Blooming great cheque for Joshua Tree charity from Deganwy Dash
Report by Don Hale
Fundraising was blossoming this week with some blooming great news for organisers of the Joshua Tree charity following the presentation of a giant cheque for £3,955.37 from John Hatton the run director of the popular Deganwy 5-mile Dash.
John and his club and event colleague Carla Green were on hand to present these funds to the deserving charity watched by race sponsors from Specsavers, Brown & Brown, MKM and Jennings Civil Engineers.
John and Carla said that they have also sent off several hundred pounds to the Young Lives vs Cancer charity. And Lee Talbot from the insurance company Brown & Brown, additionally confirmed that they will sponsor the race again next year along with Specsavers.
Top runners were on track to Race the Train at Caernarfon
Report by Don Hale
Nearly 300 club and mixed ability athletes took part in the popular annual Race the Highland Train 5k dash on July 22 at Caernarfon.
Departing from the Highland railway station in town, 278 runners then travelled by train to the next station along the line at Dinas, before returning on foot to take on the challenge of trying to race the train back to its start, along a mainly downhill and very fast course.
A trio of runners from Meirionnydd RC claimed the first three finishing places with some excellent times including Owen Roberts, first man home in just 14 minutes and 13 seconds, Gavin Stuart second in 14.38 and Ben Harding third in 15.30.
Hannah Thomas (Maldwyn Harriers) was first female in 17.56, chased all the way by Llio Jones (Cybi Striders) in 18.14 and young Tamsin Seguin (Menai T&F) in 18.37.
The male senior veterans’ prizes were keenly contested with the following age category winners: M60 Gareth Southworth (Cybi Striders) 67th in 20.06; M65 Arwel Lewis (Eryri Harriers) 104th in 22.03; M70 Clive Wycherley (Menai RR) 138th in 23.38; M75 Robert Neale (St Asaph) 240th in 30.03; M80 super-vet Dennis Smith 269th in 34.46; and fellow super-vet extraordinaire M85 Roger Harrison Jones (Prestatyn RC) 262nd in 33.38.
North Wales Road Runners entered five members with Jonathan Kettle leading the team home in 16th place and 2nd M50 in 17.17, Daniel Hennell clocked 21.53 in 102nd, with Hannah Griffith 155th in 24.20, Nia Lister 160th in 24.25 and Helen Hannam 212th in 27.13.
Mother and son compete well in San Francisco 10k
Report by Don Hale
North Wales mother and son Elizabeth and Harry Driscoll took part in the recent Alexi Pappas 10k in San Francisco and Harry won two prestigious awards.
Harry, who now represents Meirionnydd RC, finished in third place overall within a quality field in an excellent 35 minutes and 47 seconds, claiming a top podium place in addition to winning his M25 age category. And Elizabeth, who is with North Wales Road Runners, finished 5th F55-59, 592nd overall and 162nd female, in 57.34.
Fast finish by top athletes at Rhos Parkrun – plus other North Wales parkrun results and reports
Report by Don Hale
The Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun welcomed over 500 runners, walkers and volunteers to their Saturday morning event on July 25, including many members from the 5k Your Way, Move Against Cancer group, for their regular monthly gathering.
It proved to be a very warm but blustery day and attracted numerous quality athletes and visitors from all parts of the UK and abroad.
Six of the first10 finishers were first-timers and it was a keen battle for top placings with visitor Harry Hammon (Bramhall Runners) just hanging onto his narrow lead in 17 minutes and 52 seconds, ahead of keen rival and debutant James Bosher (Grange Farm & Dunmow Runners) in 18.07 and Jeremy Pena, third in 18.12. And even the fourth and fifth places were up for grabs with visitors Indios Sapara and Paul Carroll giving chase, with Indios finishing well in 18.18, and Paul in 18.19.
Visitor Lauren Knox was first female in 19.40, just ahead of fellow debutant Belinda Brennan (Bramhall Runners) in 19.42, with Alex Aldous third in 20.39. There were 508 runners.
NWRRC had seven members involved including: Paddy Walsh 17th with a new course PB in 20.46; Mal Preece 49th and 2nd VM60 in 22.35; Richard Scamans 57th and 3rd VM50 in 22.54; veteran Tony Gibson 136th in 26.06; master vet Don Hale 211th and 3rd VM70 in 28.15, Charlotte Rose Wilton Jones 250th in 29.27; and Gethin Wyn Jones 311th in 31.39.
GOG Triathlon had five runners, with their top three including Andy Jones 31st in 21.13; Steve Lyall 37th in 21.40; and Steve Owen 40th in 21.56.
Colwyn Bay AC:: Young Josh Mottram 43rd and 2nd SM18 in 22.04, Ian Taylor was 99th in 24.35; and Chris Spillane ran as a worthy guide for partially sighted athlete Daniel Owens with the pair posting 24.38.
Porth Eirias Runners had nine members involved and their top three were Barry Palmer 91st in 24.20; Nicola Evans 97th in CPB 24.34, along with Jasper McQueen 24.34.
Other local notable runners included: Gareth Southworth (Cybi Striders) 50th in 22.35; Simon Nixon (Denbigh Harriers) 53rd in 22.45; Dave Munday 70th in 23.32; Andrew Roberts 75th in 23.40; Mike Pemberton 163rd in 26.43; and Romeo Ciotec 251st in 29.28.
CONWY
Promising teenager and visitor Freddie Harrison (Derby AC) was first to finish the recently revised Conwy Parkrun in 18.32, but was challenged all the way by young rivals Max Williams, just one second and one place behind, and William Scott third in 18.52. The first four finishers were all visitors.
Anna Drinkwater (Eryri Harriers) was first female (7th overall) in 20.13, with Mia Williams second in 22.41 and veteran
debutant Lynda Sharpe third in 23.56.
NWRRC entered three members with Paul Aubert 21st and 1st VM45 in 21.50. Master vet Barrie Wells was 2nd VM70 in 26.26, with Nia Lister 121st in 30.13 and 3rd in her latest VW35 age cat. There were 238 finishers.
PRESTATYN
Joshua Hourihan (Stockport Harriers & AC) was first home at the Nova parkrun in 17.54, local footballer and referee Aaron Dodwell was second in 18.43, whilst Jonathan Puleston-Jones (Prestatyn RC) claimed the third spot in 19.43.
Eve Manifold (Prestatyn RC) was first female finisher in 22.58, Gemma Louise Barnet (Vale Royal) was second in 23.14, and Jenna Bagnall (Prestatyn RC) third in 23.30. NWRRC members Ceri Jones finished in 84th place in 28.24, with Darren Cross sharing the same time and joint placing. Prestatyn RC had 16 members involved, and Nova recorded 300 finishers overall.