Fast pace and good numbers at the tough Nick Beer 10k race
Report by Don Hale. Photos by Don Hale, Michael Finnie and John Hatton
The annual Nick Beer 10k race proved a hit once more with 967 athletes completing a tough course from outside Venue Cymru and around the Great Orme before returning to Llandudno’s spectacular promenade, where spectators gave each entrant a warm welcome on a rather cool and breezy day.
Visiting athlete Hamish Morton (Cambridge & Coleridge AC) was the first finisher overall and he won his MSen age cat in just 34 minutes and 55 seconds, but he was one of four elite runners who ran away from the chasing pack, and all dipped under the magic 36-minute mark.
Steffan Sayer (Menai T&F) was runner-up with another great display in 35.06 and won his M40 cat, Prestatyn RC member Stephen Skates was third and 1st M45 in 35.30, whilst Huw Gwynn (Eryri Harriers) was fourth in 35.45.
Despite the breezy conditions around the Orme, the first 23 runners all ran under 40 minutes with less than a minute separating the first four finishers in a fast-paced dash to the line.
First female finisher (25th overall) was Emma Price (Wrexham AAC) in 40.26, with Oliver Adelaide second in 43.53, and Mared Llywelyn (Hebog) third in 44.45. They were all in the same FSen age cat.
North Wales Road Runners only entered four members as the club was involved in supplying sufficient volunteers and marshals for the race organisers Always Aim High, but Will Williams enjoyed a solid run in 35th place and 3rd M50 in 41.40.
Paul Aubert was 124th in 46.53, and Steve Poupart acted as a guide for partially sighted athlete Daniel Owens and the pair took 135/136th places and shared the exact time of 53.25.
GOG Triathlon entered 13 with Aled Hughes 10th in 38.24, Daniel Wellings 37th in 41.55, Bleddyn Evans 127th in 46.00, and Sam Evans was their first female athlete in 325th place in 53.41.
Porth Eirias Runners had 23 entrants, Gareth Catherall their first finisher in 407th place in 54.24, with Elwyn Evans 494th in 58.02, and Tal Michael next in 65.36.
Some other local runners worthy of mention include: youngster Oliver Birch Jones (Prestatyn RC)14th and Ist MU020 in 38.49; Nic Brook (Eryri Harriers) 15th and 2nd M50 in 38.52, Iain Burgess 16th in 39.03; whilst husband and wife runners Tristan and Kelly Owen ran with team Tom Owen. Tristan recorded 52.30 in 312th place, whilst Kelly was delighted to finish her first 10k in 65.09. Rachel Morris ran the 10k as part of her London Marathon preparation in 79.49.
This is a link to the provisional results from the Nick Beer 10k:
https://my.raceresult.com/380750/results
Valentine’s Day entrants beat frost at Rhos to share love of running
Report by Don Hale.
donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025
Heavy overnight frost forced the cancellation of five parkruns throughout North Wales last Saturday morning, but the surviving Valentine’s Day events proved a love of running, and especially at Llandrillo yn Rhos, where yet another bumper attendance created a tremendous atmosphere.
Despite a rather sandy and challenging 5k promenade course, this event is proving to be a magnet for visiting runners each week – and particularly for elite club athletes – with debutants accounting for seven out of the first ten finishers.
Talented visiting athlete Paul Jones (Shrewsbury AC) was first finished on his course debut in just 16 minutes and 50 seconds, but local footballer and referee Aaron Dodwell gave him a good chase in second place in 17.09, with newcomer Keelan Hopewell (Solihull & Small Heath) third in 17.26.
First was debutant Sophie Hunt (17th overall) in 19.58, with fellow visitor Millicent Fakande was second in 20.21, with Elin Jones third in 20.28. There were 443 finishers.
North Wales Road Runners entered 14 members with youngster Joe Culverhouse leading the team home in 16th place with a new PB in 19.46, and yet remarkably, due to the outstanding strength of junior competition, he could only achieve third place in his respective JM15-17 age cat.
Joe’s father Stuart Culverhouse finished 18th in his 250th parkrun, and he won his VM50 in 19.59.
James Jones took 73rd in 23.43, marathon man Mal Preece was 81st with a new course PB 24.04, whilst Mal’s grandson
Euan Preece finished 10th on his debut, and was second JM15-17 in 19.16.
Gwen Charlton was 138th with a new PB 26.34, master veteran Rob Fryer won his VM70 in 140th place 26.37, with
fellow master Don Hale 183rd and 2nd VM70 in 27.48.
Helen Hannam claimed a new course PB 28.53 in 230th place, whilst super-vet Mike Hayton won his VM75 in 233rd place in 29.09. And Gethin Wyn Jones ran without his baby buggy and set a new PB of 30.00 in 253rd place, running with recovering club mate Steve Mason in 255th in 30.03.
Veteran John O’Shea was 351st in 34.46, and Elizabeth Driscoll and her dog Winston completed the course with colleague Hannah Griffith in 393rd and 394th places in a shared time of 40.41.
There were ten GOG Triathlon members involved with Gareth Bowyer top club finisher in 20th with a new PB 20.03; Daniel Jones was 27th in 20.38, with Andy Jones 33rd in 21,06; and leading female was Andria Grove in 228th with a new course PB 28.49.
Porth Eirias Runners entered eight with VW65 athlete Alan Hackett first in 193rd place in 28.03, Tal Michael was 217th in 28.33, with Barry Palmer 283rd in 31.17; and their first female was Paula Crutchley, 327th in 33.06.
DOLGELLAU
NWRRC members Ben and Sarah Hudson took part in the Dolgellau Parkrun last Saturday and both won their respective VM45 and FV45 age categories. As debutants, Ben finished 6th overall in 23.02, and Sarah was 11th, and the third female, in
25.14. There were 53 finishers.
PENRHYN
First finisher at the Penrhyn Castle Parkrun was Andrew Douse with a new PB in 18.00, with Phil Lynes second in 18.58, and Nicolas Seguin third in 19.10.
JW15-17 athlete Tamsin Seguin (Menai T&F) was irst female (6th overall) in 20.09, with Lizzie Richards second with a new PB in 22.09, and another JW15-17 youngster in Alys Pritchard finished third in 23.56.
Some local runners of note included: Laura McKenzie (Betsi Runaways) 32nd in 24.31; and twins Amanda and Karen Durber ran together with Bethan Wyn Roberts and they finished in 85-87th placings in 28.51 to 28.53, with Bethan narrowly ahead of her friends There were 173 finishers.
PRESTATYN
JM15-17 athlete Lewis Morris (West Cheshire) was first finisher at the Nova Parkrun with a great new PB of 16.56, but it was a close contest with visitor Nathan Trueman second on his course debut in 17.03, and Findlay Sullivan third despite a PB 17.15.
Hayley McEwan (Esporta) was top female (19th overall) in 22.18, with visitor Egg Cameron (Macclesfield Harriers) second on her debut in 22.52, and first-timer Amos Howell third in 23.39. There were 258 finishers.