Father and son win top placings in Welsh 2-mile virtual championships

 *Jonathan Kettle on top form again in the Welsh two-mile championships

Father and son win top placings in 2-mile Welsh virtual championships

Report by Don Hale. Most photographs by Steve Jeffery.

North Wales Road Runners followed up their recent team success and excellent podium placings in the British Masters one-mile race, with a further two gold and two silver podium positions in the Welsh Athletics two-mile championships held last weekend.

In another high-quality virtual event, some eleven club runners accepted the challenge of competing in a unique time-trial type dash on a course of their own choosing, and subject to strict pandemic restrictions. 

The star-billing of the race was confirmed by a fact the first nineteen runners dipped under 11-minutes, and there was just 13-seconds separating the top-three finishers. 

The overall event was won by Richard Jones (Lliswerry Runners), 1^st M45 cat winner in 10 mins 16 secs, with (Colwyn Bay AC) youngster James Smith taking 2^nd place and he was 1st U17m cat in 10.20; with Daniel James (Run4all RC), 3^rd, and the 1^st M40 winner in 10.29. Donna Morris was the 1^st female athlete, 38^thoverall, and 1^st W35 age cat winner in 11.54.

One of the most pleasing local club results however, in this speedy two-mile dash included father and son, Jonathan and Troy Kettle, who shared generous plaudits taking silver and gold age placings respectively.

        *Promising NWRRC teenager Troy Kettle won his U20m age category

Jonathan was just 3-seconds short of a top-three position, finishing 4^th overall in an entry of some 293 Welsh club runners, yet he claimed 2^nd place and silver spot in his M45 age category, recording a brilliant time of just 10 mins 32 seconds. Troy was the next NWRRC club runner home in 29^th place overall, and he also won a gold podium placing in his U20m age category in 11.26.

             *Another golden performance in his M65 age category by Kevin Slattery

Club chairman Kevin Slattery was another NWRRC athlete who again struck gold in his M65 age category, despite suffering online registration problems, but deservedly claimed the top-spot, recording an incredible time of 13.59, with colleague Don Hale winning the silver placing in 14.44, in the same age cat, finishing 137^th overall; but unfortunately, Kay Hatton just missed out on a top-three age position, finishing 4^th F55 cat in 14.48.

                            *Kay Hatton (pictured above), with Steve Roberts (below)

The full NWRRC results included: 4^th Jonathan Kettle, 2^nd M45, 10.32; 29^th Troy Kettle, 1^st U20m, 11.32; Steve Bozier 60^th, 5^th M40, 12.29. Stuart Culverhouse was 72^nd and 11^th M45 in 12.51; Dave Spofforth 85^thand 10^th M35 runner 13.09; Steve Roberts 104^th, and 6^th M55, in 13.49. Kevin Slattery 1^st M65 age cat winner in 13.59; with Don Hale 2^nd M65 and 137^th overall in 14.44. Kay Hatton 139^th and 4^th F55 cat in 14.48; with Helen Hannam 7^th F45, and 163^rd overall in 15.39; and Kelly Alford, 176^th overall and 8^th F35 cat, in 16.25.

                  *Helen Hannam with Mia Morris at the Welsh 2-mile race

*Mia Morris joined her Colwyn Bay AC colleagues James Smith (2^nd overall), and Oliver Howson in the two-mile race. Mia had a great run finishing in 156^th place, and was 7^th U15 girl’s cat, in 15.24; with Oliver just one-second behind in 158^th spot in 15.25.

 

*Link to previous British Masters one-mile championships:https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2021/03/north-wales-runners-claim-podium-places.html