Egg-stra! Egg-stra! Read all about it – bumper Easter attendances at North Wales parkruns

Report by Don Hale

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There was a bumper Easter holiday attendance of 623 mixed ability runners and walkers at the Llandrillo yn Rhos Parkrun – and most of the other NW events also reported similar and excellent numbers, and fast finishing times.

At Rhos, the entrants were welcomed by a team of hard working volunteers dressed in Easter Bunny style outfits, and the first 18 finishers quite amazingly all dipped under the 18-minute mark, with just a few seconds separating the first three runners, including
debutant Sam Ashton, first man back in 17.12, with fellow debutant Drew Darlington second 17.16 and Jeremy Pena third with a new course PB 17.58.

Eleanor Ashcroft was the first female finisher (33rd overall) in 20.23, Victoria Tapp (Hadleigh Hares) was second on her debut in 20.57, with Laura McKenzie (Betsi Runaways) third with a new course PB in 21.58.

North Wales Road Runners had 13 members involved and youngster Joe Culverhouse led the team home again in an outstanding 14th place overall, recording a new course PB and finishing 2nd in his JM15-17 age cat.

Stuart Culverhouse was 28th and 1st VM50 in 19.46, with Richard Scamans 57th and CPB in 21.32. Carla Green was 8th female in 77th place overall, and she won her VW50 in 22.22, sharing the same time as club colleague Mal Preece.

Steve Mason came home 106th with a CPB 23.14, and master vet Rob Fryer also clocked a CPB of 25.45. Gwen Charlton finished in 191st place and posted a CPB 26.06.

Master vet Don Hale was 3rd VM70 in 227th place in 27.05, and Gethin Wyn Jones positioned 257th in 27.50; and it was good to see veteran Tony Gibson back at parkrun, ending up 363rd on his course debut in 30.46. John O’Shea was 427th in 32.37 and Tony Price Jones was 469th in 34.36.

GOG Triathlon: The club entered 12 with Aled Hughes (30) on his debut registering 20.00, Andy Jones (48) was second in 21.09, and Neil Vicars-Harris third in 23.19, whilst top female was Paula Maguire with a CPB 26.57.

Porth Eirias Runners (PER) had eight members involved and their top three finishers all recorded new course PBs, with Barry Palmer (96) in 23.03; Kevin Baines (250) in 27.34 and Zara Parry (304) in 29.07.

Some other local results included: (24) Marcus Jones with a new course PB 19.29; (41), Harry Driscoll (Meirionnydd RC) 20.49; (50) Gareth Southworth (Cybi Striders) recorded CPB 21.15; (59) Josh Mottram (Colwyn Bay AAC) 21.39, (62) Ian Taylor (Colwyn Bay AAC) CPB 21.45; (80), Darren Dentith 22.31 (103 & 104), Lucas and Iain Burgess ran together and shared the same time of 23.12; with Dave Munday (107) CPB 23.16; with Tony Parvin (131) in 24.16.

PENRHYN

Close encounter at the Penrhyn Castle Parkrun where just four-seconds separated the first four finishers.

Rhodri Owen was first man home in 16.11, Owen Roberts second in 16.12 and Russell Bentley third, and he shared the exact time as Owen, whilst Adam Jones finished a narrow fourth in 16.15.

First female was Donna Sherwin (City of Stoke) in 18.43 (22nd overall) in 18.43, Tilly Edwards was second in 19.00 and Samia Jones (Menai T&F) third in 20.01.

Martin Green (Meirionnydd RC) notched 11th place and 1st M50 in 17.52.

NWRRC entered Will Williams 29th and 3rd VM50 in 19.19, and super-vet Mike Hayton won his VM75 in 29.25. There were 419 finishers.

CONWY

Debutant Joseph Wynne (York Knavesmire Harriers) enjoyed a great run at Conwy in 16.53, with Gaz Carless second in 18.20, and Paul Wilson (Northowram Pumas RC) third on debut in 18.32.

Top two females were debutants JW11-14 athletes and sisters Gwen and Ella Hayes, who finished together in 18.42, with Faye Sharpley (Macclesfield Harriers & AC) third in 20.50.

Other notable local results Anna Drinkwater (Eryri Harriers) was 35th in 22.41, and husband and wife couple Karl and Rachel Morris were 38th and 175th respectively in 23.01 and 30.50. There were 260 finishers.

PRESTATYN

Visitor Joshua Hourihan (Stockport Harriers) won the Nova Parkrun with a new course PB 17.08, with Alex Ryder (Prestatyn RC) second in 18.05 and debutant Aaron Hill third in 18.07.

First female was Hayley Duckworth (Blackburn RR) on her debut (44th overall) in 23.23, and Victoria Whitehead (Denbigh Harriers) took the second spot in 24.01, with first-timer Mel Mitchell (Skelmersdale RC) third in 24.00.

Prestatyn RC entered 19 members with Ryder first and Dafydd Montgomery second (18) in 20.30, and Jonathan Puleston-Jones third in 21.08.

Two well-known veterans also performed well, Martin Cortvriend 55th and 1st VM70 in 24.24, whilst super vet Roger Harrison Jones was 249th and 1st VM85 plus in 37.54. There were 307 finishers.

CONWY JUNIOR PARKRUN

There was also a massive turn-out of some 117 youngsters at the Conwy Junior 2k Parkrun on Easter Sunday, where some special medals provided by sponsor and athletics coach John Hatton, together with Easter eggs donated by the Paysanne Restaurant, which were all handed out to the children after their event.