New Rhos parkrun celebrated an amazing launch last Saturday

Report by Don Hale

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

What a fantastic turn-out for the very first Llandrillo-yn-Rhos (Y Promenade) parkrun last Saturday, as over 500 mixed ability athletes travelled from near and far to help create and enjoy a spectacular occasion.

Run directors Richard Peevor, Sharon Hughes, Dougie Graham, and Chris Spillane, together with their hard working support team of new volunteers and marshals, worked their socks off to produce an excellent event on a near perfect day – weatherwise – after recent storms had deposited a load of sand along the promenade course at Rhos on Sea.

The parkrun also welcomed members from the 5K Your Way, Move Against Cancer group, who had many participants that either ran, jogged, or even walked the course.

Backed by generous support from members of Porth Eirias Runners, many local runners, and numerous club runners, this popular debut parkrun attracted an amazing and rather surprising number of athletes on the day, where the organisers even ran out of tokens and later had to record many results on paper.

Numerous club vests and entries were noted from Rotherham, Halifax, Northampton, Warrington, Tamworth, Oswestry, Liverpool, and even from Northern Ireland; and local running clubs were also very well represented, including 18 from GOG Triathlon, 12 from North Wales Road Runners, 8 from Porth Eirias Runners, and 4 from Prestatyn RC, amongst others.

Talented teenager Elliot Rowe entered the history books as the first ever finisher at Llandrillo-yn-Rhos with an incredible display from this JM15-17 youngster who stormed home in just 17 minutes and 19 seconds.

He was just 17 seconds ahead of veteran rival Jonathan Kettle (NWRRC), who put in a great effort to finish second in 17.36, with Mathew Baker third in 17.46. Emily Hanlon was the first female finisher in 5th place overall in 18.02, with Alex Aldous (24th) and second in 20.01, whilst Ffion Roberts was third (49th) in 21.18. There were 501 finishers.

After the event, run director Richard Peevor confirmed: “I would say that yesterday exceeded all my expectations. It was truly one of my best days ever, though a little nerve racking when I saw 500 people in the gardens!

“The most amazing thing about yesterday was how well our volunteer team coped. we had a perfect set of results, and our marshals did so well guiding people around what was a completely new course.

“I was ever so grateful for all of the lovely positive feedback we got about the event and it was also pleasing to see that we didn’t get any negative comments from the local community and at the cafés of Rhos were very grateful for their extra support. We look forward to seeing many runners again next week.”

NWRRC member Stuart Culverhouse ran at Rhos with his son Joe, daughter Sophia, and his wife Lucy. Stuart finished 25th overall in 20.04, and 1st VM50 and Joe was 30th in 20.20 and 4th JM15-17, with Sophia claiming a great new 5k PB and winning her JW15-17 cat in 176th place in 26.09, whilst mum Lucy took 339th in 31.20.

Other NWRRC results include: Paddy Walsh 52nd in 21.27; Dave Jones 71st in 22.19; and Carla Green 97th and 1st VW50 in 23.33; Sandy Johnston 126th and 1st VM75 in 24.31; Rob Fryer 195th and 2nd VM70 in 27.00; Don Hale 211th and 3rd VM70 in 27.24, Mike Hayton 293rd and 2nd VM75 in 29.50; Gethin Wyn Jones (with buggy), 379th in 33.40; and John O’Shea 383rd in 33.56.

Some other notable local results were: Romeo Ciotec 13th in 19.14; Marcus Jones 19th in 19.47; Josh Mottram (Colwyn Bay) 47th and 1st SM18 in 21.15; 69th Darren Dentith 22.18; Ian Taylor (Colwyn Bay) 89th in 23.12;  Laura McKenzie (Best Runaways) 107th in 23.49; Tristan Owen 111th in 24.02; Mike Pemberton 132nd and 3rd VM65 in 24.49, Dave Munday 136th in 24.58; Kelly Owen 316th in 30.33 and
Peter Johnson 238th in 28.17.

Clutch of silver medals for trio at the cross-country champs

Report by Don Hale

Three top female veteran athletes from North Wales Road Runners exchanged their trainers for spikes on Sunday and competed in the Inter-Regional Cross Country championships at Newtown, and celebrated by winning a clutch of prestigious medals.

The trio all performed well and enjoyed their runs on a very muddy but relatively flat course, and between them they collected several championships medals with Cheryl Frost and Kay Hatton winning team silver medals in the W55 event; and Karen Butler winning a team silver in the W65, plus an individual silver.

Their results were: Cheryl Frost 29.51, Kay Hatton 30.46, and Karen Butler 31.15, on a 6.3k course, but the performance of the day came from youngster Noa Vaughan (Eryri Harriers) who at just 20-years of age won the Senior Men’s race.

Bernie Jones, secretary of the North Wales Cross Country League stated: “A big thank you to John Messum, Mike Robbins, and Eric Campbell, who were managing the North Wales teams today (Sunday). 

“Without the support of such dedicated people, we wouldn’t be able to provide the opportunities for you to compete in such events.

“They all give their valuable time and energy as volunteers and as Secretary I am extremely grateful. It was a great day for North Wales with some fantastic individual performances and team results. I will do a report once I get the results but well done to all athletes and their parents/coaches.

“A final mention should also go to Maldwyn Harriers for marking out such a superb course and providing all the marshalls. Once again, they have done themselves and North Wales proud!”

North Wales parkun round-up

Penrhyn Castle

Aidan Thomas was the first finisher at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun last Saturday in 18.09, with Rhodri Williams (Cybi Striders) second in 18.41, and Phil Lynes third in 18.46. The first six finishers all dipped under the twenty-minute mark 

First female was Jessica Bibby, 8th overall in 21.13, with Charlotte Jones the runner-up in a new PB in 22.45 and in 19th place overall; whilst Ellie Evans (Cybi Striders) was just two seconds and one place behind her. There were165 finishers. 

Conwy

JW15-17 athlete George Ledsham was first finisher at the Conwy Parkrun with a new course PB of 19.49, followed by veteran Daniel Wellings in 20.13, and John Oxley with a new PB of 20.38.  Elen Jones finished first for the ladies (13th overall), in 23.14, with Susana Vicente second in 24.10, and Leah Sheard third on her debut in 24.21. There were 107 finishers.

Prestatyn

 
Junior athlete Joseph Fairbank (Parc Bryn Bach RC) claimed a new PB at the Nova Parkrun and easily won his JM15-17 age cat in just 18.34. Andrew Bromley (Prestatyn RC) finished a close second in 18.38, with Benjamin Williams third with a PB 19.01. 

Andrea Sargent was top-placed female on her course debut in 22.53, whilst fellow first-timer Emma Shore-Williams also ran well in 23.07, and Eve Manifold (Prestatyn RC) finished third in 24.48.

Prestatyn RC entered 17 members led home by Andrew Bromley in 18.38, with Dafydd Montgomery fourth in 20.04, and Lewis Pierce seventh in 20.40. Eve Manifold was the first female club runner in 24.48  There were 168 finishers. 

Newborough

Long-distance visiting athlete Jack Rothwell (Kingston Upon Hull) was the first finisher on his debut at the Newborough Forest parkrun with a very good time of 18.24, with Seth Goodwin and Steve Roberts enjoying a good tussle for second place, and Seth eventually ran home just four-seconds ahead of his rival in 18.40. 

Visitor Michelle Holmes (Belper Harriers) was No 1 female finisher on her debut in sixth place overall in 20.02, and Anna Mathew (Lindley RC) took second in 22.09, with talented JW 11-14 youngster Celsi Jones third with a new PB of 23.03.