Fast times from the gun at the Twin Piers 10k championship race
Reports by Don Hale. Photos by John Hatton and Michael Finnie
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Over 300 quality athletes competed in the annual Arthur Bebbington Twin Piers 10k race last Saturday, which covered a scenic route between Llandudno to Colwyn Bay piers.
Entrants came from a vast range of nationwide running clubs and social runners, with the event well organised by Colwyn Bay AC, and it also formed part of the North Wales Regional 10k championships.
Meirionnydd RC claimed a unique hat-trick in the 10k with three of their team taking the first three finishing places overall. Owen Roberts was runaway winner of the race in a fast gun time of 31 minutes and 59 seconds, with Ben Harding second in 32,59, whilst Gwion Roberts took third in 33.56.
First female finisher was Eden O’Dea (Deeside) in 35.44, Gemma Moore (Eryri Harriers) was runner-up in 37.39, with Jennifer Rambaldi (Buckley) third in 39.00. There were 343 finishers overall.
North Wales Road Runners entered 15 members and claimed seven potential podium places in the main race, including three age cat victories, whilst in the associated NW championships, they also won three gold and four prestigious silver medals.
Will Evans was first man home for the club in 40.21, and finished 3rd MV45, with Stuart Culverhouse 55th and 2nd MV50 in 42.15. NWRRC chairman and exceptional master veteran Kevin Slattery enjoyed a superb run in 83rd place in 45.35, to easily win his MV70 age cat.
Adam Lemalle finished 94th in 46.34, and Cheryl Frost took 99th place and 1st FW60 cat in 47.13, and Steve Roberts came 113th in 48.27. Kay Hatton was 126th and 2nd FV60 in 49.31, and veteran Karen Butler topped her FV65 in 50.24.
Richard Scamans finished 136th in 50.19 and Molly Evans 141st in 50.36. Master veteran Rob Fryer was 192nd in 55.55, followed by Gwen Charlton 199th in 56.43. Meanwhile, Helen Hannam was 223rd in
59.21, super-vet Mike Hayton 235th and 2nd M75 age cat in 61.57, whilst Nia Lister was 258th in
65.51.
NW Regional 10k champs: GOLD – Kevin Slattery, Cheryl Frost and Karen Butler; SILVER – Will Evans, Stuart Culverhouse, Mike Hayton and Kay Hatton.
Charlotte braved ice and mud in Delamere Forest Half Marathon
Report by Don Hale
NWRRC member Charlotte Rose Wilton Jones (pictured above) competed in the tough Delamere Forest Half Marathon trail event last weekend in her first race back after having her twins.
Charlotte ran with a friend and recorded a good time of 2 hours 14 minutes and 40 seconds over a very icy, muddy and slippery course, and after the race she confirmed: “Last Sunday, I ran the Delamere Half
Marathon. My first race back since having my twins in August last year.
“It felt great to be back racing, even though the cold, icy and muddy conditions made it tough, and my legs struggled at times.”
And last Thursday night, Charlotte recovered to take part in the new Conwy Urban Night orienteering event with a group of three others, and they finished 3rd in the team challenge.
Afterwards she said: “I tried orienteering for the first time around Conwy with two friends and my
partner. My friends mainly led the navigation, as map reading isn’t my strong point, but it was a great experience and I’m keen to do more.”
Milder conditions and another major race boosted parkrun numbers
Report by Don Hale
The Llandrillo yn Rhos Parkrun proved a magnet once again for visiting athletes, which this week was boosted by hundreds of people travelling to the area for the Twin Piers 10k race held later that day.
Thankfully, the weather conditions were much better than in recent times, with bright sunshine and milder temperatures that probably inspired a flurry of personal best times and proved an ideal warm-up for the afternoon 10k event.
The first three male finishers at Rhos were all first timers with Tony Coyne (Belle Vue Racers) first home on his course debut with a great performance in 17 minutes and 56 seconds. He was followed by Mickey Armstrong in 18.21, and Danny O’Reilly (Chester Tri Club) in 18.36.
The first two female finishers were also newbies, with teenager Olivia Jones enjoying a good debut outing in 20.31, whilst Carol Baker (Eden Runners) was second in 21.08, and Mia Williams third with a new PB in
21.31.
North Wales Road Runners only entered five members due to many club athletes competing in the latter Twin Piers race over parts of the same course at Colwyn Bay.
Steve Gardner made his second appearance at Rhos, and recorded an excellent new PB of 19.22, also winning his VM60 age cat.
Master vet Don Hale also claimed a new course PB of 27.07, and was 3rd VM70 cat.
And it was good to welcome back Vicky Taylor, who is gradually regaining her fitness again. She finished well in 251st place in 30.08, whilst veteran John O’Shea claimed a new course PB in 340th place in 33.43.
Meanwhile, Richard Scamans ran with his dog as a warm-up for the 10k and took 416th place overall in 40.32.
GOG Triathlon only had 9 members at Rhos, mainly due to the same reasons as NWRRC.
Andy Jones was their first man home in 20th place and 3rd VM50 in 20.41, with Steve Owen 27th and 2nd VM40 in 21.09; and it was great to see Craig Rutter back at parkrun following a long-term injury. He ran exceptionally well given his previous problems and inished 52nd on his course debut in 22.17.
Top female GOG athlete was veteran Megan New in 250th place overall with a new course PB of 30.16.
Some other notable local results included: Andrew Roberts 79th in 23.38 (PB); Martin Cortvriend (Prestatyn RC) 84th in 23.44 (PB); Chris Spillane (Colwyn Bay AC) 143rd in 26.08; and Pete
Brocklehurst 180th in 27.30. There were 450 finishers.
CONWY
Visitor and debutant James Lucas (No excuses Flo & Co) wasfirst finisher at the Conwy Parkrun in 18.35, with another first timer in JM15-17 youngster Tyler Hewsey second in 19.59, and Gethin Jones third, with a new PB in 20.18.
And two of the first three female placings were also taken by visitors, including Holly McIntosh (Stone Master Marathoners), first lady on her course debut (7th overall) in 22.55, with Alison Davies second in 26.22 and Katie Eckford third on debut in 27.01.
Some other results of notable local runners included: Bethan Wyn Roberts and Amanda Durber, who ran the course together again with Bethan 35th in 28.11, and Amanda 36th, but they shared the exact same times. and Anthony Howe (Abergele Harriers) was 53rd in 29.36; John Stallard 54th in 29.38; and veteran Pam Grant 57th in 30.03 There were 100 finishers overall.
PRESTATYN
The Nova Parkrun at Prestatyn attracted almost 300 entrants last Saturday, and included 18 members from host club, Prestatyn RC, who dominated the main finishing positions in both the male and female groups.
Luca Bennett was first overall finisher in19.35, but there was just 3 seconds between the next three male Prestatyn RC team-mates, with Oliver Birch Jones second in 19.52, Jamie Betts third in 19.53, and David Ellis fourth in 19.55.
Tilly Jones led the Prestatyn RC ladies team home (33rd place overall) with a new PB 23.43, with
colleagues Beth English second with a PB in 24.03, and Lisa Lines third in 24.32.
And it was interesting to note the Prestatyn super vets of Gareth Hughes. Graham Shone and Mike Davies also dominated the VM75-79 age category, with Gareth finishing 75th in 26.53, Graham 130th in 30.34 and Mike 165th in 32.13. There were 292 finishers overall.