Runners beat the weather and water restrictions at the Twin Piers 10k.

*Pictured above - some members of the NWRRC team at the Twin Piers race.

Runners beat the weather and water restrictions at the Arthur Bebbington Twin Piers 10k.

Report by Don Hale. Most photos by John Hatton.

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk

 

Nearly four-hundred athletes took part in the ever-popular Arthur Bebbington Twin Piers 10k race last Saturday despite the cold weather, a cool headwind, and a massive water shortage, with severe restrictions affecting over 40,000 Conwy area residents.

With no water available throughout the area, and many shops and businesses closed due to no loos, café’s, or any available washing facilities, race organisers from Colwyn Bay AC, worked miracles to ensure the event went ahead as planned with extra porta-loos provided at the start and finish, to cater for the runners, with many travelling from all parts of the UK.

The event included the North Wales 10k championships, and it was run from Llandudno Pier to Colwyn Bay promenade, over a challenging coastal route, and much deserved praise was given to the race director Russell Godwin, from Grand Prix Express, referee Bernie Jones, Paul Brooks, and Kay Hatton from NWRAC, and MC John Hatton, plus all the volunteers and marshalls, for their Herculean efforts in ensuring the race went ahead.

North Wales Road Runners entered twenty-seven members and claimed six championship medals including four gold, one silver, and one bronze, plus seven podium places in the general race, with four age category wins. 

Jonathan Kettle led the team home in 16th place in 36.36, and he was 2nd in his M50 age cat. He was followed by track star Steve Gardner 32nd in 39.08, and he won his M60 cat, whilst Will Williams pushed Steve all the way, and he finished 39th in 39.46, and Iwan Evans hot on Will’s heels in 40th place in 39.54.

  

*North Wales Gold medal 10k championship winners Cheryl Frost (*above left), with Steve Gardner, and (*below left), Kevin Slattery and Karen Butler.

  

 

Benjamin Brummit enjoyed a fine race in 40.22 in 48th place, with Stuart Culverhouse 56th in 41.24, and Adam Lemalle claimed a new PB in 77th place in 43.50, despite Steve Bozier chasing him all the way, and finishing just two places and two seconds behind. 

Sion Thomas ran well in 85th place in 44.26, and Steve Roberts was 97th, and 2nd in his M60 cat in 45.45. Meanwhile master vet Kevin Slattery was the pick of the team following a superb performance in 102nd place in 46,11, and he won his M70 age cat. 
Karl Morris was 109th in 46.54, with Richard Scamans 118th in 47.30. And Dave Jones managed to shake off a virus to finish in126th place in 48.17, and he was closely followed by veteran Cheryl Frost who deservedly won her F55 age cat in 48.22, whilst fellow vet Kay Hatton ran hard but she had to settle for 3rd place in her competitive F60 cat in 49.24.
Karen Butler was another talented female veteran athlete who was 157th, and she won her F65 age cat in 50.55 with Daniel Hennell 159th in 51.08, and welcome club returnee Lesley Goodson was also on top form in 160th place in 51.22, and 4th in her W60 cat, with Jamie Tharme 186th in 54.15.

  

*Daniel Hennell (*above left), with Helen Hannam, and Adam Lemalle.

Master vet Don Hale returned to racing, and he was pleased with 56.57 in 209th place, and Gwen Charlton was also on form in 210th place in 57.04, with Helen Hannam 211th in 57.25, and it was good to see Vicky Taylor back in action in 226th place in 59.51. 
Fellow master vets Mike Hayton and Mark Mason also enjoyed good runs, with Mike 247th in 62 minutes, and Mark 265th in 64.56, with Rachel Morris 300th in 76.14.
*North Wales 10k championship results for NWRRC members: GOLD: Cheryl Frost F55, Karen Butler F65, Steve Gardner M60, and Kevin Slattery M70. SILVER: Jonathan Kettle M50. BRONZE: Kay Hatton F60.

    

*Rachel Morris is pictured (*above), with her team mates, Helen Hannam, Gwen Charlton, and Vicky Taylor at the start, and (*right), Benjamin Brummitt with his medal at the finish.

*Two dual registered athletes for Meirionnydd RC and NWRRC, also ran well in the 10k, with Martin Green finishing 9th overall, and he won his MV50 age cat in 34.55, whilst young Harry Driscoll was 29th in 38.08.

*The first finisher overall at the 10k was Josh Griffiths (Swansea Harriers) in 31.58, with Ben Makin (Blackburn Harriers), 2nd in 33.37, with Mark Gittins (Helsby), 3rd in 34.18. *The 1st female finisher was Eden O’Dea, 22nd overall, (Deeside AC), in 37.36, with her club colleague Mia Roberts 2nd (25th overall), in 34.18, and Anna Drinkwater(Eryri Harriers), 3rd (31st overall), in 38.41.

*Plaudits were also given to Colwyn Bay AC youngster Josh Mottram, who finished in 71st place overall, at the Twin Piers 10k race, and he also won his male age cat as the 1st U20 finisher in 43.36. Josh is a very talented and popular athlete who regular participates at the Conwy parkrun, along with his club mate, personal assistant, and support worker Ian Taylor, who ran with him in the 10k, with Ian recording a good time of 46.20 in 103rd place.

*Pictured above - Ian Taylor and talented youngster Josh Mottram.

*This is a link to the provisional results from the Twin Piers 10k”

https://niftyentries.com/Results/Arthur-Bebbington-Twin-Piers-10k-2025?ResultSetupId=3a5638ad-5d26-4cc0-8bb0-4a1f0dea1479

 

*Pwllheli: Ben and Sarah Hudson made their debuts in the very challenging Pwllheli parkrun last Saturday and both won their respective age categories. Sarah was 8th overall and the 1st female finisher, and in addition, she also won her VW45 age cat in 31.25, whilst Ben was 29th in 58.21, and he won his VM45 cat.

After the event, Sarah said: “We finally got to try out our local park run! So tough on the sand! Felt like it was one step forward two steps back.”

*Prestatyn: Veteran Alan Davies made his debut at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn on Saturday in a time of 29.49 and he was 4th in his VM65 age cat.