‘Czech’ mates and bronze medal for North Wales pair at World Cross Duathlon championships

Report by Don Hale

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

Talented North Wales athletes John and Michelle Farrell were ‘Czech’ mates after competing well for Team GB at the World Triathlon/X-Terra age group competition during the Cross Duathlon championships, staged recently in Prachatice within the Czech Republic.
The experienced pair, who are well-known GOG Triathletes were representing Great Britain after first qualifying to be part of the elite Age Group Team and last week travelled to the Prachatice Centrum, about a two-hour drive west of Prague.
The event included a tough trail run, closely followed by a very challenging mountain bike race, and when John first carried out a practice recce of the course, the day before the main event, he nervously commented: “What a route! Over 500m of elevation and a few gnarly bits, but beautiful single-track downhills to scare me! Let’s see if our legs recover for tomorrow.”

Fortunately, all went well on the day, and they both celebrated outstanding success in this elite competition, with Michelle even winning a prestigious bronze medal after finishing 3rd in her age category with a good overall time, despite battling a near 1,000m climb and extremely hot temperatures.
John finished in a worthy 6th place in his own age cat, and was 2nd GB athlete home. And as they both finished as part of the top three athletes in their individual age cats, they now automatically qualify to compete for the GB team yet again, in next year’s Euro Championships in Spain.
John later confirmed: “What a special day, representing GB in a European Championships event! Probably the hardest thing I have ever done! These guys are another level, yet Michelle still walks away with a bronze medal!
“So proud of her! It was a proud moment too for us both to pull on the GB kit, and even prouder for me to see Michelle on the podium…again, not sure I’ll ever get used to it!”

John also praised the support of the Amourdillo bike box hire/ We Cycle, and the Conwy Talented Athlete Scheme, for the ongoing support they have provided.
And he has now provided a personal account about their remarkable adventure:
The route was an 8km trail run followed by a 21km mountain bike race with close to 600 metres of climbing over varied Forrest terrain and descending through fast single track downhill mountain bike race trails.
The final run was a 4km run back into the town centre. In total there was close to 1,000m of climbing steep terrain. It was 28 degrees on the day in unbroken sun and was extremely challenging.
There are no official results yet, but Michelle finished in 2:47 and in 3rd place in her age group earning her a bronze medal. My time was 3:18. The whole few days with the GB team was an amazing and eye-opening experience.
Being our first time with the team it dawned on us what a big step up competing at Age Group level was and racing fantastic athletes from all over Europe was a learning curve.
The race was brutal in its climbs and challenging in the fast descents and involved every terrain available. Coming only three weeks after Michelle’s Xterra World Trail Marathon Podium, she was overjoyed at adding to her major race medal tally.
We both found it incredibly tough and a real step up in competition standard as it should be.
There’s no place to hide and you need to be in top condition to compete.
I had only returned from injury recently and found the MTB leg gruelling and the missing fitness showed, whilst Michelle had been concentrating on her World Championship Trail race, so this race came a little too soon, although achieving another podium was an incredible experience.

We both came in the top 3 GB athletes in our age group so will automatically qualify for next year’s European Championships as part of the GB team in Spain. And we’ll be ready!

Course record smashed at the Caernarfon 10k race

Report by Don Hale

The conditions were perfect last Sunday as a star-studded line up of elite and top club runners at the Caernarfon 10k race set a fast pace right from the start, with the course record later smashed during an exciting event, which also included an Inter-Counties championship match.
Race organiser Chris Yorke from RunWales said: “What a race on this super-fast 10k course! The top 3 runners all broke the course record with Swansea Harrier Dewi Griffiths smashing the current course record (31:02) in 29:28. In 2nd place was Joshua Griffiths in 30.51, and third was Luke Burgess in 30:58 – who also broke the course record, with both Joshua and Luke representing the North Wales Team.”

