PICTURE SPECIAL: Perfect weather for 400 plus runners as Conwy parkrun celebrated its 400th event.

*John Hatton and Conwy run director Gwyn Williams (back row, far left), with some of the many willing volunteers at the start and finish area.

Perfect weather for 400 plus runners as Conwy parkrun celebrated its 400th event.

Report by Don Hale.

PICTURE SPECIAL by Don Hale

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk

 

It was a perfect morning at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning with warm, bright sunshine, for over four-hundred athletes, walkers, and volunteers as they commemorated their 400th event.

Blessed with unusually good weather, very little wind, and with an atmospheric touch of mist in the distance surrounding the iconic Conwy Castle, people from all parts of the country boosted the number of local entrants to this regular run, with everyone determined to enjoy and celebrate this special occasion.

The event also helped to raise awareness of mental health issues and included a brief presentation by Conwy Mind at the start, who highlighted examples of their good work, and mentioned the many services available for people in need, backed by support from members of the Feel Mind Group.

This particular parkrun is noted for its spectacular scenery and follows an idyllic out and back 5k journey from the RSPB Nature Reserve towards the historic Castle, and then around the Cob, following the river trail close to Deganwy, before returning back to the start.

A few years ago, this event was praised for its unique venue and the friendliness of the volunteers, and it was even rewarded as being voted the ‘Runner-Up” as the World’s most popular parkrun, narrowly losing out on a public vote to another equally popular parkrun at Newborough Forest on Anglesey. 

John Hatton from North Wales Road Runners, who has both run and volunteered as an MC at Conwy since the start of these parkruns, worked hard to promote this occasion during several preceding days, and eventually he was also able to celebrate after achieving this memorable milestone.

Following the event, a delighted John confirmed: “I would just like to thank everyone who ran the 400th Conwy Parkrun this morning. With the 400th in mind, my objective was to get 400 participants, it was a fantastic morning, and we finally achieved a finishing total of 402. 

“It was a great atmosphere, the weather really was on good behaviour, however I did sweep the first stretch of puddles on Friday afternoon. Out of interest, the RSPB cafe manager came to see me, he thanked me for a record number of customers ever on a Saturday morning. Once again thank you for making this a very special Parkrun.”

*This is a link to the official results from Conwy parkrun’s 400th event: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/

*Results and report from the 400th Conwy parkrun: 

Don Hale Blog: Conwy parkrunners enjoyed a run in the sun at thei... https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2024/05/conwy-parkrunners-enjoyed-run-in-sun-at.html?spref=tw

*John Hatton is pictured (*above left), with fellow athlete and volunteer John D'Albuquerque, and (*right) time-keepers Kay Hatton and Cheryl Frost.

Special Praise from the Conwy run director Gwyn Williams.

 

Wel am fore, bendigedig! Another fabulous event on a perfect morning cerebrating our 400th! We managed to get 400 for the 400th!! Yay! Thank you so much for turning up and getting us over that line.

It was good to see so many of you turning up wearing blue for #mentalhealthawarnessweek and thank you to Conwy Mind for attending and giving a little talk at the start to help raise awareness of their services and the good work that they do.

It was also great to see the Feel Find Mind group in big attendance today and also a huge contingent of Porth Eirias runners appropriately all dressed in their blue colours.

A big shout out to the volunteers who did another fabulous and flawless job and to John Hatton for donating a lovely print of Conwy as a quiz-prize and also for donating spot prizes for a selection of finishers today.

A big welcome to the tourists today who I clean forgot to mention in the briefing, including the couple on a tour of parkruns all the way from Australia. Nice to see Spider-Man join us too (nice one Dave).

Here’s to the next 400. Diolch am ymuno a ni i ddathlu. Welwn ni chi gyd wythnos nesa gobeithio. See you all next time.

Gwyn Williams.

 

  

(*Above left) Spiderman (aka Dave Munday), Tristan Owen, and Josh Mottram, and (below), a series of photos from the start of the 400th Conwy parkrun.

* Double-take at Conwy, with two sets of identical twins including (*left) Linda Woodall and Hazel Barlow from Silverdale, with Amanda and Karen Durber, and their friend and popular parkrun volunteer and joint run director Bethan Wyn Roberts.

 

*Pictured above left - heading towards the finish line - Sandy Johnston and Steve Poupart, with Sandy's daughter Alice Johnston, and Dave Spofforth, and (*below) left, Stuart Culverhouse and Carla Green, with Joe Culverhouse.

*NWRRC vets on parade (*above) at the Conwy parkrun after they finished their run (l-r): Rob Fryer, John O'Shea, and Mark Mason, and (*below), runners relax in the sun and catch up with old friends.