Keen competition at Conwy Parkrun despite tough conditions
Report by Don Hale
https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com
Numbers were down at Conwy Parkrun on Saturday morning due to the Christmas shopping rush, combined with some very challenging weather conditions.
And at the risk of sounding like a broken record, the riverside course was flooded again and resembled a cross between a swamp and a tough 5k cross-country trek, yet it still created a great festive atmosphere, with many of the near 200 mixed-ability entrants wearing their traditional fancy dress outfits.
Despite a strong blustery wind and drizzly rain there were still some good times recorded – and the first athlete back was Morgan Kendall (Meirionnydd RC), dressed in his famous Banana-man kit once more.
He faced a keen battle with rival Cai Curtis-Roberts for the top placing, with SM20 Morgan finishing in 17 minutes and 15 seconds, and he was just 10 seconds ahead of SM18 Cai in 17.25, with VM40 GOG Triathlete Simon Cole 3rd in 17.58.
The 1st female finisher (10th overall) was SW20 athlete Seren Woodall (Colwyn Bay) with a new PB of 21.29, and fellow SW20 runner Llio Owen took 2nd place (16th overall), with another PB in 22.07, whilst NWRRC veteran Cheryl Frost (34th overall) won her VM55-59 in style with another tremendous display to claim the 3rd female placing in an excellent time of 24.04.
North Wales Road Runners entered 12 members and claimed three age cat victories, with Will Williams leading the team home in 6th place in 19.54, and he won his VM50 cat.
Adam Lemalle was 15th in 22.02 and 2nd VM40.
Cheryl Frost was 34th overall, and won her VW55 cat in 24.04, with Richard Scamans in close pursuit, finishing 35th in 24.09, and Kay Hatton placed 50th in 25.22, and 2nd VW60.
There was a very keen battle for placings in the male master veteran category with all four members claiming the top positions in the VM70-74 age range.
Barrie Wells just held off a strong challenge from Rob Fryer to finish 71st in 27.05, with Rob 72nd in 27.07.
And fellow masters Don Hale – who almost lost a shoe in the swamp – and Mike Hayton both recorded steady runs with Don 100th in 28.28, and Mike 110th in 29.53.
Veteran John O’Shea finished 137th in 32.21, and Alan Davies returned to parkrun action at Conwy for the first time in over five years, and positioned 149th in 34.34, whilst Steve Mason walked the course as a sweeper in 190th place in 54.32.
Exceptional praise was given out this week due to the awful weather conditions, to the run director, to the popular MC John Hatton, and to all the many volunteers and marshalls.
This is a link to the provisional results from Conwy: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/
Steve Gardner struck gold at Welsh Masters 3000m at Cardiff
Report by Don Hale
https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com
Brett Davis, a director of Welsh Masters Athletics, has just confirmed the gold medal winners and results from the various 3000m championship races for both male and female athletes from last Sunday at the Cardiff Indoor Stadium.
North Wales Road Runner Steve Gardner made the long journey south once again to record an excellent time in his veteran M60 age category in a time of 10 minutes and 37 seconds to claim a new PB.
After his event Steve, who deservedly struck gold, later said: “I competed at the 3000m champs in Cardiff yesterday, and I was very pleased with my performance in a time of 10.37, which was a new pb for me, 25 seconds faster than my previous outdoor time set earlier in the year. The PB was most satisfying for me.”
Men’s 3000m results
M35 Winner: Oli Williams 9:06
M45 Winner: Doug Nicholls 9:26
M50 Winner: Adrian Lewis. 10:52
M55 Winner: Geoff Brimble 10:08 (WMAL record)
M60 Winner: Steve Gardner. 10:37
Guest Winner: Andrew Ridley 9:42
Women’s 3000m results
W35 Winner: Ewelina Ciesielska 10:38
W45 Guest Winner: Kirstie Booth 9:57