The first three female athletes: 1st Eden O’Dea (North Wales Team) in 36.34, 2nd Donna Morris (Builth & District RC) in 36.51, 3rd Louise Flynn (Les Croupiers) in 37.06.
The race also hosted the Inter-Counties match which included North Wales, Staffordshire and Cheshire going head-to-head with the men’s and ladies teams of five, and Staffordshire eventually came out on top as the overall winners.
Inter Counties Final Results: 1st Staffordshire 18 points, 2nd North Wales 22 points, 3rd Cheshire 46 points: Male counters: 1st Josh Griffiths 30:51, 2nd Luke Burgess 30:58, 3rd Jordan Thomas 33:26.
Female counters: 1st Eden O’ Dea 36:34 North Wales, 2nd Anna Hollingworth 37:11 Staffordshire, 3rd Emily Merrison 37:39 Staffordshire.
North Wales Road Runners (NWRRC) entered a strong team: William Evans 41:10 49th and 7th M45; Stuart Culverhouse 41:30 52nd and 5th M50; Carla Green 45:07 24th Lady and 1st F50; Dan Hennell 46:36 91st and 10th M45; Ben Hudson 47:57 100th and 11th M45; Sandy Johnston 48:24 103rd and 1st M75; Kay Hatton 48:29 35th Lady 1st F60; Cheryl Frost 49:04 41st Lady and 1st F55; Sarah Ferguson Hudson 52:08 58th Lady and 5th F45; Nia Lister 53:46 64th Lady and 11th F35; Robert Fryer 54:58 147th and 3rd M70; Michael Hayton 1:07:16 192nd and 2nd M75.

Tourism boost at North Wales parkruns

Report by Don Hale

The good weather and the start of the main holiday season provided bumper attendances at most of the local parkruns in North Wales last week, with many reporting multi-elite, club, and social runners attending from all parts of the UK.
The firm ground and a generous selection of venues to choose from also enhanced numerous personal best times (PBs), with many visiting athletes determined to make an impact on their course debuts, with Penrhyn, Nova, Nant y Pandy, and Newborough Forest enjoying a surge in popularity.
Penrhyn Castle Parkrun had an excellent turn-out and organisers confirmed: “Well done to the 268 finishers at Penrhyn. We had visitors from Northampton, Sutton Coldfield, Derbyshire, Ipswich, Huddersfield, Bristol, Poolsbrook, and Hull, Also, it was somebody’s Stag Do – what a brilliant way to celebrate!”

Sam Gunning was first finisher in just 16 minutes and 51 seconds. The second person’s name remained unknown at the time of writing, but veteran Nicolas Seguin was third in 18.10.
Will Williams (NWRRC) finished 4th and 2nd VM50 in 18.45. The first female finisher was visitor Julia Jagger (Hallamshire Harriers) on her course debut (8th overall) in 19.10, with Jodi Bemand (West Cheshire) second (17th) in 20.16, whilst first-timer Aimee Seager (Charnwood AC) took third place (20th) in 20.28. There were 268 finishers overall.

Nant-y-Pandy

This parkrun venue attracted a massive number of visiting athletes with 16 out of the first 20 all making their course debuts.

Finlay McCance was the first man home on his debut in 18.15, whilst Chris Pownall was just 10 seconds adrift with a new PB in 18.25 and Leslie Dash (Hesby RC) third in 18.37.

First three female placings all went to visiting athletes, Danielle Scott (Knowsley Harriers) (12th overall) in 22.30 on her debut, Kate Barnes second (17th) in 23.59 and Jess Morgan third (37th) in 26.49. There were 139 finishers.

Prestatyn

It was another bumper crowd at the Nova Parkrun with visiting athletes claiming the first two places including Phil Banton, who made a successful debut in 18.57, with Chris Morgan (Brighton Phoenix) second in 19.12, with Jonah Armstrong (Prestatyn RC) 3rd in 19.18.
Females: Laura Butterworth (4th overall) on course debut in 19.32. Kayleigh Williams second (21st), PB 23.16, and 3rd debutant Bernadette Cooper (Aycliffe RC) (29th) 23.52. The fourth place went to Sian Beck (Prestatyn RC) in 25.17 (51st overall), and she won her VW45 age cat. There were 263 finishers.