Sizzling success for children’s cancer charities at the Deganwy 5-mile Dash

Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Zoe Roberts, Stuart Culverhouse and Michael Finnie

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It was hot and humid with a light breeze at last Friday night’s 5-mile Deganwy Dash – also known as Rohan’s Run – with many runners setting a sizzling pace and helping to raise thousands of pounds for children’s cancer charities.

The event proved to be very successful and well organised yet again by John Hatton and Carla Green, with plaudits also given to their generous support team of willing volunteers, who together with all the participants additionally celebrated John’s 80th birthday.

Run in memory of local student Rohan Ingley who unfortunately lost his life to cancer a few years ago, Rohan’s family attended the race and helped with the presentation of prizes, and the support from ‘Joe Public’ this year in particular was amazing with hundreds of people lining the route and especially at key vantage points.

Well-known M40 athlete Simon Cole (GOG Triathlon) was the runaway winner of the Dash with a great time of just 26 minutes and 50 seconds over the picturesque riverside course from Deganwy promenade to the RSPB Nature Reserve and back via Conwy Cob, which also included the first ever organised running event along the newly-laid cycle track.

M35 athlete James Yarwood (Wrexham AAC) finished 2nd in 27.53, with M50 veteran Martin Green (Meirionnydd RC) 3rd in 28.15. The first female was F-Sen Emma Alofs (Cybi Striders) in 32.36, with Eleanor Ashcroft (Denbigh Harriers) 2nd in 33.28 and Sonia Williams (Cybi Striders) 3rd in 33.46.

This popular annual event attracted a host of running club members from far and wide, in addition to many local groups and support organisations, which included male and female competitors with ages ranging from under 24s to over 80’s, and after the event, joint race organiser and birthday boy John Hatton confirmed: “I am really amazed at the fantastic comments we have had about the Dash, and 348 finishers is fantastic. Carla and I put in an enormous amount of effort in to ensure a great event, and to have such fantastic comments is worth all the work.”

Other notable results: Vicky Cole, wife of race winner Simon Cole, was 42nd overall, and won her F40 cat in 34.11; Karen Butler (NWRRC) was 128th and 1st F65 in 41.31; Bob Hind (Cybi Striders) was 1st M70 after finishing 95th in 38.55; Dennis Smith was top M80 age cat in 321st place in 59.52; and well done to
F70 athletes Vivienne Gray who won her cat in 267th place in 51.41, and Ann D’Albuquerque (GOG Triathlon), 2nd in the same age category as Vivienne, despite battling with injury in 334th position in 64.23.

North Wales Road Runners entered 20 athletes and recorded six age category podium places including one first, one second, and three thirds.

Jonathan Kettle was the first team runner home in 5th place overall in 28.51 and 2nd M50. Will Williams
finished 11th and 3rd M50 in 29.55, and Benjamin Brummitt was 16th in 31.07.

Other NWRRC results: James Jones 21st in 31.26, Will Evans 41st in 34.10, Adam Lemalle 55th in 35.36, Daniel Hennell 59th in 36.08, Dave Jones 63rd in 36.14, Richard Scamans 64th in 36.24, Steve Roberts 68th and 2nd M60 in 36.55; Karen Butler 128th and 1st F65 in 41.31, Molly Evans 129th in 41.35, Helen Hannam 130th in 41.37, Nia Lister 139th and 3rd F35 in 42.46, Tony Gibson 141st in 42.54, Vicky Taylor 177th in 45.18, Gwen Charlton 182nd in 45.24. whilst a trio of NWRRC master vets included: Don Hale 210th in 47.26, and 3rd M70 age cat; Rob Fryer 211th in 47.40, and Mike Hayton 258th in 50.55.

Another record smashed at Penrhyn Castle Parkrun

Report by Don Hale

It seems records at Penrhyn Castle Parkrun are more like London buses, with nothing for ages then suddenly two come along at once.

Only last week Sara Ismail-Sutton smashed the female course record and last Saturday, despite the rain, there was another bumper turn-out of visiting athletes, who beat the previous attendance best with 370 finishers.

And it was very nearly a hat-trick of records, with Colwyn Bay athlete and US student Bryn Woodall enjoying a tremendous run at Penrhyn on their four-lap woodland route on his return to the UK for a summer break, and he came within a whisker of claiming a new course record.

He was followed by debutants Ben Allee (Daventry RR) in 17.58, and George Heyes (Wigan & District AC) in 18.34.

The first female finisher was Rebecca Yates (Mickleover RC) on her course debut in 21.57, but it was a very close finish with Llio Owen just three seconds behind her, and junior athlete Leusa Metcalf a close 3rd on her debut in 22.07.

Some other local runners at Penrhyn included: 18th Stuart Culverhouse, also 3rd VM50 in 20.27; 37th Joe Culverhouse, 1st JM11-14 age cat with a new PB in 21.52; master veteran Sandy Johnston, 76th overall and 1st VM75 cat in 23.58, and John O’Shea was 254th in 32.02.

Bala

Four members from NWRRC each won their respective age categories at Pont-y-Bala Parkrun.

Martin Green, who holds a dual club registration with the Road Runners and Meirionnydd RC, was first finisher overall on his course debut in 17.38, and won his VM50 age cat.

Martin’s wife Carla Green also enjoyed a great run out too, finishing 7th overall out of 118 entrants, and 1st female finisher and 1st VW50 in 20.47.

Veteran Kay Hatton won her VW60 in 25th place, and was the 4th female with a new course PB of 23.27, whilst Elizabeth Driscoll topped her VW55 in 48th place on debut in 27.00.

Calgary

Road Runner Gethin Wyn Jones travelled to the Nose Hill Park Parkrun last Saturday in Alberta, Canada, and finished 39th out of 127 entrants in 28.35 and was 5th VM40.