Road Runners dug deep to win podium places at the tough Goldrush Trail races...plus other race results.

*The NWRRC team at the Goldrush trail races (above l-r): Tony Price Jones, Will Williams, Stuart Culverhouse, Jonathan Kettle, Steve Poupart, Adam Lemalle, Dave Jones, Philip Moss and Vicky Taylor.

Road Runners dug deep to win podium places at the tough Goldrush Trail races...plus other race results.

Report by Don Hale.

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk

 

Ten North Wales Road Runners (NWRRC) had to dig deep last weekend to complete the tough Goldrush 8.5-mile trail and/or the Goldrush Canicross race last Saturday afternoon at Coed y Brenin to win five prestigious podium placings!

This popular, and well organised event attracted a wealth of experienced competitors from far afield, with entries generally sold out many months in advance. 

Race officials claimed that it includes some of the best trails and singletrack that Coed y Brenin has to offer, and the event also incorporated one of the best Canicross (runners racing with their dog) races on the calendar. 

Canicross participants competed on the same route as the trail runners but started 30-minutes later. This year it attracted about 50 canine entrants, with another 150 plus, tackling the earlier main race.

Jonathan Kettle led the NWRRC team home in 6th place overall with another fine display in 1.03.36, and he was 2nd in his M40 cat. And, then Jack-of-all-trades - Will Williams – celebrated another great run in 1.08.07, winning his M50 age cat in 11th place. Stuart Culverhouse was also a happy man with his time of 1.13.34 in 23rd place and winning the 3rd spot in his M50 cat. ​

*Pictured above (l-r): Jonathan Kettle, Will Williams, and Tony Price-Jones.

Adam Lemalle was another athlete in top-form, and he finished 32nd in 1.17.21, with Steve Poupart 51st in 1.23.05. And club newcomer and veteran athlete Philip Moss celebrated an exceptional performance to win 2nd place in his M60 age cat after finishing 59th overall in 1.25.26.

Dave Jones managed to shake-of his injury woes to finish 66th in 1.27.35, with Tony Price Jones 71st in 1.28.29, whilst a determined Vicky Taylor recorded a highly creditable 132nd place in 1.54.34.

*Adam Lemalle (*above left), with Stuart Culverhouse, and Steve Poupart.

*Dave Jones (*above left), with Philip Moss, and Vicky Taylor.

Charlotte Rose Wilton Jones stole the show however with a great new PB following her Goldrush Canicross race running alongside her ever-so-cute dog Mollie, with the pair ran home in 12th place overall, and Charlotte was the 3rd female finisher, and she was 2nd in her FSen age cat in 1.17.00.

*Charlotte is pictured (*right), with her canine partner Mollie.

After the race Charlotte confirmed: “3rd place today, and massive congratulations to Mollie for completing the Goldrush 8.5 mile, Canicross Trail Race. She was amazing, and a new course PB for me, thanks to Mollie!” 

Other race reactions: Jonathan Kettle added: “Well done to everyone who ran at the Gold-Rush race. What a fantastic turnout in a trail race by the club, and I think I speak for everyone by saying it was very tough but so much fun. And a massive well done for finishing 3rd lady in the Canicross race.

Dave Jones said: “It was a very tough trail race today in 1.27.29 for 66th place. Happy with that coming back from resting a foot injury for 3 weeks.”

And Will Williams, who ran on Friday night at the Mid Cheshire elite 5k, in addition to the Goldrush Trail Race explained: “What a weekend of racing and contrasts. On Friday evening, I competed at my favourite 5k road race, the Mid-Cheshire 5k. Hugely disappointed though, with how I ran and the time. I didn’t take much away except negative thoughts, but reminded myself where I was 4 years ago, and it’s just a matter of time, and I will be back hitting the times I want again!

“Roll on 24hrs, and the Gold Rush Trail Race at Coed y Brenin. 8m plus, and a change of trail with 1,394ft of elevation. No goals, no pace, no time target, no need to look at the watch, so just run hard to enjoy and run free with no expectation. Absolutely loved it, and the best I’ve ran this year, 11th overall, and 1st in age cat. Will definitely be running a lot more trail races this year.”

*The Goldrush race was won by Harry Woodford in 1.00.28, with former NWRRC member Josh Keogh 2nd in 1.01.57, with Evan Davies 3rd in 1.02.37. The 1st female finisher was Annie Conway in 1.11.02, with Elly Blackwell (Meirionnydd RC), 2nd in 1.16.49, and Amanda Bailey (Wrexham AAC), 3rd in 1.17.27.

*This is the link to the provisional Goldrush race results: https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-embed.php?event=4003#0_A8C302

Other race results: 

*Cheshire: Will Williams competed in the Friday night in the elite Mid Cheshire 5k race and recorded a superb time of just 17.57. 

*Bala: Mal Preece made his course debut in the Pont y Bala parkrun on Saturday and enjoyed a great run finishing 2nd overall, and he also won his M60-64 age cat with a fast time of 20.36.