Wild, wet, and windy for Bangor 10k and half-marathon.

*The NWRRC team who ran in the Bangor 10k race last Sunday. (*pictured l-r), Cai Roberts, Kelly-Marie Alford, Kevin Higgins, Rob Fryer and Steve Roberts.

Wild, wet, and windy for Bangor 10k and half-marathon.

Report by Don Hale. Most photographs by Steve Jeffery.

 

Just over four-hundred determined runners took part in the Bangor 10k and half-marathon events last Sunday morning amidst wild, wet, and windy conditions which followed a very hilly, muddy, and rain saturated course.

North Wales Road Runners entered five athletes in the 10k event with another two members in the half-marathon. Despite this challenging weather, the club still celebrated two podium placings in their respective age categories in the shorter race, and Helen Hannam snatched 3rd spot in her age cat in the half-marathon.

*Helen Hannam gained a podium place in her age cat in the half-marathon.

Steve Roberts performed well again to finish 27th in the 10k run, and he was also 2nd in his VM55-59 age cat in 44 minutes 19 seconds, with master veteran Rob Fryer enjoying a deserved victory in his VM65-69 cat, finishing 56th overall in 49.13. 

*Kevin Higgins (above) hit good form on his return to competition.

And Kevin Higgins was another man returning to good form finishing 75th in 52.20, with Kelly-Marie Alford 85th in 53.07. Her partner Cai Roberts remained close behind in 85th place in 54.46.

*Kelly-Marie Alford and Cai Roberts ran well despite a soaking at Bangor.

After the race, Kelly commented: ‘I found it quite tough, and running with soaking feet was a nightmare too.’

In the half-marathon, Jamie Tharme continued to impress with an excellent run to finish 44th in 1 hour 45 minutes, with Helen Hannam 104th overall, and the 21st female runner, in 2.00.36, and she also claimed 3rd place in her VW45-49 age cat.

*Jamie Tharme (above) turned in another impressive performance at Bangor.

Jamie confirmed: ‘It was wet and hilly. A tough one today. The conditions were not great, with slippery leaves and a strong headwind.’

And Helen Hannam added: ‘It was wet, muddy and slippery – that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it! The support though was great and thanks to all the marshalls. I pushed for a sub-two-hour but didn’t quite manage it, but I’m still happy with my time. Some amazing times on a tough course, well done to everyone.’

*Charlie Owen ran in the Chester Zoo 10k on Sunday in similar rough, tough, and wet and windy conditions, but he still recorded a respectable time of 66 minutes 23 seconds in 1,748th place amongst 2,379 finishers.

*Charlie Owen (above) braved wet and windy weather at Chester Zoo.

 

*Link to provisional results for Bangor 10k:

https://www.runwales.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Bangor-10k-Results.pdf

*Link to provisional results for Bangor half-marathon:

https://www.runwales.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Bangor-Half-Marathon-Results.pdf