Conwy surgery duo all set for hot 100k Sahara Desert Trek for St David’s Hospice
Report by Don Hale
Two daring members of the Bodreinallt doctors’ surgery team at Conwy are busy preparing to take part in an amazing Sahara Desert Charity Trek, a gruelling 100k event across the hot Sahara Desert in just 5 days, to help raise funds for St David’s Hospice.
Practice manager Sarah Corkish-Brown and Practice Nurse Emily Carr have signed up for this huge undertaking scheduled to take place in Morocco between November 1st-8th.
Event organisers claim entrants can ‘rediscover true adventure in the awe-inspiring Sahara Desert.’ The five-day trek covers 100km passing through Morocco’s forbidding landscape punctuated by peaks, gorges, dunes and oases. At night, they will sleep under Africa’s star strewn skies and enjoy traditional Berber hospitality.
Emily said this week: “In case you have forgotten…me and Sarah Corkish-Brown are completely insane and we are TREKKING 100km ACROSS THE SAHARA in a few weeks! This is to raise vital funds for St David’s Hospice who took such good care of Mum in her final weeks.
“We are still a way off our target and could really do with your help. Please are you able to donate anything to this very, very good cause? I promise it’ll be worth it to see me and Sarah hanging out of our arses in the desert, thank you.”
This challenge goes beyond the Jebel Saghro region, starting on the Maider El Kbir plateau, before ascending Jebel El Mrakib, and admiring the stunning views. Walking through palm gorges, the route joins the dry Rhris River and heads towards an oasis of tamarisk trees.
The final days are spent trekking along the Tikertouachene River, before celebrating a successful end to the challenge in Ouarzazate. This trek is said to be ‘challenging, unforgiving, and life changing.’
Sarah’s sister and Emily’s mother, Mandy Carr (nee Corkish) passed away peacefully at St David’s Hospice in May 2024, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. The family are so grateful for all the support that Mandy received at the time, that they have decided to do something completely outside of their comfort zone to help raise funds.
Sarah added: “To all my friends please, please think about donating to such a worthy cause.
Seeing all the work they did to make my sister’s final weeks comfortable was humbling.”
They have placed some posters at the surgery on Castle Street in Conwy together with a QR code and also have some sponsor forms available with the reception staff. This is a link to their
fundraising page:
https://stdavidshospice.enthuse.com/pf/emily-carr-
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Manchester
Josie Davies and Mandy Owen (pictured above) took part in the Manchester Half Marathon on Sunday.
For Josie in particular, it was an emotional event after losing her husband Gethin earlier this year and this challenge was part of her prolific fundraising plan for the Happy Faces charity,
Josie later confirmed: “The biggest thank you to Mandy Owen and Charlie Owen for today, 1 for taking us, and 2 for Charlie “Daddy Day Care” services for looking after the boys for me to take part in the race.
“Quite a stressful time getting ready to run, and the organisation was far from the best race I’ve taken part in, and the finish wasn’t much better, but the actual run I really enjoyed.
“It was my first half-marathon since the Cardiff Half last October, and I did pretty much the same time, in fact better I think, so was really chuffed with that. My late husband Gef was definitely there with me as on my music ‘you’re never walk alone played,’ so he was definitely there pushing me on just like he always was.”
Mandy added: “Manchester half done and dusted. I quite enjoyed the route and ran the first 11 miles quite easy, then walked/ran the remaining 2.1 miles. So glad you did it Josie, and yes, Gef would definitely have been pushing you on.”
Parkrunner Gareth went ‘Down Under’ for Melbourne Half Marathon
Report by Don Hale
Popular North Wales athlete and parkrunner Gareth Southworth continued his running exploits in Australia over the weekend by competing in the Melbourne Half Marathon on Sunday.
Gareth, representing Cybi Striders, is enjoying a break ‘Down-Under’ with his wife Kath and enjoyed a good run in 1 hour 43 minutes and 56 minutes, and he was 15th in his VM60-64 age cat (1773rd) overall amongst 12,154 finishers.
This event was part of the Melbourne Marathon Festival and after his run, Gareth commented: “A very early rise at 4.15am to get to the starting line for 7.30am kick off was all worth it, and to then finish inside the iconic MCG Stadium was an unreal experience.”
