Rohan’s Run raised over £7,000 for Children’s Cancer Charity.

*The start of Rohan's run with Steve Forsyth (*left) and Simon Cole and (*below) Martin Green and Josh Keogh, ahead on Nic Brook and Iwan Evans.

Rohan’s Run raised over £7,000 for Children’s Cancer Charities.

Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery and Sandra.

 

Over £7,000 was raised for a children’s cancer charity last Friday night at Rohan’s Run in Deganwy, which attracted nearly three-hundred runners, who helped to commemorate the life of an extraordinary young student, Rohan Ingley, who tragically lost his life to leukaemia in August 2018, aged just 17.

Originally named the Deganwy Dash, this popular race changed its name a couple of years ago in tribute to Rohan, from Abergele, who was a remarkable scholar and a very keen sportsman. 

The event however has had to be postponed several times due to the Covid-19 pandemic and this year has been the first time since 2019 that it’s been possible to stage the race in his name. 

Celebrated classical Welsh soloist Sioned Terry also attended on Friday and sang several songs prior to the start including the national anthem, and said she had a personal connection to Rohan, as she was formerly his music teacher.

 *Sioned Terry (*above) performed several songs including the national anthem.

Numerous elite athletes took part in this challenge along with many top club and social runners from all parts of Wales and celebrated the revised 5-mile run from Deganwy Quay via the Coastal Path to Conwy Cob and the RSPB site, before returning via this picturesque reverse route.

*Some of the NWRRC team prior to the start of Rohan's run.

Race organisers John Hatton and Carla Green were delighted by the response and confirmed that with sponsorship, fundraising and entry fees, more than £7,000 had been raised towards the Children vs Cancer charity.

*Pictured (*l-r) Carla Green, with Rohan's parents Sanjay and Aradhana, John Hatton and Sioned Terry, at the start of the Deganwy race last Friday.

The main race sponsors included Tesco, Spillane and Co, Wealth Management, and Conwy CBC, and a further unexpected cash donation was received last week from Tesco checkout operator Beverly Miles at Llandudno Junction, and her sister Karen Hughes, from money dedicated to the memory of their late mother Diane Robinson, who had also lost her life to cancer.

*Race winner Simon Cole just ahead of Josh Keogh.

Rohan’s Run was eventually won by the talented Simon Cole from Gog Triathlon in just 26 minutes and 56 seconds, and he finished narrowly ahead of top North Wales Road Runners Josh Keogh (27.35) and Martin Green (28.03). The 1st Lady finisher was Emma Alofs in 33.38.

*Josh Keogh and Martin Green (*above left) with Will Williams and Iwan Evans.

The Road Runners also provided generous support to the event with twenty-nine members taking part in the race, and many others working as officials, volunteers, and Marshalls. 

They also recorded seven runners in the top-twenty places, and three out of the first four finishers! NWRRC additionally claimed six 1st place age category victories, five 2nd places and five 3rd places amongst sixteen remarkable podium places.

It proved a nip and tuck race throughout with the lead positions often changing place before Simon Cole finally broke clear to claim victory. Josh Keogh though gave Simon a scare but had to settle for 2nd place, although he won his Male Senior age cat in 27.35; Martin Green finished 3rd overall and claimed the top-spot in his M45 age cat in 28.03; with Steve Forsyth, 4th overall and 2nd M40 cat in 28.52.

*Harry Driscoll with Dave Spofforth (*above left) and Stuart Culverhouse just ahead of Steve Forsyth at the start of the Deganwy Dash/Rohan's Run race.

Will Williams continued to impress and finished 11th overall and 4th in his M45 cat in 31.19, with Iwan Evans in close pursuit in 13th place and in 3rd spot in his M40 cat in 31.45. Young Harry Driscoll only entered the race at the last minute but won his MU23 age cat in 15th place in 32.35, and he finished just ahead of Stuart Culverhouse in 17th place and 2nd in his M50 cat in 32.47.

*Gethin Wyn Jones (*above left) with newcomer Adam Lemalle.

Steve Roberts was pleased with his determined effort in 25th place in 33.54, and he finished a few seconds ahead of club colleague Gethin Wyn Jones, who ran well again to claim 27th spot and 3rd in his M35 cat in 34.04, with Dave Spofforth finishing in 32nd place in 34.54.

Steve Poupart was 38th in 35.52, and newcomer Adam Lemalle enjoyed a great club debut in 36.14 in 43rd place. Sean Butler also had a good run but just missed out on a podium place finishing 4th in his M60 cat in 36.28. And Nicola Wylie continued her purple patch of form finishing well as the 6th female runner, 56th overall, and the winner of her F50 age cat in 38.21.

*Nicola Wylie (*above left) with Karen Butler.

Cai Roberts enjoyed one of his best-ever performances in a 5-mile race to finish in 59th place in 38.55, and Karen Butler won her F60 cat as the 10th female and in 70th place overall in 40.30, whilst Hannah Griffith finished in 72nd place and the 11th female runner, and claimed the 2nd spot in her F45 age cat in 40.48.

*Cai Roberts (*above left) and Kevin Higgins.

Helen Hannam was back in form again and finished 74th with a new PB in 40.59, and 3rd in her F45 cat in 40.59, with veteran Rob Fryer shaking off his recent injury woes to claim 2nd place in his M65 cat, and 79th place overall, in 41.29, and Tessa Bushnell won her F35 age cat in 99th place overall in 42.44.

*Helen Hannam (*above left) with Kelly Alford.

Kevin Higgins was just four-seconds behind Tessa in 42.48 in 100th place, and he finished seconds ahead of Kelly-Marie Alford, who claimed 3rd spot in her F35 cat in 42.58, whilst vet Don Hale also claimed 3rd place in his M65 cat in 126th place in 44.54.

*Len Jackson (*above left) with Don Hale (*right) at the start of the race and leading several NWRRC colleagues before dropping back due to lack of fitness.

Vicky Taylor finished 124th in 44.48, and master veteran Mike Hayton celebrated another positive performance in 134th place and claimed 2nd spot in his M70 cat in 45.47, with fellow vet Len Jackson finishing 4th in his M65 cat and 153rd overall in 47.07. Meanwhile, Rachel Morris was 177th in 50.10, and Susan Smith finished 181st in 50.28, with her husband Mike Smith running home in 195th place in 52.12.

*All the timings and finishing positions were based on chip times.

 

*This is the link to the provisional results from Rohan’s Run:

https://my.raceresult.com/209336/results