Bananaman finished ahead of the bunch at Conwy’s Christmas parkrun...plus double win at Ruthin.

Bananaman finished ahead of the bunch at Conwy’s Christmas parkrun - plus double win for Stuart and Joe at Ruthin.

Special report and festive photos by Don Hale.

It was a unique experience at Conwy’s Christmas parkrun last Saturday when Bananaman, aka local athlete and Durham University student Morgan Kendall became the first runner back wearing a bright yellow costume and finished just thirteen seconds ahead of the chasing bunch!

The teenage prospect initially dominated the 5k event but in the end nearly let it slip, and only won by the skin of his teeth, as he was pursued by several other similarly talented youngsters, who were enjoying a festive break.

The parkrun also turned out to be a very colourful and joyous occasion and attracted 230 runners and walkers of all ages and abilities, with the majority dressed in special Christmas outfits

Morgan Kendall (*pictured top of page), won his SM18 age cat with a new course PB of 17 minutes and 36 seconds, with Matthew Baker 2nd with another PB in 17.49, and NWRRC athlete Martin Green 3rd in 18.27. 

Some other exciting youngsters included teenage tourist Joshua Selfridge (Petts Wood Runners), who finished 4th on his debut in 18.38, and two Colwyn Bay AC athletes Alfie Shiland 5th, and the 1st JM11 runner in 18.44, with another top teenage runner Bryn Woodall, who has just back from America finishing in 7th place in 19.10, and James Smith (Menai T&F) 8th in 19.11.

North Wales Road Runners entered fourteen members and claimed ten podium placings, which included five age category wins, four second, and one third place. Martin Green won his MV45 cat finishing 3rd overall in 18.27, amidst a heavy training session, with Stuart Culverhouse 10th and 1st in his MV50 cat in 20.01. 

Steve Mason was 16th overall and 3rd in his MV45 cat in 20.26, with Carla Green 17th overall, and the second female finisher, whilst coming 1st in her VW50 cat in 20.33 to complete a family double. Cheryl Frost also continued her fine form to claim 45th place, and she was 1st place in her VW55 cat in 23.03

And youngster Joe Culverhouse ran well to finish 2nd in his JM11 cat, finishing 64th overall in 24.24, whilst last week’s club handicap winner Nicola Wylie claimed the 2nd spot in her VW50 cat with another good run in 65th place in 24.32.

Veteran Rob Fryer also celebrated a good outing to win his MV65 age cat in 74th place in 24.51. This week’s festive parkrun welcomed back several notable club runners including Charlotte-Rose Wilton-Jones, who celebrated a new course PB in 89th place overall in 25.57.

Another veteran athlete, Len Jackson (*pictured above right), was delighted with 2nd spot in his new MV65 age cat finishing 116th in 27.27, and master vet Mike Hayton was also 2nd in his MV70 cat in 28.30, and in 136th place overall. 

Mandy Owen took a break from some recent longer distance runs to record another positive performance at Conwy in 153rd place in 29.56, with Sue Smith coming home in 159th place in 30.16, and Hannah Griffith running with her dog Fred and others, was 165th in 30.38.

*Praise was given to the race director Anthony and his hard-working team of volunteers. This is the link to the provisional results from the Conwy parkrun 25/12/22:

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

OTHER RESULTS: Ruthin: Stuart Culverhouse and his young son Joe Culverhouse competed in the special Christmas Day parkrun at Ruthin, with both members winning their respective age categories. Stuart improved on his time at Conwy the previous day to record a superb time of 19.55, and finished 1st in his MV50 cat, and in 3rd place overall. Joe, meanwhile, won his JM11-14 age cat and knocked over a minute from his Conwy run to finish 22nd in 23.14.