Wild, wet, and windy at a waterlogged Conwy parkrun - plus other results

*Pictured above - Road Runner (*centre), Dave Jones with the leading pack at the very wet start of the Conwy parkrun.

Wild, wet, and windy at a waterlogged Conwy parkrun.

Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. 

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk

 

It was wild, wet, and windy for nearly two-hundred entrants at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday as they braved hailstones and driving rain at the start, and then faced a challenging waterlogged course full of puddles.

This seemed in stark contrast to the previous week when unusually barmy temperatures led to a very dry, bumpy, yet enjoyable route for a variety of mixed ability runners. 

And an extra special mention should go to all the volunteers (*some pictured below) who turned out on such a horrible day, plus our regular photographer Steve Jeffery.

The first two finishers this week included travelling club runners, with Steven Sims (East Cornwall Harriers) taking the plaudits, and dominating the event, as the first man home on his Conwy debut in just 17 minutes and 13 seconds, to additionally win his SM25 age cat. He was followed more than a minute later by Jamie Shingler (Ludlow Runners), who was another debutant in 18,18, with Stephen Eardley (Colwyn Bay), finishing 3rd overall in 19.35.

Alex Aldous was the 1st female finisher, 17th overall, in 22.16, and she won her SW25 age cat in 22.16, with Laura McKenzie (Betsi Runaways) 2nd, and 25th overall in 22.56, to also win her VW40 cat, and Olivia Williams made her course debut in 34th place overall, and she was the 3rd female finisher in 23.53, and 2nd in her SW25 cat.

*Road Runners Carol Moss and Dave Jones with (*centre) John Jones (*Eryri Harriers) who made a rare appearance at Conwy parkrun.

North Wales Road Runners had depleted ranks this time due to the start of the cross-country season and other competing fixtures, with just eight members tackling the unpredictable elements. Dave Jones was the 1st club finisher in 23rd place overall with a fine run despite the soggy conditions underfoot in 22.46, and he was followed by young Joe Culverhouse and his father Stuart, who both ran together, with Joe winning his JM11-14 age cat in 40th place in 24.11, with Stuart one place and one-second behind.

*Pictured above - (*left), father and son, Stuart and Joe Culverhouse, with veteran athletes, Don Hale and Rob Fryer.

Master veteran Don Hale continued his recovery from injury with his best time of the year finishing in 65th place on his 180th parkrun in 26.12, and he also won his MV70 age cat. Veteran athlete Carol Moss continued to impress with another good run in 73rd place in 27.10, and she was 2nd in her VW55 cat. 

And it was good to see veteran Rob Fryer back to form again this week with a positive performance in 83rd place in 27.49, and he was 3rd in his MV65 cat, with fellow vet John O’Shea 87th in 28.16, whilst master vet Mike Hayton made a welcome return to parkrun, and he finished 91st in 28.30, and he claimed the 2nd spot in his MV70 cat. 

*NWRRC veteran Mike Hayton (*above far right), brought some of his friends from the cast of the Welsh National Opera, who were performing at Venue Cymru, to Conwy parkrun for their annual visit.

*Praise was given to the Conwy run director and to all the Marshalls and volunteers. This is the link to the provisional results: 

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

 

Other race results: 

*Pont Y Bala: Steve Bozier returned to action after injury, and finished 6th at the Pont Y Bala parkrun last week. He also won his MV45 age cat in 19.17, dipping under 20-minutes for the first time this year. Steve later commented: “Made up with that today at the Bala Park run. Time 19.17 and I finished 6th and 1st age cat winner, and my first sub 20 in over a year.”

*Cheltenham: NWRRC veteran Tony Gibson came 3rd in his MV65 age cat at the Winchcombe parkrun near Cheltenham last Saturday, finishing 178th out of 536 entrants, with a good time of 25.30. After the parkrun, Tony Gibson said: “Finished 3rd in my age at, so chuffed. All on grass, so hard work after torrential rain, but glad the sun came out. All the volunteers had tambourines or gongs, and it was a brilliant atmosphere.”

 

*Pictured above (*left) Steve Bozier, with Tony Gibson, who both ran well whilst on tour at different parkruns last weekend.