Road Running trio performed well for Wales at Chester half-marathon...plus other race results

*The NWRRC trio who ran well for Wales against England at the Chester half-marathon (*above l-r) Kay Hatton, Martin Green and Richard Eccles, and (*below), the Wales team at the start of the race.

Road Running trio performed well for Wales at Chester half-marathon...plus other race results...

Report by Don Hale.

 

North Wales Road Runners had three athletes selected to represent Wales in the international fixture against England within the Essar Chester half-marathon race last Sunday and they had a further twelve club members in the general race.

It was a fast and furious event which also attracted over four-thousand mixed ability and top club runners, who competed on a challenging course around the city centre and the outskirts.

The race was eventually won by Andrew Heyes (Hallamshire Harriers) with a chip time of 1.05.51, with Scott Overall (Blackheath & Bromley) 2nd in 1.06.27, and Ed Shepherd (Woodford Green) 3rd in 1.06.58.

Martin Green, Richard Eccles, and Kay Hatton were the NWRRC members selected for Wales, and they did not disappoint, with Martin leading the club team home with another superb run in 48th place overall in 1.17.55. He was followed by Richard Eccles who was 149th in 1.25.40, and Kay Hatton, who also ran extremely well to finish in 807th place overall, the 151st female, and the 7th FV60 athlete in 1.45.35. A delighted Richard said afterwards: “Chester half, not quite a PB, but it went well for the second vest!”

The Wales team manager Bernie Jones later praised the entire squad and said: “A great morning for Wales at the Chester Half Marathon winning two individual titles and a number of medalists’ in the Masters’ Half Marathon International between England and Wales. Well done to all Wales athletes but especially David James and Lee Aherne.”

*Some of the NWRRC team pictured above at Chester (*l-r) Stuart Culverhouse, Steve Poupart, Gwennan Charlton and Rachel Morris.

The other club results included: Stuart Culverhouse 293rd in 1.31.37, with Steve Poupart 790th in 1.44.18, and Steve Roberts 827th in 1.44.25. Veteran Cheryl Frost ran well in 865th place in 1.46.46, and Kelly Alford recorded a great new course PB, finishing six minutes better than last time in 1,238th place in 1.51.35. She later confirmed: “Chester half marathon done in 1.51! A six-minute course pb for me! What a warm and hilly one that was!”

 

* Nicola Wylie (*above left) and Jon Evans, and Cheryl Frost.

Nicola Wylie, who has only just recovered from a period of ill health, bounced back to finish in 1,227th place in 1.53.14, and Jon Evans ran the two-hour flag again, finishing in 1,732nd place in 1.59.42, whilst Kevin Higgins was 1,780th in 2.00.58.

Cai Roberts was 1,843rd in 2.01.40, with Master veteran Mark Mason 2,125th in 2.07.02, and Gwennan Charlton finished in 2,912th place in 2.25.07, with Rachel Morris 3,148th in 2.35.41.

*Kevin Higgins (*above left) with Mark Mason.

Rachel later confirmed: “A great morning for a run. Still getting over the marathon legs. That was a hard slog. Once again, fabulous marshalls on route, and a goody bag full of chocs and sweets.” 

*Llandudno: NWRRC held their special 40th Anniversary gathering at The Neville on Vaughan Street, Llandudno, last Sunday afternoon attended by numerous members past and present. The event included a buffet and drinks in their outdoor garden.

 

*This is the link to the provisional results from the Chester half-marathon:

https://ale.niftyentries.com/Results/2023-Essar-Chester-Half-Marathon

 

Other race results:

*Pont y Bala: Mark Jessett (*pictured below) was the 1st finisher at the Pont y Bala parkrun last Saturday and he won his MV age cat in 17.05.

*Berkeley Green Park: Sarah Hudson (*pictured below) was the 1st female runner at the Berkeley Green Park parkrun last weekend after finishing 12th, overall, and she also won her VW40 age cat in a fast time of 22.14.

*Prestatyn: David Jones and Gethin Wyn Jones (*pictured below) took part in the Nova Prestatyn parkrun with Dave finishing 13th overall, and he also won his MV50 age cat in 22.22, whilst Gethin Wyn Jones ran home in 23.47 in 26th place.