Bumper entry for Nick Beer 10k race.

*Pictured above - runners from the Back Cloak runners, Dalzell runners, and a variety of other local running clubs at the start of the Nick Beer 10k race on Llandudno promenade.

Bumper entry for Nick Beer 10k race, and a fast pace by the lead runners...

Report by Don Hale.

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

www.welshmastersathetics.co.uk

 

North Wales Road Runners had eight club members involved in the popular Nick Beer 10k race last Sunday and celebrated with two veteran age category victories amongst a bumper entry of 627 club and social runners.

The event, named in honour of a former NWRRC athlete, was well organised by Always Aim High, and followed a picturesque but very challenging course, which started from Llandudno promenade and around the Great Orme and back, and included over forty club members acting as marshalls and willing volunteers.

*Harry Driscoll (*above left) with Steve Gardner.

Harry Driscoll was the first club runner home with an excellent run finishing in 26th place in 39 minutes and 38 seconds. He was followed by veteran Steve Gardner who won his Over-60 age cat in 50th place in a chip time of 41.33, and Steve Roberts was back to his best in 132nd place in 48.18 and 5th in his Over-55 cat, whilst master vet Barrie Wells ran well to win his Over-70 age cat in 229th place in 52.16.

Newcomer Phillip Moss was 261st in 53.20, whilst Sarah Jones and Daniel Hennell ran together and both enjoyed good performances with Sarah 286th in 54.01, and Daniel was just one place and one second behind, and Rachel Morris was pleased with her performance, which she used as part of her marathon training plan and finished well in 560th place in 1.12.09.

*Sarah Jones (*above) with Daniel Hennel as they head towards the finish.

After the race Steve Roberts said: “When I first ran this 10km race 40-years ago, it was called the Speakeasy 10km,and is now known as the Nick Beer 10k. I first ran it in 1984 in 41.10, and today, I ran it in 48.18, so not too bad for someone nearly 60-years young Lol.”

*Pictured above - Steve Roberts and his race certificate from1984, and (*right) Rachel Morris at the Nick Beer 10k race.

And Rachel Morris added: “I may run the Great Orme every week, but that was tough today with the wind pushing against me on the way up, but I enjoyed it. The Marshalls were fantastic, and a great race supported by my own running club." 

*The first three finishers at the Nick Beer race (l-r): Themis Bower, Simon Cole and James Yarwood, snd (*right) Steve Gardner on the podium as the O-60 cat winner.

*The 10k race was won by Simon Cole (GOG Triathlon) in a fast time of 33.55, and he also won his Over-40 age cat. He was one of four outstanding club athletes who pushed the pace all the way around with just twenty-one seconds separating the next three runners. 

James Yarwood (Wrexham AAC), eventually held onto the runners-up spot, finishing 2nd overall, and winning his Open-Senior cat in 35.16. And Themis Bower (Pontypridd Roadents AC), was only eight-seconds behind James in 35.24, and he finished 2nd in the same age cat, whilst Lloyd Williams (Cybi Striders), came 4th in 35.37, and narrowly missed out a prestigious podium place by a further nine-seconds!

Emma Alofs (Cybi Striders) was the first female finisher in 41.15, and she won her F-Sen age cat, with Anna Mathew 2nd in 42.29, and Emily Pegg (Rossendale Harriers), 3rd in 45.17. The latter two runners were also 2nd and 3rd in the same age cat as Emma.

*Some other notable local results included: Nic Brook (Eryri Harriers), 7th and 1st O-50 cat winner in 36.58, and Liz Evans (GOG Triathlon) 354th, and 1st O-70 cat winner in 54.07.

*Nic Brook (Eryri Harriers), with Liz Evans (GOG Triathlon).

 

*This is the provisional results list from the Nick Beer 1Ok. https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-embed.php?event=3990#0_3EF1B7