Welsh cakes and fast times at the Village Bakery half-marathon - plus other race results.

*Some of the NWRRC team at Wrexham (l-r): Cheryl Frost, Kay Hatton, Kevin Slattery, and Gwennan Charlton, with Richard Scamans at the back.

Welsh cakes and fast times at the Village Bakery half-marathon...plus other results.

Report by Don Hale.

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk

 

The well organised and very popular Village Bakery half-marathon race attracted a massive entry of over 1,700 runners, at Wrexham last Sunday morning, and included numerous elite and club athletes, in addition to a plentiful amount of fun and social runners.

On a fast, and relatively flat course, many runners were able to celebrate personal best (PB) times and raised funds for local and national charities.

North Wales Road Runners entered fifteen members and collected three prestigious age category awards. The first club man home again was Jonathan Kettle in 75th place with a new course PB in 1.15.52, followed by Iwan Evans (281) in 1.24.44, and Ben Hudson (545) in 1.35.57.

*Some great running at the Village Bakery half-marathon (*above left) Jonathan Kettle, Kelly Marie Alford, and Iwan Evans.

And it was good to see club chairman Kevin Slattery back in action again and running a half marathon for the first time in many years, and he was pleased to finish 3rd in his M65 age cat with a great time of 1.35.55 (547). 

Sarah Hudson also enjoyed another strong performance (677) in 1.40.24, whilst Cheryl Frost was back to her best finishing (744), with a new PB in 1.44.12 and she was 3rd in her W55 cat. Kay Hatton meanwhile gave Cheryl a hard chase, but eventually had to settle for (762nd) place in 1.44.55, but she was delighted to finish 2nd in her W60 age cat.

*Pictured above (*left), Nia Lister, Rachel Morris, and Helen Hannam.

Kelly Alford narrowly, yet deservedly snatched a new course PB with a determined run (894), with a good time of 1.49.32, and Richard Scamans knocked about seven-minutes off his previous best time (939) in 1.53.10. 

Cai Roberts enjoyed a steady race (1033) in 1.56.04, and he was followed by a talented group of ladies. They included Helen Hannam, (1184), who ran home in 2.05.25, to claim a new course PB, with Nia Lister (1275), knocking over a minute from her previous time in 2.13.56. In addition, Vicky Taylor ran well (1296), in 2.18.05, with Gwennan Charlton (1316), 2.21.48, and Rachel Morris (1372), in 2.36.51.

*The race winner was Andrew Heyes (Hallamshire Harriers) in 1.05.39, with John Gilbert (Kent AC), 2nd in 1.06.46, and Simon Crawford (Long Eaton RC), 3rd in 1.07.26. *Sally O’Gorman (Stockport Harriers) was the 1st female finisher in 1.13.43, with Rachel Hodgkinson (Liverpool Harriers) the runner-up during a close finish in 1.15.07, just ahead of 3rd placed Mollie Williams (Stockport Harriers) in 1.15.18.

*Wrexham runners pictured above with their medals after the race, (l-r): Vicky Taylor, Kelly Alford, Mandy Owen, Cai Roberts and Josie Davies.

After the race, Jonathan Kettle from NWRRC, said: “This was my 3rd fastest time in a half marathon and a course PB by 28-seconds. My tank was absolutely empty though at 11-miles but still giving my 100% as always, but knowing that day’s goal had gone, then you catch an incredible runner, who I look up so much, but unfortunately he’s injured, so just staying safe and jogging the last few miles, but asked me what time I wanted, and he paced me all the way home to achieve the exact time I achieved today. This is a sport of inspiring, and such supportive and helpful people. Thank you, Luke NorthalI! I wish you a super speedy recovery.”

 

*Luke Northall (*above left) with Jonathan Kettle at Wrexham, and (right, Welsh cakes all round for Mandy Owen, Josie Davies and Kelly Marie Alford.

Sarah Ferguson Hudson added: “Great morning today but it all went a wee bit wrong at 10-miles where my legs had rather different ideas to the plan I had in my head. Super chuffed with 1:40:24 though all part of the training and on it goes…” Cheryl Frost also admitted to problems in the latter stages of the race, saying: “Very hard going between mile 10 and 11, but I got through it.”

And Rachel Morris confirmed: “Job done. That was hard, my legs were like lead and my back was so-so-sore but it’s another race under my belt, plus you get crumpets and Welsh cakes when you finish.” Whilst Helen Hannam stated: “Safe to say I smashed it! Steady paced throughout, nice, and flat, and a lovely medal and Welsh cakes. Thank you to the organisers and great marshals and for everyone's support.”

*This is the link to the provisional results from the Village Bakery half-marathon: https://runcheshire.niftyentries.com/Results/Village-Bakery-Wrexham-Half-Marathon-2024

 

Other race results:

*Ruthin 5k: Karen Butler and Kevin Higgins took part in the Ruthin 5k race last Sunday, and both celebrated with podium places. Karen finished 2nd in her W60 cat, 12th overall in 25.49, and Kevin was 3rd in his M60 age cat, and he was 14th in 26.49.

*Ruthin 10k: Veterans Rob Fryer and Mike Hayton ran in the Ruthin 10k race, and once again they both collected age cat awards and enjoyed podium places. Rob was 53rd in 54.11, and he was 2nd in his M65 cat, whilst Mike also ran well, and he also claimed the 2nd spot in his M70 age cat, finishing 80th overall in 62.49.

*Prestatyn: Sion Thomas ran well at the Nova Prestatyn parkrun last Saturday and he finished 2nd in his VM40 age cat with a very good time of 21.19.