Records smashed by father and son at prestigious North Wales track and field meeting

Report by Don Hale

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

Father and son Dave and Steve Gardner celebrated again after breaking four Welsh Masters Athletics records at the first outdoor event of the season.

The pair dazzled at the North Wales Endurance Open Track and Field meeting, held at Deeside Stadium, Connah’s Quay, on 4th April.

Super veteran Dave competed in the javelin and shot putt events and won his M85 age category in both mixed age competitions to add to his many other previous and prestigious Welsh Athletics championship victories and records.

In the javelin, his winning throw was 15.32m, and in the shot he recorded another successful distance of 7.19m.

Steve, meanwhile, competed in the 1000m and 1500m steeplechase races, and he too won his M60 age cat in both events and smashed two Welsh T&F records. In the 1000m he recorded a very good time of 3.13.70, whilst in the 1500 steeplechase his mark was 5.35.90.

The NWRRC member also won his M60 age cat in the Welsh Sprint Duathlon Championships at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay, on 6th April, whilst representing his second claim club GOG Triathlon.

This is a link to the provisional results from Deeside:
https://wales.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2025/GBR/nwend25/event/

Course debutants and first-timers boosted local parkruns over Easter

Report by Don Hale

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

The Easter weekend series of local 5k parkruns attracted massive attendances again this year, with many recording record numbers of entrants including a large input of course debutants and first-timers.

Nova at Prestatyn and Penrhyn Castle parkruns, were probably the most popular events in North Wales, with bumper attendances also reported at Newborough Forest, who welcomed 297 runners, and Nant y Pandy 145, whilst most other local events included a large number of families, visitors and first-time participants.

Conwy Parkrun director Gwyn Williams, who has perhaps been the inspiration for the recent ‘Conwy on Tour’ experience, has provided an excellent round-up of members travelling far and wide during the temporary suspension of the Conwy course due to renovation works.

He explained: “Another bumper Saturday morning of activity by you industrious lot.

“And as I’ve mentioned before, the Easter weekend is renowned for being busy, so it was no surprise to see our two nearest neighbouring parkruns breaking their previous attendance records, 358 at Penrhyn, and 395 at Nova Prestatyn, swelled by many visiting Conwy parkrunners.

“It was also great to see Rob Fryer, John Hatton and Mark Jessett volunteering at these events, which helps to manage the big numbers.

“Venues visited by Conwy tourists this week included: Nant y Pandy, Nova at Prestatyn, Penrhyn, California County, Old Railway Trail, Crichton, Pont y Bala, Loch Leven, Chester and Greenfield, whilst Elizabeth and Harry Driscoll ran at the Hasenheide Parkrun in Germany.

“And away from parkrun, a group of Porth Eirias Runners did their weekly route around the Orme (with cake), Joanna Knight-Griffith had a run on Llandudno prom, Todd Frith ran his own version of parkrun in Dominica whilst Elaine Heyes was having a well-earned rest recovering after running the Paris Marathon last weekend.

“It was a last-minute decision for me today to give Nant y Pandy parkrun a go. As I crossed the Britannia Bridge the rain got heavier and I started to wonder if I’d made the wrong decision.

“On arrival though, I was made very welcome and bumped into several familiar faces with a small number of Conwy parkrun regulars including Mike Pemberton, Saxon Ridley, Elisabeth Williams and Katie Harvey, all making me feel at home, along with Michael’s friend Phil, whose home run is at Bushy Parkrun, but he is originally from Colwyn Bay, and he runs at Conwy whenever he’s ‘back home.”

The Nova run director also confirmed: “The predicted rain stayed away but we still had a ‘Nova breeze’ as our attendance record was broken once again today when 395 people ran, jogged or walked the 5k course, including 36 people doing their very first parkruns, plus 137 first-timers, with 49 recording new PBs, and some 45 different clubs were represented.

