TV spotlight on Conwy’s belated birthday parkrun - plus other tourists on the run..

*Mark Jessett (*above) was the first NWRRC athlete back at the Conwy Parkrun.

Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.

Conwy parkrun finally returned as predicted last Saturday following another unfortunate break from action due to harsh Welsh Government and Covid-19 restrictions and even ended up on TV!

The parkrun events were only approved by the Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford the day before, after the ruling for people attending outdoor events was suddenly increased from 50 to 500!

This meant a slightly belated 7th anniversary birthday bash celebration at the RSPB starting point for just short of two-hundred enthusiastic runners on a cold morning that was also filmed by ITV Wales.

It turned out to be a rather fast and furious event that attracted numerous elite athletes in addition to a host of fun runners, including nineteen first timers, and numerous local athletic club members. 

The quality at the top end of the run included seven out of the first eight finishers recording new parkrun PBs (personal best times), and the first nineteen runners all dipped under the twenty-minute barrier on this challenging but picturesque course.

Simon Cole, who won the very first Conwy parkrun on 10th January 2015, was again the first man home and ran about forty-seconds faster than his original dash. Simon representing (GOG Triathlon) narrowly won his VM40-44 age cat in 17 minutes 11 seconds, and he was just two-seconds ahead of rival James Yarwood (Abergele Harriers), who was 2nd overall and won his SM30-34 cat with a PB of 17.13, with Sam Lewis Jones (Parc Bryn Bach Running Club) finishing 3rd overall and he was 1st in his VM35-39 cat with another PB of 17.20. Nic Brook (Eryri Harriers) was another close finisher in 4th spot with a PB of 17.40, to claim first place in his VM45-49 age cat.

*Stuart Culverhouse led a pack of runners at Conwy to win his age cat.

North Wales Road Runners entered sixteen members and claimed eleven age cat podium places with Stuart Culverhouse and Mike Hayton winning their respective age cats, in addition to seven second placed results, and two third places.

*Master vet Mike Hayton (*above) was delighted to win his M70-74 age cat.

Mark Jessett was the first club man back in 6th place overall with a superb new PB of 17.44 and finished 2nd in his VM35-39 age cat, and Jonathan Kettle, heavy in training mode was 8th and 2nd MV45-49 in 18.27. 

Steve Mason was 15th and 3rd in his VM45-49 cat in 19.37, with Stuart Culverhouse 21st and 1st VM50-54 cat in 20.22, and Steve Roberts 26th and 2nd M55-59 in 21.36, whilst Jamie Tharme continued to impress in 33rd place and 2nd MV40-44 act in 22.31.

*Fine running from Jonathan Kettle (*above) and Gethin Wyn Jones (*below).

Sean Butler ran well again in 35th spot and he was 2nd in his MV60-64 cat in 22.38, and junior member Joe Culverhouse enjoyed another positive performance in 38th place overall, and he finished 3rd in his JM11-14 age cat in 22.50, with Gethin Wyn Jones 40th in 22.58. 

Master vet Don Hale, back after injury, was 65th and 2nd M65-69 in 24.35, whilst Sue Smith recorded another excellent PB and was 2nd in her VW55-59 age cat in 28.45.

*Steve Mason ran well as parkrun returned after a four-week break.

Mike Hayton made an impressive appearance to win his Master vet M70-74 cat and finished 113th overall in 28.53, and Rachel Morris was another runner back in form and celebrated her best parkrun result for about two years, finishing 136th in 31.23, with Mike Smith doing well again in 145th place in 32.04. And father and son combination Dave and Ben Spofforth ran together in 154th position in 33.21 with Ben 4th in his JM10 age cat.

*Pictured (*above) Rachel Morris and (*below) Sue and Mike Smith.

 

This is the link to the latest Conwy parkrun results:

https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/

SEE THE LINK TO THE ITV News report: https://www.facebook.com/ian.turner.1848/videos/677838313596429

 

Richard ran as a tourist at Houghton Hall parkrun.

 

Richard Scamans made a tourist debut at the Houghton Hall parkrun in Bedfordshire last Saturday and finished in 14th place overall in a great time of 22.02. Afterwards he said: ‘Parkrun tourism. A lovely, cold, flat course. I really enjoyed it and was 14th from 185 runners. I'll take that. And 4th in my age cat.’

*Richard Scamans (*above) ran as a tourist at the Houghton Hall parkrun.

Elizabeth Driscoll retains her 1st Lady title at the Falkland Islands parkrun.

NWRRC athlete Elizabeth Driscoll retained her title as the 1st Lady finisher at the Cape Pembroke Lighthouse parkrun on the Falkland Islands for the second week running with another impressive performance on this hard, stoney course, finishing 6th overall in 24.45

*Elizabeth Driscoll (*above) retained her 1st Lady title following another good run abroad at the Cape Pembroke parkrun on the Falkland Islands.

John Dalzell ran at Alderley Park Trail race.

 

John Dalzell took part in a 5-mile two-lap trail race amidst the hidden grounds of Alderley Park, Cheshire, last Sunday. John finished 51st overall in 34 minutes 38 seconds out of 336 other runners.

 

*John Dalzell (*above) ran well at the Alderley Park 5-mile trail race on Sunday.