This latest result followed his performance the day before in the Parkville parkrun in Princes Park, Melbourne, where his finished 71st on his course debut in 23.20, and he was 3rd in his age cat, but admittedly he took it easy in preparation for his half-marathon the following day.
The previous week he took part in the Albert Park Parkrun in the same city and recorded another good time of 22.46.
Conwy
Visitor George Ravenhall (North Leeds Fell Runners) delivered a peak performance as the runaway first finisher at the Conwy Parkrun last Saturday with an outstanding performance on his course debut in just 16 minutes and 15 seconds.
George led the 221 mixed ability athletes home, more than a minute ahead of his nearest rival Cai Curtis-Roberts in 17.36, with Cameron Holmes-Price third on debut in 17.55 and Harry Driscoll (Meirionnydd RC) fourth in a new course PB of 17.58.
First female finisher was another visitor in Arabella Maynard (18th overall) who also recorded a good debut time of 20.56, and Mia Williams took the runner-up spot (38th) in 22.42, with Lizzie Irvine (GOG Triathlon) third (40th) in 22.45.
Some well-known local athletes included: Steve Roberts and Don Hale (NWRRC), with veteran Steve in 41st place and 3rd VM60 in 22.46, whilst master vet Don returned to parkrun after a long brea and was 104th, and 1st VM70 in 27.36.
Colwyn Bay youngster Josh Mottram finished 17th and 1st SM18-19 in 20.48 and his club colleagues Gwyn Williams were 28th in 22.01, Ian Taylor 32nd and 3rd VM55 in 22.14, with Chris Spillane 68th in 25.01.
Other local results: 46th Andrew Roberts 23.04; 93rd Mike Pemberton 26.27; 101st Amanda Durber 27.17;
and 117th John Stallard 28.29.
Penrhyn
Promising youngster Noa Vaughan caught the eye of spectators at the Penrhyn Castle Parkrun as first finisher in just 15 minutes and 50 seconds and he won his SM18-19 age cat.
Experienced veteran athlete and top coach Russell Bentley (Kent AC) was only 10-seconds adrift in 16.00, and Ed Slaughter (Porthcawl Runners) third in a new PB 16.01.
Tilly Edwards was first female (14th overall) with a new PB in 19.02, Tamsin Seguin (Menai T&F) was runner-up with another best of 19.27, and Alice Johnston (Les Croupiers) took third (17th) also 19.27.
Alice’s father, super vet Sandy Johnston (NWRRC) won his VM75 age cat with a fine run in 24.11, and club colleague John O’Shea was 189th in 33.44.
Erddig
Three members of NWRRC took part in the Erddig Parkrun and all claimed theoretical podium places on their course debuts, with Kay Hatton and Mike Hayton winning their respective age cats, and Cheryl Frost finished second in her age cat.
Cheryl finished 30th overall, 3rd female and 2nd VW55 in 24.16, with Kay 16th, 1st VW60 cat and fourth female in 24.38, whilst Mike took116th place and 1st VM75 in 30.33.
First finisher at Erddig was Benjamin Goodfellow (Wrecsam Tri) with a new PB of 17.00, with Daniel Weston second in 17.18, and James Jones third with a PB18.35.
Teenager Bryony Jones was the first female finisher and 1st JW15-17 (23rd overall) in 23.06, with Lynne Wright second (27th) and 1st VW55 in 23.25, and Cheryl Frost (NWRRC) 3rd female and 2nd VW55 in 24.16.
Birkenhead
Stuart Culverhouse (NWRRC) just dipped under the 20-minute mark on his course debut at the Birkenhead Parkrun on Saturday. He finished in 15th place out of 623 and 2nd VM50 in 19.47.
Prestatyn
Andrew Bromley (Prestatyn RC) had a great run at the Nova Parkrun at Prestatyn on Saturday, racing home in just 17 minutes and 38 seconds, with local soccer player and referee Aaron Dodwell second in 18.04 and Alex Ryder (Prestatyn RC) third in 18.29.
The first female (24th overall) was Hayley McEwan (Es Porta) in 22.38, with Hayleigh Williams second (27th) in 23.01, and Megan Lewis (Prestatyn RC) a close third (29th) in 23.10.
Two local names sprung to mind with the Nova results in Nia Lister (NWRRC) 68th in 26.01, and Simon Nixon (Denbigh Harriers) was 20th, with a new PB in 21.47. There were 239 finishers.