Gold medals and charity winners at Caernarfon Half-Marathon championships

Report by Don Hale. Photos by John Hatton

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A large field of some 720 quality and mixed ability athletes tackled the undulating Caernarfon Half Marathon with many raising funds for local charities and other worthy causes.
This event, well organised by RunWales, also included the North Wales half-marathon championships, and consequently attracted some of the top local club runners who competed for medals and glory
Tom Roberts (Meirionnydd RC) was the outstanding race winner in 1.09.25, with James Nicholls (Wrexham AAC) second in 1.13.09, and Huw Gwynn (Eryri Harriers) third in 1.15.09, just ahead of rival Steffan Sayer (Menai T&F) fourth in 1.15.12.
Firat female was Emma Alofs (Cybi Striders) in 1.25.47, with Hannah Thomas (Maldwyn Harriers) second in 1.27.48, and Lowri Thomas third in 1.32.11.

NWRRC entered seven members and collected three championship medals including two gold and a silver. Stuart Culverhouse was their first finisher in 67th place in 1.34.47, with Adam Lemalle 161st in 1.49.25, and Kay Hatton won a gold NW medal in her F60 cat after finishing 27th female in 1.50.57.
Steve Roberts won a silver medal in the regional event in 210th place in 1.54.50, and Steve Bozier finished 221st despite struggling with cramp in 1.55.57. Nia Lister was the 98th female in 2.09.27, whilst master vet Rob Fryer took 362nd place in
2.12.43, and won a gold medal in the NW champs in his VM70 age cat.

Elite athletes and fast times at the new Padarn 5k race

Report by Don Hale

There was a good turn-out of mainly elite and club runners at the brand new Padarn ‘Sbrint’ 5k dash, where the first eight finishers all dipped under 17 minutes, and Meirionnydd RC members claimed the first four places.
Owen Roberts was overall winner in just 15 minutes and 37 seconds on this flat and fast course alongside Llyn Padarn at Llanberis, but he faced a stern challenge from club rival Daniel Kashi in 15.44, and colleagues Ben Harding (16.15) and Lloyd Williams (16.19) also battled for top placings.
Some other notable local results included Aled Hughes (GOG Triathlon) 8th in 16.59 and Harry Driscoll (Meirionnydd RC) was one of seven club members involved and he too finished well in 9th place in 17.20. Emma Alofs (Cybi Striders) was the first
female finisher in 18.46, with Anna Buckingham (Meirionnydd RC) second in 19.48, and Amber Chauhan (Eryri Harriers) third in 20.54. There were 118 finishers.

North Wales Road Runners entered five members, and Mal Preece led the team home in 45th place and 2nd M60 in 20.44, with Jenny Appleton 90th and 3rd F50 cat in 25.29. Nia Lister finished 92nd in 26.29; Hannah Griffith 96th in 26.44; and Gwen Charlton was 99th in 27.02.
Some other local athletes included: Bethan Wyn Roberts 101st in 27.31; and Rachel Morris set a new 5k PB 28.28; whilst Pam Grant was 116th and 3rd F60 in 31.01. *There were 190 finishers.
*This is a link to the provisional results from the Padarn 5k.
https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-embed.php#0_280078

NORTH WALES PARKRUN RESULTS ROUND-UP

Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Michael (Pat) Finnie

There were good numbers again at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun on September 5 where a number of talented athletes dashed around this fast and flat promenade course to record some excellent finishing times.

JM15-17 debutant Daniel Lindsey was first overall in 17 minutes dead, and was one of four runners who all dipped under the
18-minute mark, with the first 11 finishers all beating 20 minutes.
Tom Elland (Marshall Milton Keynes) finished second on his debut in 17.43, with Jeremy Pena a close third with a new course PB in 17.45, whilst Josh Adey was fourth in 17.54.
And the ladies dash was just as keen with Laura McKenzie (Betsi Runaways) top female finisher (39th overall) in 22.46, but Rebecca Downs (Colwyn Bay) was a close second in 22.50, with Esther Clements third despite a CPB 22.54. There were
332 finishers.
North Wales Road Runners entered six with Mal Preece winning his VM60 age cat in 32nd place in 22.31, and Steve Mason back to his best in 38th place in 22.43, whilst Benjamin Brummitt was 82nd in 25.01, with master vet Don Hale winning his VM70 cat in 27.03 in 151st place. Helen Hannam was 191st in 28.43, and Nia Lister 227th in 30.47.
GOG Triathlon had several runners involved including Andy Jones 20th in 21.34, Steve Owen and junior friends 42nd in 22.52, and Ashley Tomlinson 97th in 25.28. Porth Eirias Runners first three members were Jasper McQueen 83rd in 25.01, Barry Palmer 117th in 26.04, and Tal Michael 172nd in 27.48. Colwyn Bay AAC had Rebecca Downs 40th in 22.50, and JM10 debutant youngster Jack Donaghy 49th in 23.10.
Some other notable local runners included: Simon Nixon (Denbigh Harriers) 30th in 22.25; Marcus Jones 45th in 22.55; Daniel Owens and his guide Jonathan Kettle (Eryri Harriers) 47/48th with a new course PB for Daniel in 23.04; JW11-14 athlete Elowen Spofforth and her dad Dave in 85/86th places in 25.04; JM11-14 athlete Lucas Burgess and dad Iain in 122/123rd places in 26.13; Peter Johnson 152nd in 27.04; and Bob Dickson 153rd in 27.08.

CONWY

Debutant Jonathan Holt (Vegan Runners) won the Conwy Parkrun in 18.36, visitor Karl Budworth (Knowsley Harriers) took second spot in 19.16, with debutant James Gregory a close third in 19.23. The first female was Colwyn Bay AAC member Isabel Redfern (12th overall) in 22.08, with debutant Grace Mills second in 23.05, and fellow first-timer Karen Seiles (Stone Masters Marathoners) third in 23.42. There were 187 finishers at Conwy.
NWRRC entered five: Richard Scamans their first counter in 17th overall and 2nd VM50 in 22.48, with Stuart Culverhouse 22nd and 3rd M50 in 23.31. Darren Griss finished 47th and 2nd VM40 in in 25.53, with Dave Jones 79th in 20.09. John O’Shea was back in action again in 165th place in 42.44. GOG Triathlon had five runners with super-vet Liz Evans 1st VW75 in 45th place in 25.39, followed by Rob Stewart 57th in 27,11 and Wendy Trelease 75th in 28.52.

PENRHYN

Jonathan Tyler (Betsi Runaways) was first finisher at Penrhyn Castle Parkrun in 17.56, followed by Phil Lynes in 18.40, but Nathan Robertshaw (Aberystwyth AC) was close behind with a CPB 18.43. First female was JW11-14 athlete Fiona Horne with a CPB 20.12, and Brooklyn Wright was second with a CPB 21.10, with Ellie Evans (Cybi Striders) third in 23.44.
NWRRC had three members with super-vet Sandy Johnston winning his VM75 age cat in 52n place in 25.12, with Elizabeth Driscoll and Hannah Griffith running together in 118/119th places in 32.18.

PRESTATYN

Visitor Finlay Sullivan (Blackburn Harriers AC) was the first finisher at the Nova Parkrun in 18.21, with teenager Jack Richards second in 18.28, and Gareth Griffith (Meirionnydd RC) third in 18.52. Michelle Meredith-Roberts (Prestatyn RC) was the first female in 23.55, JW11-14 athlete Freya Roberts-Howie finished second in 25.52, and Natalie Pointon third in 26.05. There were 240 finishers.