Visting track star won Holyhead Breakwater 5-mile race

Report by Don Hale

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

There was a good mix of club and social runners at the annual Holyhead Breakwater 5-mile race last Sunday with nearly 200 entrants enjoying a well-organised event, which also formed part of the NW Regional Championships.

Visiting track star Samuel Roberts (Retford AC), 23-year-old eldest son of Welsh International triathlete Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts (NWRRC), was the first man home on this undulating course in just 24 minutes and 7 seconds.

His time would have smashed the NW record – but as he is based in the East Midlands, and not born in Wales, or registered with a NW club – it didn’t count.

Josh Griffiths (Swansea Harriers) finished second in 24.19, whilst local athlete Sam Gunning (Cybi Striders), claimed third place in 27.05.

Gunning’s club colleague Emma Alofs was first female finisher in 31.15, with Bethan Jones (Black Cloak Runners) second in 32.58 and Margot Saher (Eryri Harriers) third in 33.57.

After the race, Llyr, who also ran well in 18th place, spoke about his son winning this prestigious event: “I am dead proud of Samuel. This was his second race in two days. He also won a silver in the English Athletics track 5k champs on Friday.

“He didn’t get a NW medal as he wouldn’t be eligible, as he doesn’t run for a NW club and was neither born there, unless parentage counts!”

The mixed clubs’ team awards went to: 1 Cybi Striders in 2.01.09; 2 NWRRC in 2.11.45 and 3 Eryri Harriers in 2.11.57. The event attracted a high standard of athletes and the first 17 runners all dipped under 30 mins. There were 187 finishers.

Many local clubs were well represented including North Wales Road Runners who had 15 members involved: Their first man back was Jonathan Kettle 9th in 28.24 and 2nd F50, with Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts, fresh from recent international duty, 18th in 30.14, and Will Evans finished 26th in 32.12.

Other NWRRC results included: Adam Lemalle 33.51, 44th Carla Green, fourth female finisher and 1st F50 in 34.33. Daniel Hennell 48th in 34.56, Steve Roberts 61st in 35.57, Kay Hatton 88th and 1st F60 in 38.26, Cheryl Frost 95th and 2nd F50 in 38.56, Hannah Griffith 110th in 40.53 and Nia Lister 112th in 41.13,.

Helen Hannam was 130th in 43.15, veteran Kevin Higgins 143rd in 44.39, Rob Fryer 146th in 44.36, and Mike Hayton 168th in 49.00.

Jonathan Kettle, Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts, Carla Green and Kay Hatton were the four counting runners who claimed 2nd place in the mixed club team awards.

Paul Brooks from NW Regional Athletics Council, said: “Congratulations to our new 5 miles champions: Josh Griffiths (Swansea) and Emma Kathleen Alofs (Cybi Striders). Josh smashed the previous Championship best performance (set in 2016 by Rob Samuel, 24:41 at Abergele), with his 24:19, while Emma – the current regional half marathon champion – set a new PB in 31:14.”

The full list of NW Regional medal winners is now available via this link:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/755410871224908/?multi_permalinks=24087440810
928585&notif_id=1753647466447337&notif_t=group_activity&ref=notif

This is a link to all the provisional results from the main race at Holyhead:
https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-embed.php?event=4143#0_3EF1B7

Quick dash to ‘Race the Highland’ train

Report by Don Hale. Many photos courtesy of Lesley Goodson.

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

For many people, it’s just a quick dash to catch the train, but last Wednesday night nearly 300 runners opted to ‘Race the Highland Train,’ a very popular annual 5k event, with everyone first enjoying a ride out to the start at Dinas station, after departing from the initial assembly point at Caernarfon.

The conditions were good on this fast downward course, with a generous number of club and mixed ability runners taking part, which naturally led to some excellent and very good times.

Meirionnydd RC took many of the plaudits with four club members in the first five places, including the top three, and overall winner was Owen Roberts, in just 13 minutes and 59 seconds, with Ifan Dafydd second in 14.41 and Tomos Roberts third, yet he shared the exact same finishing time as Ifan.

Sam Gunning (Cybi Striders) managed to split the Meirionnydd RC lads after claiming fourth spot in 15.04, with Cai Dafydd fifth in 15.47.

Top female finisher was Samia Jones (Liverpool Harriers) in 17.27, with Emma Alofs (Cybi Striders) second in 18.04 and Ellin Haf Roberts (Eryri Harriers) third in 18.10.

Prestatyn RC were very well represented and after the event they confirmed: “We had some great results with Danny winning the V40 category and Dave coming 3rd in the same category. Marc also came 1st in the V60 category, with Darrell 2nd in that category.”

North Wales Road Runners entered three members with Daniel Hennell 58th with a good time of 20.39, followed by Hannah Griffith 130th in 23.56 and Gwennan Charlton 177th in 26.07.

TEAM AWARDS: Meirionnydd RC won the male club award, with Cybi Striders second, and Prestatyn RC third. Cybi Striders however, won the mixed clubs prize with a combined time total of 1.07.13, and Eryri Harriers were second in 1.11.22, with Prestatyn RC third in 1.12.36.

Cybi Striders also won the female team award with Menai Track & Field RC second and Eryri Harriers third.
This is a link to the provisional results for the Race the Highland Train.
https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-
embed.php?event=4141#0_280078

Ben and Sarah’s 14-mile Coastal Challenge

Report by Don Hale

North Wales ultra-distance couple Ben and Sarah Hudson competed in the challenging 14-mile Northumberland Coast Trail Run last Sunday, which closely followed the coastal path from Beadnell Harbour to the Alnmouth Estuary through an area of outstanding natural beauty.

The route started on sand, then onto road, sand, trail, road, and finished on sand again at Alnmouth. This dynamic duo ran the race whilst on holiday and after the event Sarah explained: “We are away with Ben’s family in Northumberland and did a 14-mile trail race along the coast.

“It was tough going but stunning, with lots of delightful sandy miles. Ben snuck under two hours, and I did around 2.24. It was certainly a challenge that’s for sure. A good turn out and it was really well organised!”

The final results confirmed that Ben finished well in 97th place out of 370 entrants, in a time of 1.58.18, and Sarah was 258th in 2.24.19.