North Wales quartet proud to run in the heat for Welsh Masters
Report by Don Hale
Four very proud athletes from North Wales Road Runners competed as part of the Welsh Masters team in their match against England at the weekend during the Shrewsbury 5k lap races.
Jonathan Kettle, Steve Gardner, Cheryl Frost and Will Williams all spoke about their immense pride to have been selected to represent their country, and they each performed well despite the extremely hot and dry conditions.
In a very fast, packed, and high-quality encounter including 452 elite runners, Kettle finished 89th overall in just 17 minutes and 44 seconds, and was 6th in his M50 age cat, whilst GB international veteran track and duathlon champion Gardner was 135th in 18.50, and 6th M60, and Williams also ran well after returning after injury in 179th position in 19.19.
Frost had an exceptional run finishing as the 7th F60 athlete and 83rd female in 23.36.
After the event, Will Williams confirmed: “Another proud day, and I was very lucky to wear the red vest again. The time not what I wanted nearly two min slower than last year. Lack of racing and fitness due to injury struck season really showed up today.
“The heat was also mind blowing. Never mind was a great day got to hear my granddaughter cheering me on and running for Wales masters is always an honour, and too good of an opportunity to give up!”
Other road results: Cheryl Frost and Kay Hatton travelled to a very hot Aintree 10k on Sunday with Cheryl finishing 5th female and 1st FV60 in 48.11, with Kay 8th and 2nd FV60.
Race for Life success: Well-done to all the runners who took part in the very breezy Race for Life 5k and 10k races at Rhyl to help fundraise for Cancer Research.
NWRRC member Helen Hannam said: “My third Race 4 Life 2026 in Rhyl, which marks my 8th year of Smashing Races to Smash Cancer. Very happy that I managed to run it all, but my injury seems to be ok now. Very happy with my sub 30 minutes
for 5k after my injury, in 29.32.”
Josie Davies: “All done and dusted, the Rhyl 5k completed another lovely but emotional day of running alongside so many others supporting Cancer Research, raising funds, and trying to find a cure for this horrible disease which affects so many of us.
“Jordan ran in a great time of 28 mins well proud of him, and Phil did great in 41 mins in the heat with a blister, but he never gave up. If anybody wants to sponsor them it’s for The Osbourne Trust who have been a massive support to us as a family over our cancer journey and loss of Gef. Well done to every single person who took part today and who continue to raise money, l hope and pray that one day a cure will be found.”
John’s water carriers came to the rescue at Rhos Parkrun
Report by Don Hale
There were scorching temperatures around the region last Saturday morning for all the North Wales parkruns, with some events and volunteers introducing water cups at the finish areas, together with some water pistols and water sprays en route to help keep everyone cool.
At Llandrillo yn Rhos, experienced volunteer and sports coach John Hatton came to the rescue and provided some large water carriers for all their runners after they completed their 5k promenade journey.
John said: “I decided to take lots of the water to Rhos, together with about 400 paper cups that I still had from the Deganwy Dash. They proved to be most welcome, and all the cups were used.”
And despite the soaring temperatures, one hardy entrant, Venus, took part in a spectacular Seahorse character costume to help raise funds for the RASASC charity, and quite remarkably she still dipped under 26 minutes!
Visiting athlete Christian Smith (Manchester Road Runners) was the first finisher overall in 16 minutes and 35 seconds, with Conor Davies second in 16.53, and track champion Aled Hughes (GOG Triathlon) third in 17.21. And Iain Burgess also performed very well to finish 4th overall in 17.43.
Another visitor in Nicola Lee (Reading AC) was the first female in 18.33, with Heidi Laverty second on her course debut in 22.51, and Rebecca Downs (Colwyn Bay) a very close third in 22.52. There were 499 finishers.
NWRRC entered five members with James Jones 19th with a new PB of 19.35; Steve Roberts was 76th, and 1st VM60 in 23.14; Richard Scamans was 84th in 23.49; Hannah Griffith finished in 156th place and 2nd VW50 in 26.42; whilst super-vet Mike Hayton was 397th and 3rd VM75 in 36.38.
Colwyn Bay AC also had five members involved with Josh Mottram in 45th place,and 2nd SM18 cat in 21.23. Ian Taylor was 63rd in 22.49; Rebecca Downs 68th in 22.52; Ellie New was 183rd on her course debut in 27.30; and Molly New 205th with a course PB of 28.08.
Porth Eirias Runners results: Barry Palmer 137th in 25.55; Sonia Wignall 343rd in 33.33; and Kevin Edge 470th in 46.55.
CONWY
Euan Douglas (Hyde Park Runners) won the RSPB Conwy parkrun in 18.27, Lloyd Owen was second with a CPB 19.06, with
Billy Bibby a close third in 19.31. First female was Abbie Robinson in 22.21, with Isabel Redfern (Colwyn Bay) second in 23.16, and Michelle Farrell (GOG Triathlon) third in 25.16.
NWRRC: Steve Mason 45th and 3rd VM50 in 25.03; Ceri Jones 74th and 2nd VW40 in 26.58. Meanwhile, master vet Rob Fryer won his VM70 in 28.31; Vicky Taylor was 128th in 30.35, and Darren Griss finished 140th in 31.57.
GOG Triathlon: Gary Jones 18th in 22.38; whilst Michelle and John Farrell ran together in 25.16, in 48/49th places, with Lizzie Irvine 126th in 30.30. Alan Hackett represented Porth Eirias Runners in 114th place in 29.16. There were 228 finishers.
PRESTATYN
Visitor Stephen Switzer (RTC Warriors)won the Nova Parkrun in 19.01, and Caleb Dore took the second spot in a close finish in 19.12, with Luca Bennett third in 19.27. Erin Thomas was the first female (36th overall) in 24.28, with JW11-14 athlete Freya Roberts-Howie second in 24.39, and visitor Naroa Ibara Aizpurua third in 26.35.
Prestatyn RC entered an amazing 29 athletes with Robert Grima 19th in 22.28; Andy Thomas 24th in 23.29, and Judah Eastwell 31st in 24.09. Other club mates results included veterans – Martin Cortvriend 51st and 1st VM70 in 25.52; Reg
Jonas finished 54th and 3rd VM65 in 26.27; and Gareth Hughes won his VM80 cat in 88th place in 29.21. There were 243 finishers.
PENRHYN
There was a good turn-out of 250 runners including many visitors at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun where young Noa Vaughan was the runaway first finisher in 16.50. The second man remained unknown, but third was Steffan Sayer (Menai T&F) in 17.25.
Top female (7th overall) was visitor Fiona German (South-West Road Runners) in 18.53, with Mabli Baines (Eryri Harriers) second in 21.41, and Mabli’s club colleague, Anwen Hockley third in 22.35