Running: Football man Aaron records stunning personal best to win Prestatyn parkrun

Report by Don Hale

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Prestatyn Nova Parkrun

There was a good turnout of 332 athletes at the Nova Parkrun last Saturday where local soccer player and referee Aaron Dodwell was first to finish in a superb new course PB of 17.17.

Visitor Oliver Bernstein was second in 17.34 and Evan Lewis third with a CPB 18.55.

Top female was visitor Morina Rossiter in 21.29, Katherine Burton (Chester Tri Club) was second with a CPB 21.56, and Jo Coombe finished third with a similar PB 23.03.

Prestatyn RC entered 16, with their first members Lewis Pierce (18th) in 21.31 and Alex Ryder (19th) sharing the same finishing times; whilst Edward Shirt was their third man in 21.47.

Chester Half Marathon

There was a massive entry of over 700 elite, club and mixed ability athletes at the Essa Chester Half Marathon on May 17, with several North Wales runners celebrating some superb finishing times and placings.

Tomos Roberts and Martin Green were two top members representing Meirionnydd RC. Tomos finished 8th and 1st MV35 in 1.08.54, with colleague Martin 1st MV50 in 23rd place in 1.15.15.

And full credit to another North Wales star in Steffan Sayer (Menai T&F), 20th in 1.14.42, and fellow Welshman Matthew Collins (Oswestry Olympians) in 1.07.58.

The overall race was won by Jack White (City of Norwich) in 1.05.56, followed by Luke Burgess (Bristol & West) in 1.06.09 and Welshman Josh Griffiths (Swansea Harriers) in 1.06.29.

First female finisher was Abbey Van Dijk (Run4u &Perform) – 40th overall – in 1.18.09, with Melissah Gibson (100 Marathon Club) second (44) in 1.18.51 and Victoria Knight (Cambridge & Coleridge) third (72) in 1.21.45.

North Wales Road Runners had five entries, Jonathan Kettle leading the team home in 66th place and 4th MV50 in 1.21.20, with Carla Green 677th and 7th FV50 in 1.35.42 and Adam Lemalle 1,007th in 1.40.27.

Veteran Steve Roberts finished in 2,042nd in 1.49.51 and Jon Evans performed well as the two-hour pacemaker, arriving dead on time in 2.00.11 in 3,476th place.

Some additional local runners included: 83rd Iain Burgess 1.22.08; (2452) Catherine Roberts 1.52.95; (4070) Gemma Thomas (GOG Triathlon) 2.04.05; (5886) Mandy Owen 2.25.31 and (6651) Rachel Morris in 2.42.53.

Porth Eirias Runners had Mark Downey in (5412) place as their first finisher in 2.17.40 and Paula Crutchley (5931) in 2.25.58. There were 7,078 finishers altogether.

Promenade packed for bumper bonanza at Rhos Parkrun

Report by Don Hale

The warmer weather and the Bank Holiday weekend attracted another bumper attendance of over 500 runners and walkers to the Llandrillo yn Rhos Parkrun last Saturday morning.

The event also recorded plenty of personal best times, and visitors from across the UK, who enjoyed this exciting flat and picturesque promenade route, with the first three finishing places all going to first-timers.

Jonathan Shaw (Steel City Striders) was first in an excellent debut time of 16 minutes and 9 seconds. He was followed by George Lowe (London Front Runners) in 16.36 and Matthew Cox third in 17.09. The first six finishers all dipped under 18 minutes and included five new course PBs.

First female was highly promising JW11-14 athlete Lois Evans (15th overall) with a CPB 19.04, whilst Natasha Jones was 35th with a CPB 20.34, and Ellie Evans (Cybi Striders) was third with CPB 21.35, and won her VW 40 age cat;

Martin Green (Meirionnydd RC) was 5th and 1st VM50 in 18.16, with youngster Joe Culverhouse (NWRRC) 7th and narrowly beaten by Eben Jones in his JM15-17 age cat, the winner clocking a CPB 17.52.

NWRRC entered 12, with Joe Culverhouse again leading the team home. The next man was Robert Evans – father of the first female Lois Evans – in 16th place and 2nd VM40 in 19.04.

Meanwhile, Stuart Culverhouse was 25th and 2nd VM50 in 19.51, with Daniel Hennell 50th on course debut in 21.22. Richard Scamans posted an impressive 21.33, whilst Carla Green was 68th and 1st VW50 in 22.25.

Nia Lister was 199th in 26.39, and master vet Don Hale finished in 201st and 1st VM70 in 26.42, Gwen Charlton returned to action with a good run in 215th place in 27.01, and Elizabeth Driscoll ran dog-less due to the expected high temperatures and recorded a CPB 27.22. Ceri Jones was 335th in a CPB 30.31, and Hannah Griffith and her dog Fred braved the conditions, and
were 387th in 33.06.

GOG Triathlon had 14 members involved: Aled Hughes (4th) in 17.16; Andy Jones (43rd) and Steve Owen (78th).

Porth Eirias Runners had three competing: Barry Palmer (91st) in 23.21; Jaspar McQueen (121st) in 24.13; and Charlotte Ward (243rd) in 27.49.

Other notable local runners included: (28) Gareth Southworth CPB 20.03; Marcus Jones (69th) in 22.34; Darren Dentith (71st) in 22.37; Andrew Roberts (102nd) in 23.34 and Peter Johnson (167th) in 25.30.

Sports coach and charity fundraiser John Hatton received a special cake to help commemorate his 400th stint as a popular parkrun volunteer at numerous venues over more than a decade. His prize was presented by NWRRC colleague Elizabeth Driscoll.

Conwy

John Gardner was first across the line at the Conwy Parkrun with a CPB 17.58, Nic Brook (Eryri Harriers) was second in 18.27, whilst his partner and team-mate Gemma Moore was third overall and first female in a CPB 18.41.

Second female (24th overall) was visitor Victoria Goodill in 21.58, with Vicki Cleall (Dragons RC) third with a CPB 22.01. There were 251 finishers.

NWRRC only had two entrants with Helen Hannam 104th in 27.18, while Vicky Taylor returned to action in 149th place in 29.37.

Penrhyn

At the time of writing the name of the first finisher at the Penrhyn Castle Parkrun remained unknow but in second place was visitor Adrien Gallet (City of York Orienteers) in 17.53, with Aidan Thomas third in 18.31.

First female was Hayley Fairclough (Penny Lane Striders) with a CPB 21.15, with two promising JW11-14 athletes in hot pursuit including Fiona Horne in 21.28 and Elin Jones with a new course PB in 22.28. There were 251 finishers.