Another golden haul of championship medals for father and son

Report by Don Hale

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

Father and son veteran athletes Dave and Steve Gardner added a further two gold medals each to their impressive collection, following some excellent performances at the North Wales Track and Field Championships at the Treborth Track near Bangor.

Super vet Dave improved on his previous efforts in his VM85 age category and may potentially have set new Welsh Masters Athletics records in both the shot and javelin events, whilst his son Steve also enjoyed tremendous success and struck gold as an MV60 runner in the 400m and 800m races.

After their events, Steve confirmed: “My Dad and I competed in the NW track meeting in lovely sunny conditions with little wind, coming home with two gold medals each. 

“My Dad competed in both the shot and javelin and improved his PB in the shot, which will most likely extend his existing V85 Welsh record, pending confirmation from Chris Pruski at Welsh Masters Athletics, whilst I competed in the 800m and 400m.”

Steve also explained that despite creating a new MV60 Welsh Masters record recently at another prestigious outdoor championship track meeting in a steeplechase event, he still remained disappointed with his time as a novice, so he took the opportunity to race again last week at Bury St Edmonds, and he smashed his previous time yet again to set another record!

He said: “Although my first 1500m steeplechase of the season was a V60 Welsh Masters record in a time of 5.35, I made a bit a hash of some of the water jumps, so I was confident that I could go quicker next time out.

“At a recent steeplechase festival in Bury St Edmunds and running in a mixed race, I improved the record to 5.23, which has just been ratified by WMAL today.

“However, my successes on the indoor and outdoor tracks over the last few months have been due to working closely with my old training partner, John Messum, who is now the North Wales Endurance Coach, so I am very grateful for his dedication and support.”

NW trio competed in the Milton Keynes marathon races

Report by Don Hale

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

Three North Wales based runners competed in the Milton Keynes (MK) marathon and half-marathon events – and they all recorded some excellent finishing times.

Stuart Culverhouse set a marathon personal best (PB) time of 3 hours 38 minutes and 4 seconds, and after his race he confirmed: “A new PB by around 1 min 50 secs. It could have been better. I hung on to the 3:30 pacer for a while, but my legs gave up with 4 miles to go.

“Still really happy, even if I can’t get up off the floor as I type this.”

Meanwhile, Ben and Sarah Hudson took part in the Milton Keynes half-marathon race with Ben shaking off an ankle injury to finish well in 1 hour 51 minutes and 58 seconds, whilst Sarah’s time was equally good in 1.53.47.

What made their times even remarkable was the fact both Ben and Sarah volunteered as back markers the day before at the Ras Moel fell race, and before that, it was only a week or two since Sarah competed in the Boston Marathon in America.

Unique family hat-trick of parkrun age cat wins at Nova

Report by Don Hale

It was a unique family hat-trick of age category victories for NWRRC veteran Stuart Culverhouse, together with his son Joe, and daughter at the Nova Parkrun at sun-drenched Prestatyn.

Junior Joe finished 10th overall and he won his JM11-14 age cat with an impressive time of 20.38, whilst his dad Stuart was just one place and seven-seconds behind Joe, and he too won his VM50 age cat in 20.46, with Sophia also enjoying another good performance in 109th place in 30.05, to win her JW15-17 age cat.

After the parkrun Stuart admitted: “My first run post marathon and my legs still felt heavy. Great to have a tussle with Joe, who dropped me like a stone with about 500m to go! Love parkrunning with Sophia & Joe.”

Stuart and his team were part of the Conwy on tour contingent, and some other visitors of note included: Josh Mottram, who was 20th in 22.00 and won his SM18 age cat, Darren Dentith 21st and 2nd VM50 in 22.04, Simon Nixon (Denbigh) 27th in 22.57, and 1st VM65, plus Colwyn Bay AC runner Ian Taylor 28th in 23.07 and 2nd VM55.

And in addition, NWRRC members Sean Butler, 89th with a new PB of 28.41, and Helen Hannam finished 96th and 3rd VW45 in 29.14. Helen also ran with her friend Emma Gardner, who finished 2nd VW35 on her course debut, and she was just one place and one-second ahead of Helen.

