Road Runners won several surprise championship medals in Anglesey races
Report by Don Hale
It was wild, wet, and windy for over 1,000 athletes at the Anglesey 10k and Half Marathon events on St David’s Day, last Sunday morning, with the majority of entrants tackling the longer race distance over a challenging new course.
In the 10k, which attracted 249 runners, this race was won by Llyr Williams in a very good time of 35 minutes and 10 seconds, and he was just 14-seconds ahead of rival Shaun Hughes in 35.24 and Jack Hughes in 35.40.
North Wales Road Runners collected a number of prestigious age category honours and podium places.
Young Joe Culverhouse led the team home in 29th place overall with a superb performance in 42.13, and he was second in his MU19 cat, whilst veteran Steve Roberts was 68th and 2nd MV60 in 49.32.
Gethin Wyn Jones took 137th place in 56.53, with super-vet Mike Hayton 178th and 3rd MV75-79 in 62.07.
In the Anglesey Half Marathon, NWRRC entered a quartet of talented runners, who once again performed well, with several members also receiving surprise Welsh Championship medals – as they hadn’t realised it was a designated event.
Stuart Culverhouse was 62nd out of 710 entrants and 4th VM50 in 1.33.43 and Kevin Slattery had an exceptional race by winning his MV70 age cat in 148th place in 1.41.30.
Cheryl Frost was third FV60 in 1.45.39 and Kay Hatton 222nd overall and 4th FV60 in 1.49.07 Slattery and Frost later received Welsh gold medals after winning their respective age categories, with Hatton additionally winning a silver.
Overall race winner of the half-marathon was Alex Jago in 1.11.51, with Lewis Cherry (Rugby and Northamptonshire) second in 1.14.40, and Steffan Sayer (Menai T&F) third in 1.15.01. First female was Gemma Moore (Eryri Harriers) in 1.22.40, and Emma Price was the runner-up in 1.23.35, with Dominique Searle (Cheshire Dragons) third in 1.29.41.
Sarah’s solo surprise run on a hilly and muddy flat course
Report by Don Hale
NWRRC endurance athlete Sarah Ferguson Hudson went solo on Sunday and competed in the Bromsberrow Speed Runway 10k, this time without her husband Ben, and thought it was going to be an easy and flattish type run…but how wrong was she!
After her race she explained: “I should really read more carefully what I sign myself up to… I thought it was a flat road race, and not 10k of hills, mud, fields, traps and more. I was back in Gloucestershire where I grew up, and catching up with school friends.”
Despite all her challenges, Sarah ran well and she finished 50th overall out of 159 entrants and the 16th female in 58.07.
Fast times without the sand on the St David’s Day weekend event
Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael Finnie
The St David’s Day weekend attracted a large number of mixed ability athletes to North Wales parkruns last Saturday morning, where once again plenty of fast times were recorded.
The hard work of Richard Peevor and his great support team of run directors and volunteers ensured Llandrillo yn Rhos Parkrun went ahead as planned, after persuading the council to help clear plenty of sand from parts of the course and ensured all essential
safety measures were implemented.
This popular event now seems to attract the best of the best in terms of club, top juniors, and/or elite athletes, along with social walkers and runners from a number of respected cancer groups.
This week was no exception with talented teenage visitor Dominic Dennis Marrray-Woods marking his debut with a stunning performance in just 17 minutes and 12 seconds, whilst veteran Jonathan Kettle (NWRRC) was second in 18.00 and Lewis Hall third despite a close finish and a great new PB 18.13. And quite remarkably, the first eight athletes all dipped under 19-minutes!
Eleanor Ashcroft was top female (9th overall) with a new PB 19.04, followed by visitor Niamh Merrison on her debut in 20.09, and Llio Owen third in 21.12. There were 420 finishers
North Wales Road Runners entered eight members, Kettle leading the team home, with Richard Scamans 45th in 22.33, and it was pleasing see Steve Mason heading back to fitness in 90th with a new PB 24.49.
James Jones ran as a guide for partially sighted athlete Daniel Owens with both runners clocking 25.27. Gethin Wyn Jones made a massive improvement against his most recent times finishing in 140th place with a new PB 26.59, and master vet Don Hale was 158th in 27.28 and 2nd VM70, whilst super-vet Mike Hayton came 191st and 2nd VM75 in new course PB 28.52, with Nia Lister 201st, PB 29.10.
Other local runners of note included: Colwyn Bay athletes Josh Mottram 15th in 20.15, and Ian Taylor 53rd, PB 23.03; Darren Dentith 46th in 22.34; Andrew Roberts 50th in PB 22.52; Dave Munday 66th and PB 23.48; and VM75 super vet Mike Davis (Prestatyn RC) made his course debut in 257th place in 31.18, and finished 3rd in his age cat.
CONWY
Promising SM20 athlete Aidan Thomas enjoyed a great run in 18 minutes at the Conwy Parkrun, finishing just ahead of VM50 rival Martin Green (Meirionnydd RC), who was recovering from injury in second place in 18.36, with another outstanding young athlete in JM11-14 junior Sebastian Owen third on his course debut in 19.22.
Annie Gould was first female runner (18th overall) with a new PB in 23.01, another debutant in Sharon Daly 2nd in 23.08, with Carla Green (NWRRC) third and 1st VW50 in 23.18. There were 124 finishers overall.
North Wales Road Runners were led home by international track veteran Steve Gardner, 4th overall and 1st VW60 in 19.24. Stuart Culverhouse finished 16th and 2nd VM50 in 22.46, with Carla Green 24th in 23,18.
Master veteran Rob Fryer won his VM70 in 50th place in 26.51, and veteran Len Jackson was 67th and 2nd VM65 in 29.08.
Other results for local runners included: Gwyn Williams (Colwyn Bay AC) 21st in 23.09; and there were four GOG Triathlon members running with Jose Eduardo Vega Perez 15th in 22.10. Michelle Farrell 30th in 23.56: veteran Liz Evans 73rd and 1st VW75 in 29.56; and Llinos Davies was 119th in 48.23.
PENRHYN CASTLE
Phil Lynes won in a good time of 18.46, followed by Iolo Owen in 19.22 and Lawrence And Hopey third in 19.35.
Visitor Margaret Mason (Belper Harriers) was first female (26th overall) on her course debut in 22.35, and Laura McKenzie (Betsi Runaways) was second in 23.11, with Sian Pritchard (Denbigh Harriers) third on debut in 24.20.
North Wales Road Runners Ben and Sarah Hudson also took part. Ben was 25th overall and 3rd VM45 with a new course PB 22.34, whilst Sarah was 59th in 25.43. There were 270 finishers.
PRESTATYN
Mathew Baker was first home at the Nova Parkrun at Prestatyn in 17.36, with Dafydd Montgomery (Prestatyn RC) second in 19.05, and Ben Lewis third in 19.20.
The first three female runners all recorded personal best times, with Lisa Lines (Prestatyn RC) 7th overall in 20.46, Rhianwen Edmondson second on 25.19 and Donna Griffiths third in 25.36. There were 232 finishers.