Wild, wet, and windy at Conwy parkrun, and tribute to former athlete...

By Don Hale


 *Jonathan Kettle (*above) was the first runner home at Conwy

Wild, wet, and windy at Conwy parkrun, and tribute to former athlete...

Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk

 

Ten North Wales Road Runners entered this week’s wild, wet, and windy Conwy parkrun, which included 146 club and social runners who negotiated the usual rather soggy, and waterlogged riverside course, and they all paid tribute to a former athlete.

Jonathan Kettle was the first runner home overall in a fast time of 17 minutes and 50 seconds to win his VM45 age cat, and he led back a talented team that collected five first-placed age category victories, in addition to one second and one third placing.

Will Williams finished 5th overall and he also won his VW50 cat in 19.08, with Stuart Culverhouse 12th, and 3rd in his VM50 cat in 20.45. Jamie Tharme was on form again and he finished 19th in 22.08, and 2nd in his VM45 cat.



*Will Williams (*above left) with Stuart Culverhouse and Jamie Tharme.


Carla Green also continued her rapid progress and won her VW50 age cat in 24th place overall, and she was the 3rd female finisher in 22.39. Karl Morris was pleased with 51st place in 24.37, and he won his VM40 cat. And Tony Gibson made a welcome return to parkrun with a solid performance in 67th place in 26.24, whilst Gwennan Charlton finished 95th in 29.18.



*Tony Gibson (*above left), with Mike Hayton and Karl Morris.


Meanwhile, master veteran Mike Hayton won his MV70 age cat with another good run finishing 95th in 30.40, with Rachel Morris 120th in 34.27.



*Gwennan Charlton (*above left) with Rachel Morris.


*Jonathan Kettle (NWRRC) finished 1st in 17.50, with SM30 debutants Harty Woodford and Ben Grayson (Eden Runners), claiming the 2nd and 3rd male places in 17.55 and 18.24, respectfully. And Harty certainly gave Jonathan a scare with a determined challenge and finished just 3-seconds adrift.

Anna Drinkwater (Eryri Harriers) was the 1st female finisher in 20.00, with Naomi Wilson 2nd on her debut in 22.09, whilst Carla Green (NWRRC) was 3rd in 22.39.

 

*Praise was given to the Conwy run director Gwyn Williams and to all the volunteers and marshals on such an awful morning, and Gwyn also paid tribute and helped to celebrate the life of parkrunner Andy MacDonald, who sadly passed away this week. He told fellow runners: “Andy was taken far too soon, but he crammed so much joy, fun, laughter, and love into his life. 

“I’ve had a few people who knew him come up to me to commiserate today, and they all mentioned what a lovely guy he was, genuine, warm, and always good company. Rock on Andy lad, you will be missed.”

 

*This is the link to the provisional Conwy parkrun results:

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

Don Hale is a former award winning investigative journalist and now a best-selling author who has created a very popular blog post linked to numerous social media sites. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025.

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