North Wales athletes perform well at prestigious indoor championships

Report by Don Hale

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

Three top veteran athletes hit good form at two different indoor championship events last weekend.

North Wales Road Runner Steve Gardner crossed the Pennines to compete for the Welsh Masters on the track in the 3000m, whilst his father Dave struck gold in the shot putt event at Coleg Cambria, Deeside, alongside Paul Brooks, who also won gold in his own respective age category.

Despite an excellent performance in Sheffield, Steve said he was slightly down on his best time for this distance, but admitted to facing some stern competition.

After the event, he confirmed: “I competed in the British Masters Indoor Championships last Sunday. It was a very strong MV60 age category held over two races. I finished 2nd in the B race in a time of 10.43 which meant I was 10th overall taking into consideration the times of both races. I was five-seconds slower than my PB but pleased with my performance on the day.”

And not to be left out of the honours, Steve’s father, super-vet Dave Gardner, collected another prestigious gold at the Welsh Masters Indoor championships at Coleg Cambria, with a winning shot putt of 7.03m in his MV85 age cat.

Meanwhile, another super-vet, Paul Brooks, from the North Wales Regional Athletics Council, who was representing his Wrexham AC club at Deeside, also won gold in the shot competition in his MV75-79 age cat.

Afterwards, a delighted Paul confirmed: “In January 2024, I threw 7.31m in the shot in the North Wales Indoor Champs. Since then, I haven’t been able to get over 7 metres, despite numerous (six) attempts, until yesterday, when I finally threw 7m25 in the Welsh Masters indoor champs.

“I’ve won several gold medals just because I’m often the only one in the M75- 79 category, so although it was the case yesterday, I feel I earned this one!”

Conwy Fell Race

North Wales Road Runner Karl Morris took part in the annual Conwy Fell Race on Saturday afternoon just a few hours after competing in the 5k Nova Parkrun at Prestatyn.

Described by the organisers as ‘a great fell race in the Conwy mountains,’ this gruelling course followed a 5-mile route, which included an initial 500m climb, and a further 1650ft of elevation, which started and finished at Conwy Cricket Club, and attracted 112 hardy and mixed ability athletes.

Despite the challenge of two events in a day, Karl, a popular all-round endurance, fell, and road running athlete, completed this tough course with flying colours, and he ran home in 69.43 to finish in 77th place.

The overall race was won by Gavin Roberts (Calder V), in 41.05, with Gareth Wyn Hughes (Eryri Harriers), 2nd in 42.02, and Josh Hartley (Black Combe) 3rd in 43.40.

The 1st female was Emma Bramley (Keswick) 14th overall, in 51.05, whilst Suzie Richards (Eryri Harriers), was 2nd, and 21st overall in 53.47, and Claire Donnelly (Eryri Harriers) finished 3rd, and 36 th overall in 57.51.

Plaudits were also given to young Colwyn Bay AC athlete Joss Mottram who finished 46th overall, and he was 1st in his U23 age cat with a great time of just 59 minutes and 40 seconds, along with club colleague Ian Taylor, who was 71st in 66.52.

This is the ink to the provisional results from the Conwy Fell Race:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1148834553918568&set=pcb.114883467391855
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Alternative events for club members after Conwy Parkrun cancelled

Report by Don Hale

With Conwy Parkrun cancelled early again on Saturday morning due to a heavy frost and icy conditions around the course, some athletes opted for alternative events elsewhere.

Stuart Culverhouse won his VM50 age category at the Nova Prestatyn 5k parkrun with a new PB time of 19 minutes and 55 seconds to finish 9th overall, with his club colleague Karl Morris in 22nd place, with another excellent PB of 22.09.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Driscoll ran with her dog Winston at the Sandall Park Parkrun at Doncaster, and she was 166th in 35.36.

After the event she said: “There was no ice, only mud. After stopping to say hi to all the volunteers, we got around in 35.36.”