Fifteen members from North Wales Road Running Club braved gale force winds and an extremely challenging 4.5-mile plus course to complete their festive handicap race on Sunday.
The event started and finished by Llandudno Pier and travelled along the promenade before climbing up by the side of the Little Orme to the town’s ‘Welcome’ sign, then following an equally undulating route back home.
This was not a first past-the-post race as such, with the handicap results based on the initial estimates from competing athletes on their predicted times for this race, against the actual finishing times.
It also had the added restriction of being a ‘Naked Run,’ so no one was allowed to retain their watches, and with the exact comparison times only revealed several hours later at the club’s festive lunch and annual prize giving ceremony a few hours later at the Mulberry.
The overall results highlighted the precise finishing times first against the predicted times, and the first finisher overall was Will Evans 36.35, with Karl Morris second 37.31/38.42, and Steve Roberts third in 38.00/38.00. Others included: Steve Bozier 38.06/38.44, Adam Lemalle 38.27/42.58, Daniel Hennell 38.55/43.30, Cheryl Frost 39.12/39.20, Kay Hatton 39.35/39.00, Kevin Slattery 42.44/37.77, Rob Fryer 42,58/45.00, Gwennan Charlton 43.18/46.32, Don Hale 47.10/49.20, Helen Hannam 47.12/44.44, Mike Hayton 51.24/49.25, and Dougie Graham 51.30/52.00.
Final handicap results: 1st Steve Roberts, who quite incredibly predicted the exact same times of 38 minutes dead! In second was Cheryl Frost, just 8-seconds out on her times, and in third place was Dougie Graham, a mere 30-seconds out.
Praise was given to race organisers Elizabeth Driscoll, Carla Green, and John Hatton, and to the festive lunch organisers Jon Evans and Kay Hatton, and others, plus the sponsors.
At the later presentation event, Will Evans, first finisher at the earlier club handicap race and also winner of the main Group A Division, later said. “I’ve only gone and won something, the NWRRC club championship Div A. I may as well shout about it…as it probably won’t happen again!”
Report by Don Hale
Ben and Sarah Ferguson Hudson (pictured above) enjoyed a busy weekend of running by taking part in the Crosby Parkrun on Saturday and Aintree Half Marathon on Sunday.
The NWRRC pair made their course debuts at Crosby and Ben finished 25th overall, and 4th VM45 in 23.01, with Sarah 1st FW45 in 49th place and 3rd female in 24.58.
In the Aintree half the following day, Ben was 93rd out of 460 entrants and 4th M45 in 1.39.02, and
Sarah was 302nd overall, 55th female finisher in 2.02.12, and 4th F45.
After the events, Sarah said: “Did the Crosby Parkrun on Saturday. Great fun and route with the Anthony Gormley statues surrounding, A tough little course with the beach and grass included but stunning! An amazing weekend of all things running, and on Sunday, rather cold, wet and windy, at half at Aintree, and some fab times from the boys.”
NWRRC colleague Kevin Higgins ran in the Aintree 5k race and claimed an excellent 3rd spot in his M60 age cat in 27.24 amongst 275 entrants.
Well done to Michael Finney, who ran well in the Christmas indoor 60m event at Deeside on Saturday afternoon and won his VM65 age cat in 11.46 seconds.
Report by Don Hale
There was another good attendance of over 300 finishers at the new Llandrillo yn Rhos Parkrun with another superb display from some top club runners and newcomers despite a rather sandy 5k course.
It was interesting to note that 11 of the first 13 finishers, or 15 of the top 20, were all debutants.
The first finisher however, remained unknown at the time of writing, but visitor Gavin Roberts (Eryri Harriers) took second place on debut in 17 minutes and 30 seconds, with Harry Driscoll (Meirionnydd RC) just three-seconds and one place adrift in 17.33.
Emily Hanlon continued her top form (5th overall) to claim first female once again, with a tremendous run and a new PB of 17.48, with Alex Aldous second with PB 19.38, and Anna Drinkwater (Eryri Harriers) third on her course debut in 19.50.
NWRRC entered 10, including six debutants, and claimed three new PBs.
Steve Bozier was 15th and 2nd VM45 on debut in 19.41; Master vet Kevin Slattery 45th and 1st VM70 (D) in 22.08; Richard Scamans 50th with new PB 22.21; Cheryl Frost 58th and 1st VW55 (D) in 23.29; Kay Hatton 65th and 1st VW60 (D) 23.59; Molly Evans 110th and 3rd SW20 in new PB 25.34; master vet Rob Fryer 125th and 3rd VM70 in new PB 26.23; Gwen Charlton was 130th and 2nd VW35 (D) in 26.35; and master vet Don Hale finished 151st despite being tripped up from behind by a baby buggy in 27.38; whilst Alan Davies was 184th (D) in 29.15.
Some other local results: Iain Burgess 7th in 18.43; Josh Mottram 17th and 1st M18-19 in PB 19.55; Ian Slattery 35th (D) 21.29; Darren Dentith 46th in PB 22.11; Mike Pemberton 82nd in new PB 24.39; Kevin Edge (Porth Eirias Runners) 235th in 32.41; and sisters and athletes Lucy and Rosie Parsley ran together in 127th/128th places in 26.31. There were 313 finishers.
Sam Griffiths was first man home at the Conwy Parkrun with a very fast 16.57 but faced some stern competition from Cai Curtis-Roberts with a new PB in 17.02, and visitor Jonas Grades, third on course debut in 19.57.
First female was Abbie Robinson (12th overall) with a new PB in 22.34, with Mia Williams second in 22.52, and Emma Bishop third in 25.28.
NWRRC: Stuart Culverhouse 4th and 1st VM50 in 20.19, James Singleton 21st and 2nd SM30 in 24.27, master vet Barrie Wells 1st VM70 age t in 30th place in 25.32.
Other notable results: Tris Owen 19th in 23.56; Tony Parvin 20th in 24.10; Liz Evans (GOG Triathlon) 38th and 1st VW75 in 26.21; Peter Johnson 47th in 27.19; Martin Cortvriend (Prestatyn RC) 48th in 27.59; John Stallard 52nd in 28.25; Bethan Wyn Roberts 61st in 30.19 and Lucy Culverhouse 76th in 31.19. There were 111 finishers.
A trio of Prestatyn RC members took the first three finishing places at the Nova Parkrun , with Tom Carter first man home in 17.43, with Dafydd Montgomery second in 19.29 and Matthew Smith third with a new PB in 19.38. Five Prestatyn members were amongst the first 10 finishers; and the top six female finishers all recorded new PBs.
Lisa Lines (Prestatyn RC) was the first lady in 21.16 (9th overall), Jane Lightfoot (Liverpool Running Bugs) was second in 24.07, with Rachel Cole third in 24.39. Other results: Darren Griss (NWRRC) finished 61st place in 28.54. There were 191 finishers.
SM20 athlete Aidan Thomas won the Penrhyn Castle Parkrun with a very good time of just 17.57, and Rhodri Williams (Cybi Striders) took second in 18.12, with Andrew Douse third with a new PB in 18.13.
JM15-17 athlete Tamsin Seguin (Menai T&F) was first lady finisher in 20.36 (10th overall), and Jessica
Bibby took second in 21.24, with Ellie Evans (Cybi Striders) third in 23.38. There were 149 finishers.
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