Running: Podium places and 10 regional medals for NWRRC at Caernarfon Half Marathon

Report by Don Hale

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

There was a massive turnout of over 500 runners at the Caernarfon Half Marathon event on Septrember 8 which also featured the North Wales Regional Championships.

North Wales Road Runners entered 15 members and celebrated with five prestigious podium places in the main race, including three age cat victories, plus 10 championship medals, with six gold, one silver, and three bronze amidst the 504 finishers.

Jonathan Kettle enjoyed an excellent run, finishing in 6th place overall and 2nd iM50 age cat in a chip time of 1 hour 20 minutes and 57 seconds.

He was followed by Iwan Evans in 23rd place in 1.28.33, with Will Evans back to his best in 33rd and 2nd M40 in 1.31.35.

Stuart Culverhouse was 45th in 1.34, whilst club chairman and veteran athlete Kevin Slattery won his M65 age cat with a great result after finishing in 68th place in 1.40.19.

Adam Lemalle was 72nd in 1.40.55, Steve Roberts recorded 1.41.32 in 80th place. Cheryl Frost won her F55 cat with a superb run in 1.47.36 as the 21st female athlete.

Richard Scamans continued to build for his forthcoming triathlon event with a positive run in 148th place in 1.51.05, and master vet Rob Fryer topped his M70 cat in 1.59.24. Daniel Hennell claimed a new PB in 202nd in 2.00.31.

Meanwhile, Hannah Griffith and her sister Siwan Kalatzi ran the course together and shared the same time of 2.07.39 as 69th and 70th females. Helen Hannam was 85th female runner in 2.10.52, with Nia Lister F88th in 2.12.51, whilst Katie Johnston was F149 in 2.27.28. *Plaudits were later given to the race organisers RunWales, and to all the marshals and volunteers.

*North Wales Regional half-marathon championship results: GOLD – M40 Will Evans, M45 Iwan Evans, M50 Jonathan Kettle, M65 Kevin Slattery, M70 Rob Fryer and F55 Cheryl Frost: SILVER – F45 Helen Hannam: and BRONZE – M55 Steve Roberts, and F35 Nia Lister.

The half-marathon race was won by Tomos Roberts (Meirionnydd RC) in 1.09.15, with Josh Griffiths (Swansea Harriers), 2nd in 1.10.08 and Chris Pownall (Cybi Striders) finished 3rd in 1.16.21. There were generous plaudits to Martin Green – now with his new club Meirionnydd RC – who finished 4th overall with a good time of 1.17.00.
Lorna Young from (Marsh Lane Harriers), was the 1st female finisher in 1.23.31, Edan 0’Dea (Deestriders), 2nd in 1.28.30, with Emma Alofs (Cybi Striders) 3rd in 1.28.59.

Rachel Morris and her parents compete in Great North Run

Report by Don Hale

North Wales Road Runner Rachel Morris joined her parents Brian and Hilda Limacher in the famous Great North Run in some challenging conditions with heavy showers and high humidity.

The family made the long trek to Newcastle for this epic event which attracted over 60,000 entrants, including some top international athletes, with many participants often raising tens of thousands of pounds for various charities.

Rachel finished well in 2.49.41. Hilda and Brian ran the course together and clocked 3.42.11.

Rachel later said: “60,000 runners and I was one of them. My favourite race ever! Great bands on route, kids handing out oranges and hi-5s. The marshals were fab as always and the other runners got in my way as it was so busy.  I covered nearly 14-miles instead of 13.1, as I had to keep weaving in and out of everyone. A fab day out!” 

Two races in Lithuania for Kevin

Kevin Higgins competed in two different races in Vilnius in Lithuania.

He ran in a 5k event at 2.30pm in 24 degrees and recorded a time of 28.16, finishing 539th out of about 3,000 runners. Slattery later ran in a 10k race at 4pm when it was even hotter at 26 degrees. He completed that event in 59.58, and was 953rd out of about 2,200 runners.

Kevin later confirmed: “I ran the races with Kieran McGrane. Both races were undulating and 60 per cent on cobble stones. They were great with lots of support all the way around and throughout the city. Today’s races today take me near my 500th race for North Wales Road Running Club.”

Other race results

Corby: Steve Gardner ran in the Inter-Area track and field championships at Corby and finished in 4th place in the 800m with a new PB of 2.20.95. Steve later said: “The race was won by Robert McHarg in a fantastic time of 2.09.71. Robert recently won a bronze medal in MV60 age group at the World Masters Championships in Sweden.”
Penrhyn: Jamie Tharme finished 30th at the Penrhyn Castle Parkrun last Saturday, and was 3rd in his VM45 age cat in 24.23.
Gloucester: Ben Hudson took part in the Gloucester City Parkrun and was 30th overall with a new PB of 22.15, and 3rd in his VM45 cat.

Four age category wins for the Road Runners at Conwy Parkrun

Report by Don Hale

North Wales Road Runners entered 13 members at the Conwy Parkrun on September 7 and claimed four age category wins, including Josh Keogh, first finisher overall with an excellent time of 18 minutes and 37 seconds.

Starting from the RSPB Nature Reserve, this popular 5k event attracted numerous runners from various parts of the UK, in addition to welcoming back some of their own club runners following some long periods of absence.

And it should be noted, that due to some other competing fixtures on another busy weekend, many runners took it steady in the rather heavy and humid weather.

Josh led the team home, and Steve Bozier displayed a positive performance, and had a strong finish in 11th place in 21.00, and was 2nd VM45.

Steve Roberts won his VM55 in 24th place in 21.57, whilst Karl Morris was 28th and 2nd VM40 in 22.05, with Stuart Culverhouse 45th in 23.33. Hannah Griffith won her VW50 age cat in 69th place in 26.01, with Richard Scamans 84th in 26.43.

Veteran Michael Finnie completed his first Conwy Parkrun in over two years, and he ran well in 86th place in 26.48, ending up 3rd VM65. Master vet Don Hale continued his recovery programme and knocked over a minute from last week’s time, finishing 102nd in 28.00, and 1st VM70, with fellow master Mark Mason just 10 seconds and one place behind.

Another vet, John O’Shea, was 125th in 29.46, and it was good to welcome back additional vets, Mike and Sue Smith. Mike finished 201st in 35.34, with Sue and her faithful hound walking the course in 234th place in 40.55.

The 1st male athlete home at Conwy was Josh Keogh in 18.37, with Graeme Tunstall (GOG Triathlon) 2nd in 20.01 and Matthew O’Donovan 3rd on his course debut in 20.09.

For the ladies, Rebekah Livsey (Stockport Harriers & AC), finished 1st (18th overall), on her debut in 21.38, and she was only just ahead of Gemma Moore (Eryri Harriers) and her child buggy in 21.42 (in 19th place overall), with Amelia Anderson (Tristars Conwy Junior Triathlon Club) 3rd female finisher (32nd overall), with a new PB in 22.28.