Nicola wins Road Runners Christmas handicap race in freezing conditions on the Great Orme.

*NWRRC Christmas handicap race winner Nicola Wylie (*above), and (*below) club members pictured before the start of the race.

Nicola wins Road Runners Christmas handicap race in freezing conditions on the Great Orme.

Report by Don Hale. Photos by Don Hale, Mike Smith, and Kevin Slattery.

 

Nicola Wylie was the worthy winner of the North Wales Road Runners’ Christmas handicap race last Sunday as twenty-one fellow club members braved freezing conditions and a bitterly cold headwind to compete over a tough and hilly course.
With all the start and finishing times adjusted to consider the age and ability of entrants in conjunction with noting recent parkrun performances, the runners then had to tackle a very challenging route from West Shore to the former WW2 gun sites on the Great Orme and back.
The race proved to be a close-run event and Nicola ran with an unintentional pace-maker Cheryl Frost, who was recovering from a fall and simply took part as a non-counting athlete. 

*Nicola Wylie (*above left) with Cheryl Frost.

They maintained a steady pace throughout with Nicola eventually recording an excellent finishing time of 35 minutes 40 seconds, which included the handicap penalty. She later claimed 1st prize as the overall winner and the 1st female finisher.
Samantha Williams was the 2nd female finisher in 4th place overall with another good display in 37.03. The 1st male runner was Iwan Evans in 2nd place in 35.44, with Stuart Culverhouse 3rd overall and the 2nd male athlete home in 36.05.
It was good to see Steve Roberts back in action again following an injury and he gave Stuart a good chase finishing 5th in 37.09. 

*Steve Roberts (*above left) with Rob Fryer.

Veteran Rob Fryer also continued his fine form to claim 6th place in 37.32, with Kay Hatton just eight-seconds adrift of Rob as the 3rd female in 7th place in 37.40.
Endurance athlete John Dalzell enjoyed a good run out in 8th spot in 37.46 despite a heavy cold, with fellow long-distance rival Karl Morris claiming the next place in 37.58. Hannah Griffith made light work of the course and the conditions in 10th overall place in 38.08, and she was followed just four-seconds later by the returning Karen Butler in 38.12.

*Gwennan Charlton (*above left) with Len Jackson.

Master veteran Mike Hayton was on song again and enjoyed a steady pace outing in 12th place in 38.58, whilst Rachel Morris claimed a new course PB in 39.06, with veteran Len Jackson running home in 14th place in 39.07.
Susan Smith was pleased with her performance in this handicap race, especially after braving similar freezing and waterlogged conditions last week in the Run Wales Loyalty race, and recorded a good time of 39.15 in 15th place, with club newcomer Mark Mason next home in 39.27.
Helen Hannam returned to action with another positive run in 39.30, with Gwennan Charlton back home in 39.55. Vicky Taylor finished 19th in 40.51, and master veteran Don Hale unfortunately suffered another knee problem enroute and struggled home in 20th place overall in 44.14.

*Helen Hannam (*above left) with Mike Hayton.

*Plaudits were later given to the initial race organisers John Hatton and Carla Green, and the timekeepers, recorders, and officials on the day including Sean Butler, Mike Smith, Steve Poupart, and club chairman Kevin Slattery. 
Following the race prizes were handed to the winning male and female festive handicap race winners during a special Christmas buffet meal at the ROAB club in Llandudno which was well prepared by club colleague Kevin Higgins. 

*NWRRC members later gave generous donations to the local foodbank.

*Rachel Morris (*above left) with Don Hale and (*below) some of the female runners discuss race tactics at West Shore.

*Anglesey: Martin Green (*pictured below) from NWRRC ran extremely well to finish in 14th place overall with a good time of 28.28 despite competing on an icy course on the Trac Mon Racing Circuit on Anglesey last Sunday morning.

*Conwy: Conwy parkrun fell victim to the icy conditions last Saturday with the race director having no option but to cancel the event. Many similar parkruns at Penrhyn Castle and elsewhere were also cancelled, but next week’s runs on Christmas Eve, and the following week on New Year’s Eve should go ahead, as planned, weather permitting.

North Wales Cross Country championships at Wrexham.

Entries are now open for the North Wales Cross Country Championships which will be held at Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, Wrexham, on Saturday 7th January 2023.

The timetable of races is as follows: 11am - Under 11 Girls; 11-20am - Under 13 Girls/Under 11 Boys; 11-45am - Under 15 Girls/Under 13 Boys;12-15pm - Under 17 Women/Under 15 Boys; 1-00pm Under 20/Senior/Master Women/Under 17 Men/65+Men 2-00pm - Senior/Master Men.

*For the first time, entries are on-line and are available via the following link: https://www.entrycentral.com/North_Wales_CC_Champs

 

North Wales Indoor Championships at Deeside. 

Entries have just opened for the North Wales Indoor Regional Championships at Coleg Cambria, Connah’s Quay, Deeside, on Sunday 15th January 2023. 

The events include: U11’s – RJT Event Challenge (60m, Long Jump, Shot Put,) - £10 which covers all 3 events & athletes must compete in all 3 events. U13B & U13G = 60m, 60mH, High Jump, Long Jump, Shot Put. U15B & U15G = 60m, 60m Hurdles, High Jump, Long Jump, Triple jump, Shot Put.
U17 to Senior = 60m, 60m Hurdles, High Jump, Pole Vault, Triple Jump, Shot Put.
Masters included into Senior events. ENTRY FEE £5 per event

ENTRIES CLOSE: 30th December 2:59. This is the link for entries: -

https://wales.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2023/GBR/nwind/?fbclid=IwAR0FtmVCqAub4BqTybi0JEd5vuPAJucnYKT67kwJl9e8arBWXevXCj7axms