North Wales Road Runners celebrated a podium place and the odd PB at a very hilly Snowdonia half-marathon...plus other race results.

*Some members of NWRRC at the Snowdonia half-marathon, (l-r) Stuart Culverhouse, Kelly Alford, Sion Thomas, David Jones and Steve Roberts.

North Wales Road Runners celebrated a podium place and the odd PB at a very hilly Snowdonia half-marathon...and a great family success!

Report by Don Hale. Some photos by Lesley Goodson.

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com    www.welshmasters.co.uk

 

The Road Runners entered seven athletes in the gruelling Snowdonia half-marathon race on Sunday, which brought mixed emotions, an age category podium place, and even the odd PB, on a very hilly but picturesque course.

This popular event again attracted a host of quality endurance and top road runners from across the UK, who opted to take on this extraordinary challenge, which recorded 659 finishers. 

Well organised by RunWales, the race was eventually won by local athlete Steffan Sayer (Menai Track & Field) in 1 hour 23 minutes and 26 seconds, and he finished nearly four minutes ahead of his rival Nic Brook (Eryri Harriers) in 1.27.14, and Daniel Mitchinson (Leigh Harriers) in 1.28.21.

The Ladies race was won by Rosanna Andrews (Rugby & Northampton) in 1.34.18, with local athletes Rachel Shipley (Abergele) 2nd in 1.36.16, and Gemma Moore (EryrI Harriers) 3rd in 1.36.29.

  

*Nic Brook (Eryri Harriers) pictured above left, with Gemma Moore.

The race also celebrated a unique family double with Nic Brook 2nd overall, and his partner Gemma Moore, the 3rd female finisher, with both also winning their respective age categories.

Stuart Culverhouse was the first NWRRC member home in 44th place overall, and he recorded a new chip time PB of 1 hour 42 minutes and 50 seconds. After the race he confirmed: “I am happy with a new course PB of about 90 seconds quicker than in 2021.”

 

*Stuart Culverhouse (*above left) with Steve Roberts and Jamie Tharme.

Jamie Tharme had a good run in 1.54.29 in 142nd place, and later confirmed: “It was super-hard but a beautiful course.” Steve Roberts was also back in form, and he finished in 190th place, and he too was pleased with his time of 2.01.21 and finished 3rd in his MV55-59 age cat.

Club newcomers Sion Thomas and David Jones performed well on their race debuts with David finishing in 219th place in 2.04.26, and Sion running home in 257th place in 2.07.57.

*Kelly Alford (*left) with Hannah Griffith and her sister Siwan Kalatzi.

Kelly Alford ran around with Hannah Griffith, and her sister Siwan Kalatzi. They all finished together with Kelly 508th in 2.31.58, and Hannah just one place and two seconds behind her, along with her sister.

Hannah later added: “Wow! That was tough. Hills, hills, and more hills. Great company and chat with Siwan and Kelly to pass away the miles.”

Other race results:

*Caerphilly: Steve Gardner ran in the Welsh 10k championships in Caerphilly on Sunday and finished 121st out of 1,400 runners in a great time of 40.43. Afterwards he said: “It was an undulating course, but I was pleased with my performance.”

*Penrhyn: Road Runner Martin Green finished 6th at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun on Saturday with a new course PB of 17.11 and he also won his MV45 age cat.

*Prestatyn: Richard Scamans won his MV50 age cat at the Nova Prestatyn parkrun on Saturday finishing 19th overall in a fast time of 23.05.