road Runners represent Wales in the Mid Cheshire 5k International

Report by Don Hale

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

Four North Wales Road Runners represented their club and country last Friday night at the Mid Cheshire Summer 5k race, with another three members competing as worthy individuals.

In a star-spangled event, which attracted almost 1,000 top club and elite athletes over this fast and flat course, the quality of the entries from all around the UK was confirmed by the fact the first 46 runners all dipped under 15-minutes.

Martin Green, Jonathan Kettle, Steve Gardner and Karen Butler were among a Welsh party of 51 top runners who proudly wore the red vest of Wales against a strong England team, with some other visiting athletes also recoded as wearing the colours of Ireland and Scotland.

Green led the club team home in 171st place, and he was the 6th Welsh counter, and 9th in his MV45 age cat in 16.03, with Kettle 305th in 16.59, and 16th counter.

Meanwhile, Gardner, fresh from his recent track success, finished 583rd in 18.38, and Butler turned in a good performance in 893rd place, and was 6th FV65 in 23.40.

After the race,Kettle said he was disappointed with his performance and bravely admitted: “I have wanted to wear that vest for many years and finally got the chance this evening at the Mid Cheshire race. No excuses but with everything going on I went into this race way out of shape, and way too tired, but no way I was missing the opportunity.

“I may not have been fast, but I laced up the shoes and left absolutely nothing in the tank, and as long as I can do that I will be satisfied! Onwards and upwards!”

Harry Driscoll, Will Williams and Jamie Tharme also competed well in the same race for NWRRC with Harry celebrating a good run in 411th place in 17.39, whilst Will also recorded a good time of 19.10 following injury in 654th and Jamie shook-off a recent injury to finish 847th in 22.17.

The event was won by Aron Gebremariam (Birchfield Harriers) in 13.58, with Calum Johnson (Gateshead Harriers & AC), 2nd in 14.03, and Andrew Heyes (Hallamshire Harriers), was 3rd in 14.08.

The first female athlete home was Samantha Harrison (Charnwood), 75th overall, in 15.18, with Lauren Heyes (Hallamshire Harriers), 2nd in 15.22, with Emily Haggard-Kearnley (Warriors Pentathlon & AC), 3rd in 15.56.

There were 977 finishers overall.

*This is a link to the provisional Welsh team and overall results from the Mid Cheshire 5k race:
https://runcheshire.niftyentries.com/Results/Mid-Cheshire-5k-Summer-2024

Other results

Fell Race: Charlotte Rose Wilton-Jones took part in the challenging Gladstone 9 fell race on Sunday and finished 69th overall, and the 20th female in 2 hrs 10 mins and 29 secs. The event included a gruelling course of 14.32kms with 808m of elevation, and Charlotte was 7th in her F-Open age cat.

Prestatyn: Three NWRRC members travelled to the Nova Parkrun at Prestatyn on Saturday with Carla Green first female in 6th place overall, and 1st VW50 in 20.54, with Kay Hatton 1st VW60 cat in 24th position as third female in 24.37, whilst Elizabeth Driscoll was 130th in 37.31.

Penrhyn: Steve Mason finished 12th at the Penrhyn Castle Parkrun and he was 3rd VM50 in 20.48.

Plenty of club and mixed ability visitors at Conwy Parkrun

Report by Don Hale

Conwy Parkrun attracted almost 300 club and mixed ability athletes from all over the UK to the RSPB Nature Reserve last Saturday, with entrants again welcoming some unusually warm and dry conditions.

Stuart Culverhouse led home a team of 11 North Wales Road Runners in 8th place overall and he won his VM50 age cat in 20 minutes and 28 seconds.

Richard Scamans, preparing for his forthcoming Triathlon event, ran well finishing 25th and 2nd VM50 in 22.30.

Harry Driscoll finished 30th despite a hard 5k the previous night and placed 3rd SM20 in 22.46, with Sion Thomas 39th and 3rd VM40 in 23.11. Mal Preece was 44th and 2nd VM60 in 23.36 and Daniel Owens, who is partially sighted, ran the course with his generous guide Gwyn Williams (Colwyn Bay AC), and he was 94th with a much-improved time of 26.52.

Nia Lister ran with club colleague Daniel Hennell, and Nia enjoyed a good performance in 126th place in 28.45, also 2nd VW35 with Daniel just one second and one place adrift.

Master veteran Mark Mason finished 128th in 28.49 and 2nd VM70, with fellow master Don Hale returning after many weeks out with injury to finish in 133rd place in 29.00, and 3rd VM70.

Meanwhile, vet John O’Shea was 146th in 29.32.

The first male runner was Simon Cole (GOG Triathlon) in 16.32, with debutant Matthew Cox 2nd in 17.59, and fellow debutant, Alan Buckley (Leeds City), was 3rd in 18.58.

**NOTE: And a note from last week’s Conwy Parkrun – Bryn Woodall’s amazing time of 14.45 was the quickest parkrun result in the UK last week. He has now returned to his studies in America.

The first female finisher was youngster Bethan Buckley (Keighley & Craven AC), who was 11th overall, in 21.00, and 1st JW11-14, with Tracey Holdcroft 2nd (and 12th overall), with a new PB of 21.06, and 1st VW50, whilst another promising junior athlete, Joyce Lenton, finished 3rd on her debut in 21.24, and was 2nd JW11-14.
*Praise was also given to the run director Bethan Wyn Roberts, and to all the volunteers and marshalls. https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/