Record breaker at Conwy Parkrun - and Josh wins Anglesey Trail 10k - plus other great NWRRC race results.

*Simon Cole (*pictured above) with his wife and family at the Conwy Parkrun following his 100th race and amazing record of outstanding victories.

Simon completed his 100th parkrun at Conwy and celebrated an amazing record.

Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery.

 

GOG Triathlon star Simon Cole enjoyed a great record-breaking performance at the Conwy parkun last Saturday morning to celebrate his 100th parkrun and yet another memorable victory on his favourite course. 

The highly talented local athlete romped home to easily win the event amongst 218 finishers in just 16 minutes 38 seconds and he was more than a minute ahead of his nearest rival, youngster Alfie Shirland (Colwyn Bay) in 17.55, and NWRRC member Steve Forsyth in 18.40.

Simon has now competed at 39 different parkruns across the country, including visits to Guernsey, and incredibly, he has also won over 50% of his runs, even recording a previous PB of just 16.23 on the Monsall Trail in Derbyshire, but he says Conwy remains his favourite course.

*Steve Forsyth (*above) was the top NWRRC member at the Conwy Parkrun.

North Wales Road Runners entered twelve members and one junior with Steve Forsyth the lead man, closely followed by Harry Driscoll 5th overall and 1st in his SM20-24 age cat in 19.14, and Martin Green 7th and 1st in his MV45 cat in 19.33.

Newcomer Chris Davies ran well in 10th place, and won his MV35 cat in 20.01, with Steve Roberts continuing his good form to finish 21st in 21.44 and 3rd in his MV55 cat. 

*Steve Roberts (*above right in dark top) continued his good form.

Stuart Culverhouse took it easy though in 36th place in 23.21, with Gethin Wyn Jones hot on his heels in 37th place and 3rd in his MV35 cat in 23.22. 

The event also marked the welcome return of Tony Price Jones who was back running again after a long lay-off in 78th place in 26.10, and veteran Rob Fryer who also returned after injury in 87th spot and finished 3rd in his MV65 cat in 27.28. Rob ran with his master vet club colleague Mike Hayton, who was 88th overall and 3rd in his M70 cat in 27.29.

*NWRRC veteran athletes Rob Fryer (*above left) with Mike Hayton at Conwy.

Dave Spofforth additionally ran again with his son Ben in 91st place, with the junior runner winning his JM10 age cat in 27.44, whilst Steve Mason leisurely ran around the 5k course with his dog in 212nd place in 44.53.

 

*This is the link to the provisional results from Conwy parkrun 21/5/22:

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

 

*Josh Keogh (*above) on the winners podium at the Anglesey Trail 10k race.

*Anglesey Trail 10k: Josh Keogh turned in another great performance to eventually win the Anglesey Trail 10k race on Sunday in a very fast time of 39 minutes and 22 seconds, but it was a close-run contest at one stage, with club rival Steve Forsyth pushing him all the way, but it still proved a worthy one-two for the Road Runners. 

*Another gritty performance from Steve Forsyth (*above) at the Trail 10k.

*A determined effort from Hannah Griffith (*above)in the Anglesey 10k Trail race.

These two amazing athletes were joined in the 10k event by NWRRC colleague Hannah Griffith, who ran well and finished under the hour but lost several minutes due to some confusion towards the end of her race. She later confirmed: “I was confused at the end as I was told I had finished and turned off my watch, then realised I hadn’t! It cost me a few minutes.”

*Jonathan Kettle (*above) put in another good performance at the Anglesey Trail half-marathon race last weekend

*Anglesey Trail half-marathon: Jonathan Kettle and Stuart Culverhouse represented the Road Runners in the challenging Anglesey Trail half-marathon event last weekend. Jonathan ran hard to finish 4th overall in 1 hour 28 minutes but said he was disappointed with his result. He admitted: “I gave it my all, but three races in seven days was just too much, but I still enjoyed my run.”

*Will Williams (*above) is pictured with his finishing medal and he even appeared on the TV coverage of the Manchester 10k race.

*Manchester 10k: Will Williams finished in 223rd place overall amongst more than 20,000 runners in an emotional Manchester 10k race last Sunday. Despite feeling groggy for much of the week, Will still put in a solid performance, and was also seen on TV before he pounded the streets to finish in a very respectable time of 38 minutes 16 seconds.

*Nant y Pandy: Lesley Goodson joined in with a group of her running friends at the Nany y Pandy parkrun last Saturday and finished 26th overall and the 8th female, whilst also winning her VW55 age cat in 27.23.