NW Road Runners claimed eleven prestigious medals at Rhyl 10-mile championships...plus other results...

*Some members of the NWRRC team (*above) at the 5 mile and 10 mile championship races at Abergele.

NW Road Runners claimed eleven prestigious medals at Rhyl 10-mile championships...plus other results...

Report by Don Hale. Photos by John Hatton.

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk

 

The Road Runners claimed eleven prestigious North Wales championship medals last Sunday morning at the Rhyl 10-mile race, including five gold, three silver, and three bronze.

In a late switch to a new venue at Abergele for the Rhyl race due to delayed renovation and flood protection workings further down the promenade, this race attracted an excellent entry of 271 club and social runners, who enjoyed a cold but sunny run along a flat and fast course.

This particular event also included an associated and inclusive 5-mile race, involving a further 183 finishers, which was run at the same time, with both races well organised by RunWales, and well supported by a generous number of volunteers and marshals.

The outstanding winner of the 10-mile race was Andrew Davies (Mercia Fell Runners), who set a new course record with a blistering performance to win his M40 age cat in a superb chip time of 50 minutes and 28 seconds. He was followed by Tony Jervis (Swindon) in 55.39, and he won his M45 cat, whilst Jonathan Kettle (NWRRC) ran home in 3rd place overall with another good display in 57.10, and he finished 2nd in the same age cat as Tony.

The 1st female finisher was Ruth Jones (Helpstow Harriers AC), 19th overall in 1.05.27, and she also won her W40 age cat. Tinka Vinks (Eryri Harriers) was in close pursuit, and she finished just eleven-seconds adrift in 20th place in 1.05.38, but she won her F21 cat, with Lynne Callaghan (Trentham RC), the 3rd female, 24th overall, in 1.07.05, and she too won her F45 cat.

The Road Runners had fifteen members in the Rhyl 10-mile race, and three other members in the Rhyl 5-mile race, with both events run together. 

*In the 5-mile event, Mal Preece was the first club runner home in 35.12, in 15th place and he won his age cat, and master veteran Don Hale recorded his best 5-mile time since 2019, and also claimed a new course record in 54th place in 41.50, finishing 3rd in his M70 age cat! And it was also good to see veteran Len Jackson back to race action again with a positive run in 84th place in 46.10, and he too finished 3rd in his M65 cat!


*Mal Preece (*above left), with Don Hale, and Len Jackson in the 5-mile race.

*In the 10-mile race Jonathan Kettle led the team home in 3rd place overall in 57.10, and 2nd in his M45 cat, with Steve Mason 11th, and the 3rd M45 in 1.03.25, with Iwan Evans 15th in 1.04.18. Stuart Culverhouse was 3rd in his M50 cat in 27th place in 1.08.29. 

Ben Hudson also ran well, and he was 36th in 1.11.36, followed by his wife Sarah Ferguson Hudson, (57th), who was also on fire again, as the 11th female finisher in 1.15.56, and 3rd in her F45 age cat, with a new course PB.


 

*Jonathan Kettle (*above left) with Iwan Evans, and Stuart Culverhouse, and (*below), Steve Mason (*below left), with Steve Roberts.


Steve Roberts continued his recent impressive form to finish 61st overall, and he was 3rd in 1.16.43, with veteran Cheryl Frost (71st), and the 15th female finisher in 1.18.20, and she also won her F55 age cat, with colleague Kay Hatton hot on her heels in 1.19.17, and she too won her F60 cat (75th).

*Gold medal winners Cheryl Frost (*above left) with Kay Hatton and (*above right) bronze medal winner Sarah Jones with Daniel Hennell.


It was also encouraging to see Nicola Wylie back in business after a short break last year to finish 2nd in her F55 cat (94th), and the 22nd female in 1.22.48. 

Meanwhile, Sarah Jones was pleased with another good display, and claimed a new PB finishing as the 25th female (101st), in 1.23.08, with Daniel Hennell 114th, with a similar new PB in 1.24.51.



*Ben Hudson (*above left), with his wife Sarah Ferguson Hudson.


Helen Hannam returned to form, and this time she was the 58th female (173rd), in 1.34.53. And her colleague, Nia Lister, also continues to improve as the 88th female (231st) in 1.46.36, whilst Rachel Morris added some more miles to her marathon build-up, finishing as the 111th female finisher (259th) in 2.00.10.


 
*Nicola Wylie (*above left), with Nia Lister and Helen Hannam.

*Many NWRRC members also won medals in the North Wales 10-mile championships: Gold: F45 Sarah Ferguson Hudson, F55 Cheryl Frost, F60 Kay Hatton, M45 Steve Mason, and M50 Stuart Culverhouse. Silver: F55 Nicola Wylie, F40 Rachel Morris, and M55 Steve Roberts. Bronze: M45 Iwan Evans, F21-34 Sarah Jones, and F35 Nia Lister.



*Two of the NWRRC prize winners from the Rhyl 10-mile race (*above left), with Jonathan Kettle and Rachel Morris.


After the 10-mile race, Sarah Ferguson Hudson said: An awesome morning running the Rhyl 10 miler 1:15:56. The 11th lady, 3rd in my age cat, a gold championship medal, and an official 10-mile PB.”

Helen Hannam added: A great morning running the Rhyl 10 after getting a last-minute place. Lovely out and back flat route, well marshalled and support. Happy with my pace. I feel I'm running quite strong at the moment.”

And marathon runner Rachel Morris added: “I’m happy considering I’ve had three races, all after each other. It was hard, but I enjoyed the route and the spectators, The marshals and the public were all encouraging, and I won a silver NW champs medal too! I enjoyed this race even though my legs felt very heavy, and my back ached.



*The start of the Rhyl 10-mile championship and 5-mile races (*above) on the promenade at Abergele.

*This is the link to the provisional results from the 5 & 10-mile races: -


Rhyl 5-mile race: https://www.runwales.com/files/user_uploaded/results/535/Rhyl%205%20Mile%20Overall%20Results%202024.pdf


Rhyl 10-mile race:

https://www.runwales.com/files/user_uploaded/results/535/Rhyl%2010%20Mile%20Overall%20Results%202024.pdf

 

Other results:

*Liverpool: Kevin Higgins (*pictured right), won his M60 age cat following a good performance in the 10k race at Croxteth Park, Liverpool, last Sunday. On a very muddy course, Kevin finished 65th overall from an entry of nearly 200 runners and he recorded a good time of 54.13.
*Clumber Park: Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts finished 3rd and won his respective age cat at the Clumber Park parkrun last Saturday with a great time of 18.39.

*Kelsterton: Will Williams and Jamie Tharme made their debuts in the latest Borders League race at Kelsterton last weekend, whilst competing for their second claim club Cybi Striders. Will ran the 7k course in 26.34, with Jamie finishing in 30.53.

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