Veteran Pam Grant was another Conwy traveller, finishing 105th and 2nd VW65 in 29.52. This was Pam’s first parkrun for several weeks and she was pleased to dip under the half-hour mark.

The first finisher overall at Prestatyn was SM30 home club member Andrew Bromley with a fast time of 17.46, with Sam Ashton 2nd in 18.58 and Andrew Mearns 3rd in 19.11.

The first female finisher was another top Prestatyn RC runner in Eve Manifold (13th) in 21.32. She was followed by clubmate Megan Lewis (34th) in 24.05, with junior athlete Celsi Jones taking the 3rd spot after enjoying a good run on her course debut in 25.39, and she also won her JW11-14 age cat. There were 228 finishers in total.

Conwy runners visited new ‘Parkrun in the Past’ event

Several Conwy on Tour members journeyed across to Hope, near Wrexham, on May 10 to join in with the fun – along with over 400 other athletes – in the first parkrun at this unique location

Now known as the Parkrun in the Past, this event combines a modern community run with a dash through the past, with the 5k course combining an interesting new route via an ancient Roman Fort project.

Peter Johnson and Megan New (GOG Triathlon) from the Conwy travellers group were debutants to witness the excitement of this extraordinary venture, and after the event Peter explained: “I spotted a new one appear on the map, so I headed over to give it a go (my 21st location).

“Park in the Past is an ongoing project to build a life-size Roman fort, and on the run, you go through the Fort which is already looking very impressive and unique.”

• The first male finisher overall was David Brickley (Buckley) in 17.14, and 1st female finisher was Fio Hughes (Running Bear RC) in 20.20. The event attracted 423 finishers, and Peter Johnson was 210th in 28.58, whilst Megan was 240th in 30.06.
• Penrhyn Castle Parkrun tour: There was another very good turn-out of nearly 300 mixed ability athletes at the Penrhyn Castle Parkrun last Saturday, and the first runner home in the heat was visitor Jacob Hiom (Cuth’s RC) on his course debut in 17.23.
  Jacob was just eight-seconds ahead of his rival Malachy Bromham with a new PB in 17.31, and James Coleman (Eryri Harriers) finished 3rd in 18.21. NWRRC member Mark Jessett also celebrated a very good result in 4th place in 18.34, and he won his VM35 age cat, and Harry Driscoll, now with Meirionnydd RC, took the 9th spot in 19.47, and he was 3rd SM20-24.
• The first female finisher was another visiting athlete in Abi Williams (14th), who made a positive course debut in 21.05, with Catherine Connell (Eryri Harriers) the runner-up (22nd) in 21.51, with Conwy tour member Laura McKenzie (Betsi Runaways) 3rd (36th overall) i23.11, and she won her VW45 age cat.
• Some other Conwy travellers included: Gwyn Williams 34th in 23.01, GOG Triathlon member Liz Evans was 83rd in 26.26, and won her VW70 age cat, with John D’Albuquerque 2nd in his VM75 age cat in 157th place in 30.57, whilst Liz McIndoe finished in 238th place in 36.37 and 4th in her VW65 age cat. *Praise was given to the organisers for some welcome cool drinks at the finish.
• Some other weekend tour results:

• Aintree: Three veteran NWRRC members galloped around the course in the heat at the Aintree10k race and each earned podium positions within their respective age categories. Kay Hatton finished 82nd overall, and she was 2nd in her FV60 cat and the 14th female in 49.12, whilst Cheryl Frost was 87th, and the 16th female in 49.53, and she too was 2nd in her VW55 age cat. Colleague Mike Hayton was also on top form and the master veteran won his VM70 age cat with a great performance in 333rd place in 1.03.58.
• Woodbank: Lesley Goodson made her course debut in the Woodbank Parkrun near Stockport and won her VW 60-64 age cat in 26.11.
• Ruthin: Mike Pemberton ran at the Ruthin Parkrun with his cousin Alison, and he won his VM65 age cat in 31st place in 24.45.