Report on the Welsh Masters half-marathon International v England at the Great Manchester race.

*Bernie Jones (*second row, far left, with a cap), and many members of the successful Welsh Masters team at the Great Manchester international half-marathon race.

Masters Half Marathon International England v Wales

Great Manchester Half Marathon Sunday 26th May 2024.

 

Report and photos courtesy of the Welsh Masters team manager Bernie Jones.

The second of this year’s Masters Road Internationals was held within the Great Manchester Run Half Marathon and a small team (once again compared to England’s huge team) turned up in Manchester City Centre and achieved the best results we have so far in any of the Master internationals that we have held in the past three years. 

This time the Team competition was in 10 year age groups with Wales having teams of 6 from ages 35 through to 65+. Whilst Wales were never going to trouble England in the overall Team result, we did manage to get amongst the individual medals with some great runs.
 
Tom Roberts, Meirionnydd was again first home for Wales finishing second overall in the masters international race and second in his M35 category, the same position he finished in Birmingham. Tom ran a great race and finished in an excellent 68-42. Donna Morris, Builth was first woman home for Wales and her 80-42 was good enough for third overall in the masters international and first in her W40 category.
 
In addition to Donna there were two other winners on the day for Wales. Bob Foreman, Matlock AC, making his Welsh debut, won the M65 category by just 4 seconds in a time 0f 86-21 whilst David Gibson, Tri Hard Harriers won the M70 category emphatically by over 6 minutes in 87-47. Tracy Jenkins, Porthcawl, also won her W55 category by just 4 seconds and was delighted with her performance. 
 
Lee Aherne, Parc Bryn Bach, was not disappointed to finish second to Simon Mugglestone of England in the M55 category, as Simon was a European Junior 5,000M champion in his younger day. Lee ran the half marathon in 75-17. Ifan Lloyd, Swansea, also finished second in the M60 category in just under 80 minutes. Ifan is training for the Comrades marathon so was happy with his performance.
 
Equally delighted with her performance was Claire Patterson, Parc Bryn Bachwho as well as picking up the third place trophy secured a new pb of 84-22.

*See also: Don Hale Blog: Martin and Carla Green hit top form for the Welsh ... https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2024/05/martin-and-carla-green-hit-top-form-for.html?spref=tw
 
**Full details of the all of the Master International results are shown below:

 

M35-39			W35-39
Tom Roberts, Meirionnydd	2nd        68:25		Elliw Haf,  Eryri RC	11th    88:06
M40-44			W40-44
Matt Edmonds, Newport	7th      72:57		Donna Morris, Builth	1st       80:42
Sion Lewis, London Heathside	10th   74:20		Cheryl Lee, Pontyclun RR	10th    88:51
M45-49			W45-49
Martin Green, NWRRC	4th     75:51		Claire Patterson, Parc Bryn Bach	3rd      84:22
Jon Belcher, Lliswery R	6th         77:10		Katie Adams, Spirit of Monmouth	11th    89:34
David Craig, Les croupiers	9th     78:16		Wendy Price, Amman Valley	14th    93:41
Matt Jacklin, Aberdare	12th   79:29		Rachel Bowen, Lliswery R	15th    95:10
M50-54			W50-54
			Carla Green, NWRRC	6th      90:07
M55-59			W55-59
Lee Aherne, Parc Bryn Bach	2nd     75:17		Tracy Jenkins, Porthcawl	1st       86:11
Jeremy Mower, Western Tempo	7th      80:43		Joanne Hudson, Caerphilly	6th      97:05
Michael Jones, Overton Harriers	13th    83:03		Lynwen Huxtable, Aberystwyth AC	8th      98:28
Jon Carter, Chepstow Harrriers	14th    83:17		Jane Roscoe, Chepstow Harriers	14th   101:30
M60-64			W60-64
Ifan Lloyd, Swansea Harriers	2nd      79:52		Judi Rhys, Les Croupiers RC	7th     111:56
M65-69			W65+
Bob Foreman, Matlock AC	1st     86:21		Christine Wyn Jones, Deeside AC	5th     110:40
Arwel Lewis, Eryri Harriers	7th     95:44
John Jones, Eryri Harriers	8th     96:58
M70+
David Gibson, Tri Hard Harriers	1st      87:47
John Davies, Penarth	7th 111:16

 

There are two Masters Road Internationals left for the year, the 5km, which takes place on Friday 23rd August within the Mid Cheshire 5km race, and the marathon which will be incorporated within the Chester marathon on 3rd October 2024. 

*Expressions of interest are still being taken for the 5km and marathon internationals which will take place later in the year. If you are interested and think you can meet the standards, let Bernie Jones know Bernie-jones@sky.com