Welsh International track champion Steve Gardner finished runner-up on the podium in the prestigious Welsh Sprint Duathlon Championships at Pembroke last weekend.
The NWRRC member and GB track athlete, who was representing his second claim club GOG Triathlon, competed in a 5k run, a 21k cycle race, followed by a final 2.5k dash, and finished second overall with an excellent combined time of 1 hour 12 minutes and 31 seconds.
After his event, Steve confirmed: “I competed for GOG Triathlon Club today, finishing in 2nd place; 1st place went to Tim Parfitt in a time 1 hour 12 mins and 31 seconds, and the 3rd spot went to Steven Gee in 1 hour 13 mins and 17 seconds.
“There was only 46 seconds between the three of us, so it was a good close race. GOG Triathletes Gareth Bowyer and Enid Roberts also won medals in their respective age groups.”
North Wales endurance couple Ben and Sarah Hudson (pictured above) travelled to Lancaster last Sunday to compete in the tough Trimpell 20-mile race through the spectacular Lune Valley in cold, wet, and blustery conditions.
Ben was 153rd overall out of 346 finishers with an excellent time of 2 hours 45 minutes and 44 seconds. Sarah said she was a
bit off colour on the day, but she still rallied well to finish in 220th place in 3.05.21.
Several North Wales Road Runners and other local athletes competed in the Liverpool Half Marathon on Sunday, with James Jones finishing well in 1.29, Will Evans 1.30.21, Mal Preece 1.32, Jon Hayward 1.35.05, Jon Evans 1.47.32, whilst Will’s daughter Molly recorded 1.53.51, Gavin Roche 1.56, and Dougie Graham 2.34.
Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Michael Finnie
The bright sunny weather and a fast course attracted plenty of top club athletes to the Llandrillo yn Rhos 5k parkrun last Saturday with five out of the first six finishers all recording times of under 18 minutes.
James Yarwood (Wrexham AAC) was first finisher overall with a new course PB of 16 minutes and 29 seconds, with visitor Armon Williams second in 17.17, Gareth Griffith third in 17.27, and veteran Martin Green (Meirionnydd RC) a narrow fourth in 17.36.
It was a similar story for the ladies with Beatrice Cordingley (Sale Harriers) taking the first female spot with an excellent run, and a new course PB in 20.00 (18th overall), with visitor Lizzie Slater (South Cheshire Harriers) second on her debut in 20.59, and another visitor in Jody Beech (Ellesmere Port) third in 21.01.
Carla Green (NWRRC) also looked back to her best as the fourth female and 1st VM50 with a new course PB in 22.21.
North Wales Road Runners entered 17 members with Jonathan Kettle first club runner home in 6th place in 18.07, Chris Davies was 8th with a new course PB 18.39, and young Joe Culverhouse came 13th with a course PB 19.06, and won his JM15-17 age cat; whilst his father, Stuart Culverhouse was 21st in 20.14.
Steve Bozier finished 24th and 2nd VM45 in 20.30, with Paddy Walsh 36th in 21.01. Richard Scamans took 43rd in 22.01, just ahead of Carla Green, 51st and 1st VW50 with a course PB 22.21. Steve Roberts finished 60th and 2nd VM60, whilst Cheryl Frost was 1st VW60 in 66th overall in 23.17.
Steve Poupart was 116th with a course PB 24.56, master vet Rob Fryer celebrated a new event PB 25.51, and he won his VM70, whilst fellow master Don Hale was 2nd VM70 fter finishing 153rd in 27.12. Super vet Mike Hayton won his VM75 cat in 196th place in 29.04, and Gethin Wyn Jones ran with his child buggy and finished 230th in 30.21, with veteran John O’Shea 291st in a a course PB in 32.27, and Tony Price Jones 336th in 35.15. There were 407 finishers overall.
Some other local runners included global traveller Gareth Southworth 42nd in 21.59 and 1st VM60, and Dave Munday 75th and 3rd VM60 in 23.33.
GOG Triathlon entered 11 members with debutant Geran Hughes their first club finisher home in 28th place in 26.37, with Neil Vicars-Harris 62nd with a new course PB 23.00. Michelle Farrell was 71st in 23.28 and her husband John Farrell, still recovering from injury, back at parkrun in 112th place in 24.48.
Porth Eirias Runners had five members running with Pedro Gaspar leading the group in 90th place in 24.09, with Barry Palmer 93rd with a new course PB 24.14, and Paula Crutchley 287th in 32.27. Zara Parry finished 309th in 33.22, and Kevin
Edge was a tail walker in 393rd place in 48.17.
Joseph Moores celebrated a fast finish at Conwy Parkrun last Saturday in 15.55, followed by visitor Angus McLean (Swansea Harriers) with a good course debut time of 17.55 and Aidan Thomas was third in 18.20.
Anna Drinkwater (Eryri Harriers) was the first female finisher in 22.52 (15th place overall), with Siobhan Watson second in 23.45, and Catrin Medi Elwyn third in 25.13.
NWRRC’s Steve Mason was 27th in 24.24, and Paul Aubert 41st and 3rd VM45 in 26.09.
Other local athletes included: Glyn Williams (Colwyn Bay AAC) 10th and 2nd VM55 in 21.54; Bethan Wyn Roberts 48th in 27.50; and birthday boy John Stallard 50th in 28.10; whilst super-vet Liz Evans (GOG Triathlon) was 54th and 1st VM70 in 28.45.
Visiting athlete Joe Godwood (Witney Road Runners) was first finisher at Penrhyn Castle Parkrun with an impressive course debut time of just 16.15, with Matthew Edwin Roberts second in 16.49, and Alice Wright (Sale Harriers) third overall, and 1st female finisher on her debut in 18.15. In a fast dash three out of the first five finishers all visitors, and they dipped under 19 minutes.
Scond female was JW11-14 athlete Fiona Horne with a new course PB 21.38, and Jessica Bibby took third in 22.05 There were 226 finishers.
Andrew Bromley (Helsby) was first overall at the Nova Parkrun in 19.31, and then four promising teenagers made up the next few places with Jack Richards second with a new PB in 19.39 and Oliver Birch Jones (Prestatyn RC) third in 19.59, with JM15-17 Tyler Hensey fourth in 20.13.
Eve Manifold (Prestatyn RC) was top female with another fine performance (20th overall) in 23.03, Molly Harvey was second with a new course PB in 23.31, and Lisa Lines (Prestatyn RC) took the third spot in a close finish in 23.32. There were 27 Prestatyn RC athletes involved and 269 finishers overall.
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