Very busy final parkrun at Conwy as construction work begins on riverside trail

Report by Don Hale

Photos courtesy of Bethan Wyn Roberts, John Hatton and Don Hale

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

Nearly 400 runners packed the Conwy Parkrun course on a near perfect day last Saturday morning for an emotional final event for several months due to the start of some extensive construction work covering part of the existing 5k riverside course from the RSPB site.

This latest parkrun therefore attracted a host of visiting club and social runners from across the UK, including representatives from Cardiff, Ripon, Oswestry, Widnes, Sandbach, Scotland’s Pitreavie and Brecon to name but a few.

And there was also a large presence of some 26 travelling athletes from Littleborough Runners, plus a generous contingent from Porth Eirias Runners, with many members completing their couch to 5k challenge, and the club also provided free cakes and treats after the parkrun.

The first runner home overall was teenager Cai Curtis-Roberts in just 17 minutes and 15 seconds, followed by veteran Tom Carter (Prestatyn RC) in 17.38 and fellow vet Jonathan Kettle (NWRRC) in 17.49.

First female finisher was Anna Drinkwater (Eryri Harriers), 8th overall in 19.13, with Llio Owen 2nd (26th) in 21.43, and Alex Aldous 3rd in 23.04.

Whilst carefully dodging a vast array of heavy lift construction equipment and cabins parked near the start area, parkrun officials confirmed work will start next week on creating a new cycle track to Betws-y-Coed, resulting in the complete closure of the existing riverside trail until about 14th June, with further updates to be announced in due course.

Plaudits were given to the run director Bethan Wyn Roberts, MC John Hatton, and to all the many volunteers and marshalls. This is a link to the provisional results:
https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/

Unique triple races in the sun at Colwyn Bay

Report by Don Hale

It was a glorious sunny day at Colwyn Bay last Sunday for a unique triple event organised by RunWales which included races over 5, 10, and 20 miles along the promenade, with the 10-miler also doubling up as the North Wales Regional Championship challenge event.

Some 168 athletes competed in the 5-mile race with Tomos Roberts (Meirionnydd RC), winning in a chip time of 26.04, with Jack Webb (Rotherham) 2nd in 27.24, and Alex Cowin (Penny Lane Striders), 3rd in 28.13.

The first female was Charlene Jacobs-Conradie (Meirionnydd RC) in 31.05, and Alannah Birtwistle (Macclesfield), was runner-up in 37.08, with Stephanie Humphries (Widnes), 3rd in 38.10.

David White (Buckley) won the 10-mile race in 55.19, and he led home 206 athletes, with Steffan Sayer (Menai Track & Field) 2nd in 56.39, and Dave Bus Hughes was 3rd in 58.33.

Elliw Haf Roberts was 1st female finisher following a great run in 64.46, with Lizzie Slater (South Cheshire) 2nd in 69.11 and Ruth Jones (Helpston Harriers) 3rd in 70.50.

In the gruelling 20-mile race with 120 competitors, M50 veteran athlete Martin Green (NWRRC/Meirionnydd RC) took the spoils with an outstanding performance in just 1.57.47, followed by runner-up Daniel Soltys (Velo) in 2.00.29, with Darren Williams (Lonely Goat) 3rd in 2.04.04.

Top female finisher was Gemma Moore (Eryri Harriers) in 2.16.55, and Emily Gradfield was 2nd in 2.24.54, and Carla Green (NWRRC) finished 3rd in 2.25.58.

• The NW 10-mile regional championships will be shown on my blog. This is a link to the provisional race results for all events.
  https://www.runwales.com/calendars/sport-events/results