Great Bank Holiday turn-out in the sun at Conwy parkrun.

*Mark Jessett (*above) was the first NWRRC member home.

Great Bank Holiday turn-out in the sun at Conwy parkrun.

Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery.

 

There was a large turn-out of mixed ability club and social runners at the Bank Holiday weekend parkrun at Conwy last Saturday with sixteen North Wales Road Runners returning from their recent marathon exploits to claim eight podium places including four age category wins.

Visiting athlete Aaron Hoyle (Corstorphine AC) was the first runner home on his debut in just 18 minutes and 7 seconds. And at the time of writing the 2nd placed runner’s identity remained unknown, but NWRRC member Mark Jessett claimed the 3rd spot in 18.30, and he also won his MV35 cat. There were 287 finishers.

The 1st female athlete was Gemma Moore, a former NWRRC member now with Eryri Harriers, who finished in 12th place overall in 20.17, but she had a real tussle with club colleague Anna Drinkwater, who was just one place and three seconds behind, whilst visitor Natasha Malin (Bromsgrove & Redditch) became the 3rd female finisher in 27th place overall in 21.35.

Mark Jessett led a determined club team around the hard, dry, sun-drenched 5k course, and he was followed by Steve Mason, who won his MV45 cat in 6th place in 19.30, with Stuart Culverhouse 16th and 2nd MV50 cat in 20.50.

*Steve Mason (*above left) with Stuart Culverhouse.

Mal Preece continued with his fine form to finish in 23rd place in 21.23, and endurance runner Karl Morris enjoyed another positive performance in 32nd place and 3rd MV40 cat in 22.10. Newcomer Sion Thomas gave Karl a chase though, finishing 36th in 22.22, and Josh Keogh just trotted around the course, and was one of many marathoners in recovery mode in 41st place in 22.44.

*Josh Keogh (*above left) with Nicola Wylie.

Club youngster Joe Culverhouse finished 44th and he also won his JM11-14 age cat in 23.07, with Nicola Wylie 60th, and the winner of her FW55 cat in 60th pace in 24.08. Gethin Wyn Jones was 71st in 24.55, with veteran Tony Gibson running well in 82nd place, and he was 2nd in his new MV65 age cat in 25.30.

*Gethin Wyn Jones (*above left) with Tony Gibson.

Master veteran Mike Hayton was another athlete in form, and he finished in 119th place and claimed the 2nd spot in his MV70 cat in 27.50, but John O’Shea gave Mike a race, and he was just three-seconds and two places behind him.

*Mike Hayton (*above left) with Gwennan Charlton.

Helen Hannam, Gwennan Charlton, and Rachel Morris all used the parkrun as a recovery from last week’s London Marathon, and although a bit leg weary, they still recorded some excellent times with Helen 144th in 29.06, Gwennan 201st in 32.34, and Rachel 228th in 34.42.

*Praise was given again to the Conwy run director, and to all the volunteers and marshals, who made the parkrun event such a success. *This is the link to the provisional results:

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

 

 *Pictured (left) Helen Hannam and Rachel Morris at Conwy parkrun in their London Marathon t-shirts.