Seven age cat wins for Road Runners at blustery Conwy parkrun.

*Another great run by Richard Eccles at the Conwy Parkrun.

Seven age cat wins for Road Runners at blustery Conwy Parkrun - plus Jamie on tour.

Report by Don Hale. Most photographs by Steve Jeffery.

 

Despite cool and blustery conditions at last Saturday’s Conwy parkrun, seven North Wales Road Runners still managed to win their respective age categories, with another three members claiming additional cat podium placings.

Simon Cole (Gog Triathlon) was the first runner home over the challenging 5k course in 17 minutes 15 seconds, finishing more than a minute ahead of his second placed rival Chris Turner (Eryri Harriers) in 18.36, with NWRRC athlete Richard Eccles 3rd in 18.45.

The inclement weather probably helped to reduce the number of starters to just 244, but the late restart of some other local parkruns’ may have also played a part, yet this event still attracted a generous mixture of club and fun runners from as far afield as London, Truro, Stoke, Todmorden, Holmfirth, Ilkeston, and the West Midlands, plus many other parts of the UK.

Richard Eccles led a team of sixteen club runners, and won his VM55-59 age category, but it proved a hard-fought battle with colleague Mark Jessett, who finished just three-seconds behind him in 4th place overall in 18.48, but he too claimed a deserved VM35-39 age cat win. 

*A close finish for Mark Jessett (above) who gave Richard a hard-fought battle.

Harry Driscoll completed a hat-trick of cat podium club placings in the top-ten with a fine performance in 6th place overall and winning his SM20-24 cat in 19.34. 

Stuart Culverhouse finished 2nd in his VM45-49 age cat but celebrated a new parkrun PB of 19.52 in 8th place, and Dave Spofforth was another man in good form in 13th spot and 2nd VM35-39 in 20.51, with Sean Butler 21st overall, and he also won his VM60-64 cat in 21.34. 

Steve Roberts claimed 2nd place in his VM55.59 cat in 26th position in 21.54 and crossed the line just ahead of colleagues Gethin Wyn Jones in 27th place in 21.57, with Steve Mason 28th in 22.06. 

*Steve Roberts (above) finished just ahead of two club colleagues.

*Joe Culverhouse celebrated his birthday and a great new age cat win.

And junior athlete Joe Culverhouse celebrated his 11th birthday this week and enjoyed success at the weekend by winning his new JM11-14 age cat, finishing 38th overall in 22.46, and master veteran Don Hale claimed 1st place in his M65-69 age cat, and 74th place in 25.12, but is still recovering from injury and ill health.

*Don Hale won his M65-69 age category but was still struggling with injury.

Mia Morris (*pictured above) also won her JW15.17 age cat finishing 95th in 26.45, and veteran Ian Turner was 118th in 28.38. In addition, Sue Smith returned to action this week and ran well in 136th place, claiming 3rd place in her VW55.59 age cat in 29.34, whilst her husband Mike Smith was 157th in 31.45, with Rachel Morris 192nd in 34.10.

Plaudits were given to this week's race director Elizabeth Driscoll and all the volunteers and Marshalls.

*Tourist on the run: Jamie Tharme ran as a tourist at the recently revived Nant y Pandy parkrun at Llangefni last Saturday, and finished 3rd in his VM40-44 age cat and he was 8th overall in 22.52.

*This is the link to the provisional Conwy parkrun results: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/