“Thank you to the 23 volunteers including our regulars who kept calm under pressure and those who stepped in to help scan at the finish. If you are able to help in the coming weeks, please get in touch by messenger or e-mail, so we can add you to our volunteer rota.

“Next Saturday at Nova, we will again be joined by Nova Prestatyn 5K Your Way, Move Against Cancer, who will be offering support to anyone affected by cancer who would like to take some part at our parkrun event. Please see their Facebook page for more information on how to get in touch. Also happening next Saturday is parkrun’s big Parkwalk Day. The aim is to attempt to get a record number of walkers at parkrun events on the day.”

Prestatyn

Jonathan Kettle (NWRRC) was the 1st finisher at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn with a new course PB of 17,27 and he also won his VM50 age cat.

In second place was Tom Carter (Prestatyn RC), in 17.48, and ithird was James Callaghan on his debut in 18.09.

First female finisher was Beatrice Cordingley (Sale Harriers), with a new PB of 19.59 in 10th place overall, with Sharon Dixon, (Hoad Hill Harriers) 2nd on her debut (14th) in 20.43 and in 3rd place was Eve Manifold (21st) in 22.06.

The Nova Parkrun also attracted 13 members of NWRRC who used the event as part of their club championships.

Winner Jonathan Kettle led the team home. Some of the other top placings included: Adam Lemalle 19th in 21.51, Carla Green 22nd in 22.11, and Kay Hatton, who won her VW60 age cat in 58th place in 24.25.
*All the other results from Nova can be found on this link:
https://www.parkrun.org.uk/novaprestatyn/results/latestresults/

Nant y Pandy

Conwy run director Gwyn Williams (Colwyn Bay AC), was one of 145 entrants at the Nant y Pandy parkrun on Anglesey last weekend, finishing 15th in 22.47, and won his VM50 age cat.

He was joined by many other Conwy regulars including veteran Mike Pemberton who was 46th in 26.14.

First overall was Adam Roberts (Parc Bach RC), with a new PB in 18.54, whilst the 1st female was Anna Glyn with another PB of 24.15.

Penrhyn

First finishers at Penrhyn Castle parkrun included: 1st Sam Gunning with an incredible new course PB of just 16.34, with 2nd Dominic Perry on his debut in 17.08, and 3rd, another debutant in Matthew Wake (Cambridge Tri Cub), in 17.19.

Top female (15th overall) was Donna Sherwin (City of Stoke), in 19.04, with Jodi Bemand, (West Cheshire), 2nd (18th) on her debut in 19.46, and in 3rd place was Cara Bird (Cybi Striders), with a new PB of 20.23 (24th overall).

Some Conwy ‘tour’ runners included NWRRC members Mark Jessett and John O’Shea. Mark was 6th overall with a new PB of 18.28 with John 225th with another course PB of 30.55, and John Stallard finished well in 29.13.

Newborough

The first three finishers at Newborough Forest parkrun were: 1st Andy Dunkerley on his debut in 18.19, with Rhodri Williams (Cybi Striders), 2nd in 18.59, and Angus Morgan 3rd with a new PB of 19.50.

Laura Coucill (Salford Harriers) was first female with a PB of 20.21, and Trang Nguyen (Blackheath and Bromley H), ran 21.14 on her debut, and Sarah Longshaw (Rossendale Harriers) finished 3rd on debut in 21.25.

Seaton

Husband and wife athletes Simon and Vicky Cole enjoyed their trip to the Devon seaside where they took part in the Seaton Esplanade parkun.

Simon was the 1st finisher overall, and he also won his VM40 age cat in a fast time of 17.35, whilst Vicky was the 2nd female and 2nd VW40 cat on her course debut in 21.22.

Berlin

Mother and son Elizabeth and Harry Driscoll (pictured above) travelled to the Hasenheide Parkrun at Berlin where Harry ran well and finished 5th overall in 18.01, with Elizabeth also enjoying a good run out in 28.00.