Podium places and two gold medals for Road Runners in XC champs

Report by Don Hale

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

Nine members from the North Wales Road Running Club competed in different races during the NW Cross Country Championships at Treborth, Bangor, last Saturday, and claimed five podium places – including two age category wins.

In the senior/master women’s race, Karen Butler won a deserved gold medal after finishing 1st in her W65 age cat following a great run in 39th place in 37 minutes and 30 seconds.

The NWRRC female team packed well with veteran Cheryl Frost on form again in 37th place, in 37.14, and secured 2nd W55 to win a silver medal.

Kay Hatton also had a fine run but faced very stern competition in her own section and had to settle for 5th W60 and 38th overall in 37.18, with Gwen Charlton 50th in 44.38, and she won a silver medal after finishing 2nd W35.

Michael Finnie enjoyed a good performance in the Master Men’s 65 plus race, finishing 17th overall in 40.12, and 10th M65.

In the Senior Men’s race, Steve Gardner ran extremely well again after his recent success both on the track, and at parkrun, to win a gold medal in his M60 age cat. He finished 29th overall in 35.53.

Will Williams claimed a silver medal in 27th place, and 2nd M50 in 35.05.

Iwan Evans was 42nd in 38.03, with Stuart Culverhouse 44th in 38.14, despite him taking part earlier in the day at the Conwy Parkrun.

After the race, Willams said: “Very challenging conditions, with a wet course and very boggy in places. I didn’t want to do that today, but glad I did.

“Feeling much stronger thanks to the time I’m investing in the base miles. That felt comfortable today even though it was tough course and conditions. I felt strong throughout and feel that I’m finally recovering from injury.”

Draft results are now available for the 2025 North Wales Cross Country Championships from Bangor via the following link: https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx…

Hot pace despite a bitterly cold morning at Conwy Parkrun

Report by Don Hale

It was a very cold start for the first Conwy Parkrun of 2025 as 247 mixed ability athletes tackled the puddle-filled, but picturesque 5k course, from the RSPB Nature Reserve last Saturday morning.

Despite the freezing temperatures, Iain Burgess set a very hot pace as the 1st finisher in just 18 minutes and 36 seconds to win his VM35 age cat, and he was some 36-seconds ahead of his nearest rival, VM40 Richard Wilyman (GOG Triathlon) in 19.08, with SM25 Aaron Jones 3rd in 19.49.

Llio Owen was the 1st female finisher with a new PB of 21.23, and she won her SW20 age cat (13th overall), with VW40 athlete Vicky Cole (GOG Triathlon) 2nd (19th overall) with a fine run in 22.05, and VW35 Emma Stanley claimed the 3rd place, (21st overall) in 22.15.

North Wales Road Runners entered 14 members including some new faces and others returning after the festivities or injuries. Steve Mason left his dog Coco at home this week, but took the lead with his team, finishing in 10th place in 21.02, and 2nd VM50.

Adam Lemalle finished 15th overall and 2nd VM 40 in 21.32. Another second age cat spot, this time in his JM11-14 group, went to promising junior Joe Culverhouse, 24th in 22.23, and he was accompanied by his father Stuart Culverhouse, just one second and one place behind his son

Richard Scamans continues to improve each week following his knee operation and performed well in 32nd place in 22.40, whilst newcomer Paddy Walsh came 40th overall, and 2nd SM30 in 23.12.

Master vet Don Hale won his VM70 age cat in 76th place with an improved 26.27, and Sion Thomas was 82nd in 26.39. Nia Lister was 147th in 30.24, and 4th VW35.

Another master vet, Mark Mason, was an additional returnee, taking 2nd VM70 after finishing 156th in 31.02, with veteran John O’Shea 159th in 31.16, and newcomer Dougie Graham was 183rd in 32.45.

Veteran Sue Smith beat last week’s parkrun time by about 16-seconds, taking 04th place in 34.14, whilst Rachel Morris included her run as part of six-mile marathon training effort, recording 37.45 in 222nd place.

Plaudits were later given to the run director Anna Drinkwater, John Hatton the MC, and all the volunteers and marshalls, who gave up their precious time on such a bitterly cold morning. This is a link to the provisional results from Conwy parkrun:
https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/

New Year’s Day result:

Newborough: Will Williams and Steve Mason from NWRRC took part in the New Year’s Day parkrun at Newborough Forest last Wednesday morning. Will finished well in 5th place overall in 20.04, and he won his VM50 age cat, whilst Steve enjoyed a more leisurely walk around the course, and was 338th in 55.07.