Hot pace despite a bitterly cold morning at Conwy parkrun...plus New Year's Day results.

*Pictured above - Steve Mason - who was the first NWRRC member home.

Hot pace despite a bitterly cold morning at Conwy parkrun.

Report by Don Hale.

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

It was a very cold start for the first Conwy parkrun of 2025 as 247 mixed ability athletes tackled the puddle-filled, but picturesque 5k course, from the RSPB Nature Reserve last Saturday morning.

Despite the freezing temperatures, Iain Burgess set a very hot pace as the 1st finisher in just 18 minutes and 36 seconds to win his VM35 age cat, and he was some 36-seconds ahead of his nearest rival, VM40 Richard Wilyman(GOG Triathlon), in 19.08, with SM25 Aaron Jones 3rd in 19.49.

Llio Owen was the 1st female finisher with a new PB of 21.23, and she won her SW20 age cat (13th overall), with VW40 athlete Vicky Cole (GOG Triathlon), 2nd (19th overall) with a fine run in 22.05, and VW35 Emma Stanley claimed the 3rd place, (21st overall) in 22.15.

North Wales Road Runners entered fourteen members including some new faces and others returning after the festivities or injuries. Steve Mason left his dog Coco at home this week but took the lead with his team, finishing in 10th place in 21.02, and he was 2nd in his VM50 cat.

Adam Lemalle continued with his purple patch of form to finish 15th in 21.32, and he too was 2nd in his VM40 cat. Another second age cat spot, this time in his JM11-14 group, went to promising junior Joe Culverhouse, who took a break from his footballing activities to celebrate a good run in 24th place in 22.23, and he was accompanied by his father Stuart Culverhouse, who was just one second and one place behind Joe.

*Stuart and Joe Culverhouse, and Nia Lister.

Richard Scamans continues to improve each week following his knee operation and he performed well again in 32nd place in 22.40, whilst newcomer Paddy Walsh must have enjoyed his run after finishing 40th overall, and 2nd in his SM30 cat in 23.12.

Master vet Don Hale won his VM70 age cat in 76th place with an improved time of 26.27, and Sion Thomas was 82nd in 26.39. And it was good to see Nia Lister back at parkrun, and she was 147th in 30.24, and 4th in her VW35 cat.

Another master vet, Mark Mason, was an additional returnee, and he was pleased with 2nd place in his VM70 cat after finishing 156th, in 31.02, with veteran John O’Shea 159th in 31.16, and welcome newcomer Dougie Graham was 183rd in 32.45. 

Veteran Sue Smith beat last week’s parkrun time by about 16-seconds, and she finished well in 204th place in 34.14, whilst Rachel Morris returned to Conwy parkrun and included her run as part of six-mile marathon training effort, recording a time of 37.45 in 222nd place.

After her run Rachel confirmed: “Six miles on my training plan, so this was a parkrun sandwich. Hard and slow after being out of running for so long…but it felt great to be back out running again.”

*Plaudits were later given to the run director Anna Drinkwater, John Hatton the MC, and to all the volunteers and marshalls, who gave up their precious time on such a bitterly cold morning. This is a link to the provisional results from Conwy parkrun:

https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/

 

  

*Sion Thomas (*above left), with Mark Mason and Rachel Morris.

New Year’s Day results:

*Newborough: Will Williams and Steve Mason from NWRRC took part in the New Year’s Day parkrun at Newborough Forest last Wednesday morning. Will finished well in 5th place overall in 20.04, and he won his VM50 age cat, whilst Steve enjoyed a more leisurely walk around the course, and he was 338th in 55.07.

*The 1st finisher at Newborough was JM15-17 teenager William Delamere in a fast time of just 17 minutes and 11 seconds, with SM25 athlete Dean Horrell 2nd in 18.58, and SM30 Oscar Hardy 3rd on his debut in 19.11.

*Anna Drinkwater (Eryri Harriers) was the 1st female finisher (4th overall), and she won her SW25 cat in 19.55, with Emma Alofs (Cybi Striders), 2nd (13th overall), with a new PB of 21.05, whilst JW11-14 youngster Lucy Delamere created a unique family double after finishing as the 3rd female, (19th overall), in 21.53. There were 343 finishers.

*Somerset: Former NWRRC member Tom Aindow took part in the Chard Flyer New Year’s Day 10k in Somerset, and he finished 34th in the colours of his new club Dorchester RIOT in 44.46. After his run, to confirmed: “I've moved down to Dorset, so I have switched to a new club.’