It was another very cold and very windy morning at most of the New Year’s Day parkruns, yet conditions still failed to deter hundreds of hardy and determined athletes from travelling a long way just to start their 2026 events in style.
Known parkrun events took place at Conwy, Llangollen and Newborough Forest, to name but a few, and all reported good attendances, and were well supported by generous teams of enthusiastic volunteers.
At Conwy, the organisers welcomed 242 entrants including numerous first timers, and the first finisher was Wrexham AAC star James Yarwood in 17 minutes and 45 seconds. Iain Burgess ran a good second place in 18.10 and visitor Thomas Watkiss took the third spot in 18.44.
Anna Drinkwater (Eryri Harriers) was the first female finisher (14th overall) in 20.30, with visitor Amy Jane Freeman-Hughes second on her debut in 22.12, and Lucy Young (Warminster AC), third in 22.29.
North Wales Road Runners entered 10 competitors, with four GOG Triathlon members and several other local club and social runners were well represented.
Stuart Culverhouse was first NWRRC man in 15th place in 20.42, with his JM15-17 son Joe Culverhouse 19th with a new PB 21.13. Richard Scamans was 41st in 23.38; Kay Hatton 45th and 1st VW 60 in 23.51, whilst Cheryl Foster was 49th and 2nd in her new VW60 cat in 24.01.
Three club master veterans took all three placings in their respective VM70 category, with Barrie Wells first in 74th place in 25.20, Rob Fryer 93rd in 27.21, and Don Hale, who struggled with a cold, 130th in 29.17. Super-vet Mike Hayton was 138th and 1st VM75 in 29.28, and Steve Mason 238th as tail walker in 50.33.
Recorded GOG runners were: Matthew Gaskin 4th, with a new PB in 19.21; Neil Vicars Harris 62nd in 24.36; Gary Jones 70th in 25.08 and Tom Simpson 108th in 28.14.
Other local runners of note at Conwy included: Rhys Pugh 17th and PB 20.57; Josh Mottram 28th and 3rd SM18 in 21.40; Andrew Roberts 78th and 2nd VM60 in 25.37; Mike Pemberton 81st in 25.52; Dave Munday 88th in 26.19.
Bethan Wyn Roberts and Amanda Durber ran the course together. Bethan was 102nd and 1st VW55 in 27.50, with Amanda just one place and one second adrift. John Stallard was 152nd in 30.33, Lucy Culverhouse 176th in 32.25, with close relative Elinor Chapman (Penny Lane Striders) 194th in 34.40.
Julian Ayres (Trismart) was first finisher at the Old Railway Trail Parkrun at Llangollen on New Year’s Day in 17.52.
He was followed a full minute later by visiting JM11-14 youngster Cruz Confue on his course debut in 18.52, with Marc Johnson third following a new PB of 19.15.
Sarah Ferguson Hudson (NWRRC) was first female finisher (24th overall), and won her VW45 age cat on her debut in 24.51.
JW15-17 athlete Lydia Jones (Step it up Active) took the second spot in 24.56, whilst Alys Griffiths (Hyde Park Harriers) finished well in third place in 25.10.
Other notable results: Ben Hudson (NWRRC) 1st VM45 on course debut in 22.40. Wrexham AAC
entered five members with Connor Rogers 6th in 20.05, Glynn Thomas 9th and 1st VM35 in 21.13, Mark Hughes 67th in 29.25, Charles Ashley 74th and 2nd VM65 cat in 30.10, plus Rachel Nickerson-Reeves 121st in 53.02. There were 124 finishers.
The highly talented Delamere family were back in action at a very busy New Year’s Day Newborough Forest Parkrun, won by JW10 athlete William Delamere with a new PB 16 minutes and 23 seconds.
JW10 athlete Thomas Delamere finished 5th with a new PB 19.11, VM50 John Delamere (Southport
Waterloo)was 7th in 19.20, and JW11-14 Lucy Delamere 19th in 20.34, whilst VW40 Gemma Delamere took 132nd place in 27.32.
SM20 visitor William Scott was the second finisher overall on his debut in 18.19, with Daniel Figg (Garden City Runners) third in 18.42.
GOG Triathlon entered several members, Simon Blain their first finisher in 64th place overall in 24.15, with Rob Stewart 73rd in 24.48, Andrew Elwood 200th in 30.00 and Megan New 234th in 31.32. There were 428 finishers.
Report by Don Hale
North Wales Road Running couple Ben and Sarah Hudson hit 2026 running, quite literally, as they competed in the unique Midnight 10k in Shrewsbury on New Year’s Eve.
Ben celebrated a great result finishing in 7th place overall in 51.01 and Sarah was second female finisher with another excellent time of 45.21.
However, not content with resting on their laurels, and despite a late-night race and a long drive home, the pair made their course debuts, early the following morning – New Year’s Day – at the Llangollen
Parkrun on the Old Railway Track.
Ben finished in 15th overall and 1st VM45 in 22.24, whilst Sarah was 1st VW45 and first female finisher in 24.51.
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