Two golds for Gardner in North Wales track championships

Team GB and Welsh Masters international track star Steve Gardner won two prestigious gold medals in the recent North Wales Track & Field Championships.

The experienced and highly versatile veteran athlete, who often represents both NWRRC and GOG Triathlon, has also celebrated continued top-level success in both steeplechase track events, and at major Sprint Duathlon races, said was delighted to win his MV60 age category at both the 800m and 1500m events.

After his races Steve confirmed: “I competed in the North Wales Track and Field Outdoor Champs at Treborth.  The meeting was for athletes of various ages, however, the younger athletes far outnumbered the Masters’ contingent.

“I competed in the 800m consisting of mixed gender and age range finishing in 6th place overall in a time of 2.21.64. A little later in the afternoon I competed in the 1500m, which was again a mixed gender and age range race, finishing in 4th place overall in a time of 5.03.39.

“I was very pleased with my times in both races this early in the track season racing against the younger athletes really helped to pull me along.”

Midweek Races

Several NW Road Runners competed in the Rhostryfan 10k race near Caernarfon on May 13, and some members also took part in the Foel Lus fell race at Penmaenmawr the previous night.

At the demanding Rhostryfan event Adam Lemalle finished 26th and 2nd M40 out of 70 entrants in 46.46, with Carla Green 35th overall and 3rd F50 in 48.59.

Nia Lister was 66th in 1.01.07, with Helen Hannam just one place and five-seconds adrift after running the course together.

The event was won by Tom Roberts (Meirionnydd RC) in 33,22, with Deio Llyn Roberts (Hebog) second in 36.03, and Andrew Douse (Cybi Striders) third in 36.11.

The first three female finishers all represented Eryri Harriers, with Elliw Roberts the first home in 13th place overall in 42.46, Jennifer Charlton was second in 43,03, with Margot Sahene third in 45.22.

The Foel Lus Fell Race on May 12 was part of the Joe Brown Series, with this particular event staged over a challenging 5k plus course. NWRRC newcomer Patrick Walsh finished 65th in 32.10, Nia Lister 187th in 47.24 and Helen Hannam 192nd in 52.27.

Michael Corralles (Eryri Orienteers) also ran well in 5th place overall, and three Colwyn Bay AAC members were also in good form with Richard Watson 24th in 28.37; Gwyn Williams 79th in 33.01 and Chris Williams 166th in 41,56.

The event was won by Owen Hunt Williams (Eryri Harriers) in 22.59, with Cai Dafydd (Meirionnydd RC) second in 23.06; and Rhys Jones (Hebog) 3rd in 23.37.

The first female athlete was Claire Donelly (Eryri Harriers) in 30.04 (40th overall) with Bethan Billington (Eryri Harriers) the runner-up, just four-seconds adrift in 30.08, with Katy Braugh (Denbigh Harriers) third in 30.55.

Talented junior athlete recorded a fast finish at Rhos Parkrun

Report by Don Hale.
donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026

It was another busy Saturday morning at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun with over 400 mixed ability runners and walkers finally celebrating an open route along the picturesque promenade.

JW11-14 youngster Finlay Potter (Warriors Pentathlon & AC) was the first runner home with a new course PB in a superb time of just 16 minutes and 54 seconds, narrowly ahead of James Yarwood (Wrexham AAC), who pushed his double stroller child buggy around the course together with his twins in 17.09, with another promising junior in JM15-17 George Ledsham third with a new course PB of 17.25.

And quite remarkably, the top six finishers all dipped under 18-minutes!

Gemma Moore (Eryri Harriers) was the first female finisher in 18.29, with JW15-17 athlete Lois Evans second in 20.08 and Elin Jones third in 20.18. There were 410 finishers.

North Wales Road Runners entered nine members with promising young athlete Joe Culverhouse once again leading his club team home in 5th place overall and 2nd JW 11-14, with a new course PB of 17.51.

Stuart Culverhouse finished 19th and 2nd VM50 in 19.59, Cheryl Frost came 44th and 1st VW60 age cat in a CPB 21.59, and fellow vet Kay Hatton finished 98th and 2nd VW60 in 24.21.

Marathon man Mal Preece finished 116th in 24.59, with Helen Hannam 151st in a CPB 26.38, and master vet Don Hale was 157th and 2nd VM70 in 26.45. Elizabeth Driscoll recorded another notable course PB running with dog Winston in 207th place in 28.46, and Hannah Griffith was 212th in 28.55.

GOG Triathlon had 11 members involved at Rhos with Andy Jones 28th in 20.58; and Steve Owen and Graeme Tunstall finished together in 22.18 in 54/55th places, with Graeme also claiming a CPB: whilst colleague Angie Hughes also recorded a CPB in 231st place in 29.36.

Some other local runners of note at Rhos included: Colwyn Bay athletes Josh Mottram (21) in 20.10, and Ian Taylor (31), with a CPB 21.17; Martin Green (Meirionnydd RC) who was 43rd in 21.57; Darren Dentith (51) in 22.10; Andrew Roberts (93) in 24.04; Mike Pemberton (131) in 25.41; and super vet Jack Thomas (Buckley RC) won his VM85 plus age cat on his course debut at Rhos in 327th place in 35.21.

Conwy

Visitor Ed Slaughter (Porthcawl Runners) recorded an excellent new course PB as the first finisher overall at the Conwy parkrun in just 16.13, whilst Andrew Moore was second in 17.30, and Jack Thompson third on his debut in 18.16.

First female was Amelia Grice on her debut in 20.32, with Alice Horsfield second with a new PB in 21.04 and Abbie Robinson third in 22.06.

NWRRC had two members involved with Richard Scamans 20th in 22.26 and Steve Mason 140th in 48.28.

GOG Triathlon’s Jose Eduardo Vega Perez finished in 19th place in 22.13, with super-vet Liz Evans 1st W75 in 54th place in 25.48. There were 143 finishers.

Penrhyn

Visitor Joshua Chamberlain (Retford AC) won the Penrhyn Castle parkrun with a good debut time of 17.40, followed by Aidan Thomas in 18.01, and JM15-17 athlete Adam Parrett on his debut, just four-seconds adrift in third place, with the first 11 runners all dipping under 20-minutes.

Top female was another first-timer in Joanne House (Southampton AC) in 19.08, and JW11-14 athlete Fiona Horne claimed second place in 21.04, with Laura Bell (Winston AC) third on her debut in 23.07. There were 324 finishers.

Prestatyn

Local runner Alex Ryder (Prestatyn RC) was their first finisher at the Nova parkrun in 18.21, with teenager Jack Richards second in 18.59, and Evan Lewis third with a CPB 19.22.

The first female (11th overall) was Lisa Lines (Prestatyn RC) in 23.39, but it was a very close finish with Erin Thomas second, just one place and one second behind, whilst visitor Eve Hart (Ramsbottom RC) took the third spot in 24.15. Finishers: 209.