RUNNING: Double catch for Fryer

Ultra-distance runner Sarah Ferguson Hudson was pleased with her form in the recent East Cheshire Half Marathon.

The North Wales Road Runner recorded a good time in the build-up to some forthcoming new ultra events.

After her race, Sarah said: “I ran 1:50:56 at the Cheshire half today… great course and route… could be really quick, I think. The winner did 1:03.

“Really happy to get closer to 1:50, despite not being able to cling on, and to dip under, but the speed is coming back slowly and surely, so I’m super happy!”

Beaumaris 10k and half-marathon

There was no chip on his shoulder for NWRRC master athlete Mike Hayton as he won his VM70 age cat at the Neptune Fish & Chips Beaumaris 10k.

Mike was one of 80 men and 87 women who competed in this challenging race, and he finished 65th with a decent time of 1 hour 3 minutes and 47 seconds to take his prize.

The overall 10k event was won by Gwion Roberts (Meirionnydd RC) in just 33.54, with Alun Williams runner-up in 35.54 and Jonathan Tyler (Meirionnydd RC) third in 36.39.

The ladies race was won by Tilly Edwards (Cybi Striders) in 38.04, with Llio Jones second in 42.17, and Lynsey Coan third in 44.51.

The Beaumaris events also included a half-marathon race which was won by Tom Roberts in 1.15.35, with Phil Lynes second in 1.24.39 and Nicolas Sequin third in 1.25.21.

The first female was Ellin Haf Roberts (Eryri Harriers) in 1.27.58 but rivals Cybi Striders packed well, and had five members in the top ten including Emma Alofs, who finished second in 1.30.20, Heidi O’Brien third in 1.44.51, and Ellie Evans fourth in 1.45.29.

Delamere

North Wales Road Runner Rob Fryer won his master vet VM70 age cat at the Delamere Forest 10k with a strong performance finishing well in 59.51. This was Rob’s second success of the weekend after winning his age cat at the Conwy 5k parkrun the day before in 27.10.

Plenty of newcomers and good times despite wet and windy parkruns

Report by Don Hale

donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025

Despite a sudden change in the weather including some blustery winds and intermittent showers, it still failed to deter plenty of newcomers to various North Wales parkruns, where once again many excellent times and PBs were recorded.

The ladies though took most of the plaudits around the region last Saturday morning (September 13) with plenty of fast finishers, and at both Nant y Pandy, and at Llangollen, where visiting female athletes dominated the top three positions.

Visitor Sarah Evans was the first female finisher at Penrhyn Castle, and there was an interesting battle for second and third places at Nova, Prestatyn, where partners and Eryri Harriers clubmates, Nic Brook and Gemma Moore raced nip and tuck, with Nick eventually finishing second overall in 18.45, and narrowly ahead of Gemma despite her worthy new PB of 19.00.

Penrhyn

Rhodri Williams (Cybi Striders) was first finisher at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun, in a good time of 19 minutes and 18 seconds, where the 252 entrants were treated to a sudden downpour right at the start of the event.

Rhodri was quickly challenged by Phil Lynes, and quite remarkably the pair shared the exact same finishing times with Lawrence And Hopey third in 19.42.

First female was visitor Sarah Evans on her course debut (9th) in 20.29, with Jessica Bibby second (15th) in 21.51, and Katy Nelson third (18th) with a new PB 22.19.

Five members of NWRRC were also involved at Penrhyn with Steve Bozier leading the team home in 8th place, and he also won his VM45 age cat on his course debut in 20.22.

Nia Lister enjoyed a good run in 107th place in 27.42, with Elizabeth Driscoll 131st in 29.00, and veteran John O’Shea made a welcome return to finish 187th and 2nd VM65 in 34.00, whilst Dougie Graham was 192nd in 34.31.

Prestatyn

Mathew Baker ran home first at the Nova Parkrun at Prestatyn in 17.24, with Nic Brook (Eryri Harriers) second in 18.45 and his partner Gemma Moore (Eryri Harriers) was third with a new PB in 19.00.

With Gemma also being the first female finisher, the second spot went to Lisa Lines (Prestatyn RC), who was 16th overall in 22.00, and Megan Lewis (Prestatyn RC), who finished in 23rd place.

The Prestatyn club were well represented at their local event, with 15 members involved. Alex Ryder was their first finisher (5th overall) with a very good time of 19.16, with Daniel Williams (8th) in 20.29, and Jamie Betts (11th) in 20.58.

Lisa Lines was first female club finisher (16th) in 22.00, with Megan Lewis (23rd), with a new PB in 22.54, and Jenna Bagnall (42nd) in 24.13.

Conwy

Five NWRRC members took part in the Conwy Parkrun with Stuart Culverhouse finishing 13th and 2nd MV50 in 20.11. Will Evans took 14th place and was 1st VM45 in 20.13, whilst Richard Scamans was 44th in 23.32.

Meanwhile, master veterans Rob Fryer and Barrie Wells took the top spots in their respective VM70-74 age cats with Rob 97th in 27.10, and Barrie 161st in 30.23.

Porth Eirias members also supported this event. Jasper McQueen was their first club man home in 24th place in 21.30, with Barry Palmer 46th in 23.46, master vet Roy Warden 228th in 41.12 and Kevin Edge 239th in 45.35. There were 252 finishers.

Nant y Pandy

John Strange was first finisher at the Nant y Pandy parkun in 19.55, with visitor Paul Rajan (Preston Harriers) second on his course debut and in close pursuit in 20.03, and another visitor James Purdon, took third place in 21.12.

First female finisher (6th overall) was visitor Alison Smith (Abbey Runners/Leeds) on her course debut in 22.58, and first-timer Isobel Ovenden was runner-up (21st) in 26.30, with debutant Moyna Richey
(Shropshire Shufflers), third (28th) in 27.35. There were 91 finishers.

Newborough

Frederick Purcell (Queen’s Park Harriers), took the top spot at the Newborough Forest parkrun in 19.12, with William Elgan Jones second in 21.03, and Joseph Symonds was third in 21.14. The first female (5th overall) was Claire Donnelly (Eryri Harriers) in 21.54, and visitor Amanda Young finished second (18th) on her course debut in 23.53, with Josy Taylor (20th) despite a new PB in 23.55. There were 144 finishers.

Llangollen

Some 140 runners were involved in the Old Railway Trail parkrun at Llangollen, with David Barlow first in 18.14; with Harvey Jones a close second in 18.31, and Joe Murphy third, despite a new PB in 18.50.

The first three female finishers were all visitors including Paula Pilling (Bolton Metro), who was first on her course debut (9th overall) in 21.50; with Helen Fagan second (16th) in 23.15, and Debra Stevens (South Wales Runners) third (26th) in 24.44. There were 140 finishers.