Busy parkrun at Conwy as visiting entrants negotiated the puddles...plus other race results at Tooting and Hyde Park.

*Martin Green (*in yellow vest) leads out the runners at Conwy parkrun.

Busy parkrun at Conwy as visiting entrants negotiated the puddles...plus other race results at Tooting and Hyde Park.

Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk

 

It proved to be another busy half-term parkrun at Conwy again last Saturday despite many athletes taking part in the Eryri Marathon and other competing fixtures, but the Road Runners managed to turn out ten members and collected three 1st place age category wins, four 2nd places, and one third.

Some 239 runners enjoyed the challenge of negotiating this problematic 5k puddle-filled course, which attracted mixed ability entrants from across the UK. 

One such athlete was Seth Kirby (Steel City Striders RC), who was the first runner back on his course debut in 17 minutes and 48 seconds to additionally win his SM30 cat. Dave Hughes claimed the 2nd spot and won his VM35 cat with a PB in 17.59, and NWRRC runner Martin Green finished 3rd overall on his return from holiday with a steady run in 18.01, and he also won his VM45 age cat.

 

*Alice Johnston (*above left) was the 1st female finisher, and her father Sandy Johnston, won his VM70 age cat with a tremendous performance to complete a unique family double.

The talented Alice Johnston (Les Croupiers) put in a determined performance as the 1st female runner, in 13th place overall, and in 19.34, and she won her SW30 age cat. Alice’s father Sandy Johnston (Les Croupiers), then made it a unique family double by winning his VW70 age cat after recovering from injury. Sandy was soon back to top form in 52nd place with a remarkable time of 23.24.

The 2nd placed female runner was former NWRRC member Gemma Moore (Eryri Harriers) in 17th place overall in 20.10, with Tracey Holdcroft 3rd, and in 29th place overall, with a new PB in 21.51.

Martin Green led the NWRRC team home in 3rd place overall, with Will Williams celebrating his recent Welsh national XC selection with a solid run finishing 6th in 18.48, and he also won his VM50 age cat. In addition, Will Evans finished 18th overall with a new PB in 20.12, and he was 2nd in his VM40 cat.

 

*Martin Green (*above left) with Will Williams and Will Evans.

Dave Jones ran well in 39th place in 22.40, and Carla Green returned to Conwy after a holiday break to finish as the 5th female runner, in 44th place overall, in 22.52, and she was 2nd in her VW50 age cat. And Daniel Hennell continued his fine form in 54th place with a new PB, and he was 3rd in his VM45 cat in 23.34.

 

*Carla Green (*above left) with veteran Rob Fryer, and master vet Don Hale.

Meanwhile, Veteran Rob Fryer bounced back again this week with a determined sprint finish to win his VM65 age cat in 91st place in 25.54, and he was just 3-seconds ahead of his master vet rival Don Hale, who finished 93rd in 25.57, but he was 2nd in his VM70 age cat to Sandy Johnston, despite running his best parkrun time this year.

Ceri Jones finished in 135th place in 28.08, and veteran John O’Shea claimed the runner-up spot in his VM65 age cat in 142nd place in 28.29. 

*Praise was later given to keen parkrunners Ian Taylor and Josh Mottram who tested the course on their bikes prior to the start of the event, and later took part in the parkrun, with Josh finishing well in 23.15, and Ian in 23.38.

 

*John O'Shea (*above left) with Daniel Hennell, and Dave Jones.

Cakes and milestones by Feel Find Mind.

*Conwy run director Gwyn Williams later confirmed: “Well that was quite an eventful parkrun. We welcomed runners from Feel Find Mind who set up a cake stall to celebrate Emma hitting her 100th milestone and 5th year post treatment, and Paul, David, Ben, and Nicki hitting their 50th milestones. Well done to the five of you, and well done to all of your group for coming along and celebrating in style…oh and helping to spread the word of how important it is to check yourself out.”

*Team members and supporters are pictured (*above) with their cake and goodies stall at Conwy parkrun.

*Other race results:

Tooting: Helen Hannam travelled to London last weekend and made her debut in the Tooting Common parkrun, where she finished 4th in her VW45 age cat in 340th place in 28.02, amidst a massive entry of some 680 runners, After the run, she said: “A flat and fast course, and very welcoming with fab marshals. A very popular parkrun and I’m absolutely ecstatic with my time after recovering from illness, so looks like I’m back!”

*Helen Hannam (*above) at the Tooting Common parkrun.

*Hyde Park: Richard Scamans was another visitor to the Capital, where he entered the Hyde Park parkrun on his debut, and finished 20th overall in 24.08, and he was 4th in his VM50 age cat.

*Richard Scamans (*above) enjoyed his run at the Hyde Park parkrun.

*Special praise was given to the Conwy run director and the hard working team of volunteers and marshals. This is the link to the provisional results from Conwy: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/