Tough challenge for North Wales Road Runners in Winter Trail race

Report by Don Hale

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

Eight North Wales Road Runners competed in the tough Coed y Brenin 7-mile Winter Trail Race last Saturday and recorded some excellent results amongst the 449 finishers.

This final event included some challenging terrain with some stunning beauty and was run along single tracks and footpaths through the Coed y Brenin Forest Park, which left a sting in the tail!

Benjamin Brummit led the NWRRC team home in 36th place in 57 minutes and 7 seconds, and it was a close encounter for Sion Thomas and Steve Bozier, with Sion 81st in 63.43, and Steve 86th in 64.17.

And it was a similar story for Steve Poupart and Rob Haines, with Steve finishing in 117th in 67.37, with Rob just one place and seven-seconds adrift.

Dave Jones also ran well, and he was 147th in 70.21, with Vicky Taylor looking towards her best again in 358th place in 90.29 and Carol Moss 362nd in 91.51.

After the event, Steve Bozier said he had to battle with a few muscle problems en route and he later explained: “What a great place to run, but unfortunately, I had to overcome some calf cramps during the first two miles, but I managed to get through this and was pleased with my result.”

The first finisher overall was Tomas Black (Mynyddwyr de Cymru) in 45.02, and Tom Roberts (Meirionnydd RC) was runner-up in 45.59, with Aled Breeze (Maldwyn Harriers) 3rd in 46.19.

First female finisher was Tinka Vinks (Eryri Harriers) in 53.04, with Ellin Haf Roberts (Eryri Harriers) 2nd in 53.53, and Alice Walton finished 3rd in 56.35. There were 449 entrants.

This is a link to the provisional results at Coed y Brenin:
https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-embed.php?event=4088#0_10CDBB

Six of the best at the Village Bakery Wrexham Half Marathon

Report by Don Hale

Martin Green led the North Wales Road Running team home at the Village Bakery Half Marathon in Wrexham last Sunday with a very impressive display just days after returning from a family holiday.

Martin, who now has dual registration with Meirionnydd RC, recorded a fast time of 1.14.06, in 72nd place overall, out of 1,834 entrants, and he won his M50 age cat.

Will Evans was thrilled with his new PB 1.25.34 in 33rd place, whilst Martin’s wife Carla Green finished 3rd F50 in 506th place and 47th female in 1.31.19.

Adam Lemalle placed 793rd in 1.41.56, with Cheryl Frost 879th and 4th F55 cat following a strong run in 1.41.55, together with her colleague Kay Hatton in 900th place in 1.45.30 and 5th F60.

First finisher overall was Omar Ahmed (Birchfield Harriers) in 1.04.35, and the 1st female finisher was Conwy parkrunner Anna Bracegirdle (Salford Harriers) in 1.13.53.

Road Running trio at the Ruthin 10k

A trio of NWRRC members competed in the Ruthin 10k road race on Sunday and the pick of the team was Sarah Hudson, 34th overall, 3rd female finisher and 2nd F40 in 47.37.

And to add some extra icing to Sarah’s performance, she finished just ahead of her husband Ben, who was 37th overall, and 5th M40 in 48.08, whilst master veteran Mike Hayton was 102nd and 4th M70 in 63.24.

And praise to Kevin Higgins who ran in the 5k event which was his first race since last September due to injuries. He finished in 50th in 28.48 and 5th M60-69.

Almost tropical at Conwy Parkrun after weeks of freezing conditions

Report by Don Hale

There was a good mix of travelling club and social runners at Conwy Parkrun last Saturday for a half-term encounter, with temperatures appearing almost tropical at just 4 degrees, following a long period of freezing conditions and strong winds.

Iain Burgess celebrated another outstanding performance as the first finisher overall on this usual puddle-filled 5k course in just 18 minutes and 35 seconds, with debutant Ewan Gibb (Saltaire Striders), pressing Iain all the way home in 19.19, whilst Jack Callaghan (Betsi Runaways) was 3rd in 19.43.

First female finisher was SW20 athlete Llio Owen (15th overall) in 21.38, with SW30 Elisha Price (33rd) and the 2nd female in 23.40, and VW40 Claire Kelly was 3rd (38th) in 24.02. There were 256 finishers.

The North Wales Road Running team were seriously depleted this week due to competing trail races, and a major half-marathon and 10k the following day, so it was left to Richard Scamans to claim the first club finisher spot in 25th place overall in 22.44, and he won his VW50 age cat.

Steve Mason also enjoyed a good run in 37th place in 23.59, and master vet Don Hale knocked about a minute off his previous time to win his VM70 cat in 26.35 in 67th place overall, whilst Mark Davies continues to impress with his recovery efforts, 160th in 32.06, whilst Rob Fryer walked the course as the tail marker in 254th place in 56.49.

*This is a link to the provisional results from Conwy:
https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/

Other results

*Llyn y Parc: Gwen Charlton ran in the Llyn y Park 10k trail race last Saturday and recorded a good time of 64.24 in 28th place overall, and she was 3rd in her F-Open age cat.
*Pembrokeshire: Lesley Goodson made her course debut at the Teifi Marshes parkrun Nature Reserve, and she finished 21st in 26.43, and won her VW60 age cat.
*Penrhyn: Stuart Culverhouse won his VM50 age cat and claimed a new course PB of 20.13 after finishing in 11th place overall.