North Wales athletes win podium places at dramatic World Championships

Two exceptional North Wales athletes claimed prestigious podium places at the Xterra Snowdonia Trail Running World Championships last Saturday after braving extremely high temperatures that later led to the stoppage of all five events on the mountain.

The races started and finished at Llanberis and offered a number of exceptional challenges with athletes tackling varied distances, ranging from 10k to a marathon, and even a 24-hour ultra event, and attracted many of the best athletes from across the globe.

Event organisers confirmed: “The incredible routes explore the trails, gorgeous panoramic views and tough climbs that make Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park so popular with outdoor enthusiasts.

“Visiting Rhyd Ddu, Beddgelert, Nant Gwynant, Pen y Pass, and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), there surely can’t be a more striking trail marathon route in the UK!’

“However, as the day went on and temperatures continued to soar, reaching well over 30 degrees on Snowdon, with limited shade for runners and volunteers, and with several showing signs of obvious distress, a decision was taken by the race organisers – Always Aim High – who posted this notice confirming the situation: ‘We regret to inform you that today’s race – including the 10k, half-marathon, marathon, ultra-distances, and the Yr Wyddfa Snowdon 24 hr event – has been stopped.

‘Due to the extreme temperatures, it is no longer safe to continue with the event.

‘All runners are being safely escorted off the mountain by our event staff and mountain
leader team. Our top priority is the safety and well-being of all participants. Please bear with
us as we focus on ensuring everyone returns safely. Thank you for your understanding.’

Conditions last Saturday therefore make the achievements of all finishers and podium winners even more remarkable.

Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts from North Wales Road Runners, who has also represented team GB, finished 3rd overall in his particular event despite falling twice on the tough downhill section that probably cost him precious minutes, and perhaps even the title!

After his race he explained: “It went well and I finished 3rd overall, and I was the first vet! I was leading from the gun until well into the last mile, then I fell twice on the decent and lost my placing. It could have been the heat and/or tired legs!

“They are really sore today! Yes, other events, including the half, marathon, ultra and the 24-hour races were stopped due to the heat, apart from that it was something different that I enjoyed,”

GOG Triathlon member Michelle Farrell was another top North Wales athlete with international experience, who also finished 3rd in her race – and on her wedding anniversary.

After completing her race, her delighted husband John Farrell, also a well-known local runner explained: “I cannot be prouder of this wonderful woman. On our anniversary, she set off to compete in the Xterra World Trail championship at Llanberis.

“Running in an eventful race full of incredible athletes in 32 degrees, she only went and came 3rd in her age. She’s the 3rd fastest trail marathon runner in her age…in the world!”

At the time of writing the results had still not been published but will eventually appear on the organisers
website.

Athletes set hot pace despite heatwave at Penrhyn Parkrun

Report by Don Hale
https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

There was a good turnout of nearly 300 mixed ability entrants at the Penrhyn Castle Parkrun last Saturday despite the scorching temperatures, with the event also including top athletes from opposite ends of the UK.

A large contingent of quality club runners set a hot pace right from the start over this challenging roller-coaster of a 5k woodland lapped course, with the first 17 finishers all dipping under the 20-minute mark, and the first finisher, Rhodri Owen (Meirionnydd RC), celebrated a great run in just 16 minutes and 7 seconds.

He led home a clean sweep supported by club colleagues, who packed well and took the first five finishing positions.

Ricky Challinor finished in 2nd place, with Russell Bentley 3rd in 16.52, Geraint Pugh 4th in 16.53, and Martin Green 5th in 17.39. There was also a good run by Steffan Sayer (Menai T&F), 7th in 17.42.

And Meirionnydd RC, in addition to recording the top five places, also had SM20 Harry Driscoll in11th place in 19.03, and John Davies 12th in 19.18, with a generous number of age category victories thrown into the mix too.

First female finisher was Tilly Edwards (15th) with a new PB 19.46, followed by Katie Reynolds (Edinburgh University AC), after a close finish (16th) in 19.49, and visitor Imogen Holmes claimed 3rd spot on her course debut (35th) in 22.24.

In addition, two promising young visitors made excellent debuts at Penrhyn and recorded some amazing times with JM15-17 athlete Kyle Molloy (Cambridge & Coleridge AC) finishing 8th overall in 17.50, and winning his age cat, whilst his Northern Ireland rival Matthew Lamont (Dromore AC), was a very close 9th in 18.04, and finished 2nd in the same cat.

Some members of the Conwy on Tour club also enjoyed some good results including: 37th Josh Mottram (Colwyn Bay AC) 3rd SM18 in 22.43; 55th Gareth Southworth (Cybi Striders) and 2nd in his VM55 cat in 23.56; Ian Taylor (Colwyn Bay AC) 64th in 24.11; Barry Palmer (Porth Eirias Runners) 98th in 26.25; 121st Liz Evans (GOG Triathlon), and she was 1st in her VW70 cat in 28.01; whilst twins Karen and Amanda Durber ran together in 153rd and 154th places in 29.43; and John Stallard finished 174th in 31.22.

And plaudits were given to the landlord of the Albion pub in Conwy, Geraint Hughes, who enjoyed a remarkable run in 14th overall with a new PB of 19.38, and he was 3rd SM30-34, just four months after taking up running.

North Wales Road Runners had four finishers with Hannah Griffith 93rd and 2nd VW50 in 26.10, with Elizabeth Driscoll 130th in 28.27, and master veteran Don Hale was 140th in 28.59, with fellow master Mike Hayton 172nd in 31.13. There were 293 finishers altogether, and praise was given to the run director and to all the volunteers and marshals.

This is a link to the provisional results from the Penrhyn Parkrun:
https://www.parkrun.org.uk/penrhyn/results/latestresults/

Michael Corrales first finisher at Nova Parkrun

Report by Don Hale

Fell runner Michael Corrales was first finisher at the Nova Parkrun at Prestatyn following a fine run on his course debut in 17 minutes and 58 seconds, but he was very closely tracked by rivals Jonah Armstrong (Prestatyn RC) in 2nd place with a new PB in 18.02, and Mathew Baker, 3rd in 18.05.

The first female finisher was SW25-29 athlete Anna Drinkwater (Eryri Harriers), 8th overall in 19.40, with SW20-24 visitor Cara Bird (Cybi Striders) 2nd (26th overall) on debut in 22.19, and SW30 Lisa Lines (Prestatyn RC) finished 3rd (31st overall) in 22.39.

Three NWRRC members ran at Nova including Stuart Culverhouse, 16th in 21.10, and he won his VM50, Stuart’s son Joe also won his JM11-14 in 32nd place in 22.40, and great credit to club veteran Sean Butler, who returned to parkrun after a break and finished 94th with a new PB of 28.35, and was 4th VM65.

Some other Conwy on Tour members included: Youngster Freddie Spillane, 24th and 2nd SM20 in 22.12; with Darren Dentith 33rd and 3rd VM50 in 22.42, whilst Freddie’s dad Chris Spillane (Colwyn Bay AC), was 38th in 23.16 and 2nd VM55-59. There were 225 finishers.
*This is a link to the provisional results at the Nova, Prestatyn event:
https://www.parkrun.org.uk/novaprestatyn/results/latestresults/