Very busy final parkrun at Conwy as construction work is set to begin on the new riverside cycle trail from the RSPB site.

*Pictured above and below - the start of the final Conwy parkrun event for several months due to construction work on part of the course.

Very busy final parkrun at Conwy as construction work is set to begin on the new riverside cycle trail from the RSPB site...

Report by Don Hale. 

Parkrun photos courtesy of Bethan Wyn Roberts, John Hatton and Don Hale.

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

Nearly 400 runners packed the Conwy parkrun course on a near perfect day last Saturday morning for an emotional final event for several months due to the start of some extensive construction work covering part of the existing 5k riverside course from the RPSB site.

This latest parkrun therefore attracted a host of visiting club and social runners from across the UK, including representatives from Cardiff, Ripon, Oswestry, Widnes, Sandbach, Pitreavie, and Brecon, to name but a few.

And there was also a large presence of some 26 travelling athletes from Littleborough Runners, plus a generous contingent from Porth Eirias Runners, with many members completing their couch to 5k challenge, and the club also provided free cakes and treats after the parkrun.

The first runner home overall was teenager Cai Curtis-Roberts in just 17 minutes and 15 seconds, followed by veteran Tom Carter (Prestatyn RC), in17.38, and fellow vet Jonathan Kettle (NWRRC) in 17.49. The first female finisher was Anna Drinkwater (Eryri Harriers), 8th overall in 19.13, with Llio Owen 2nd (26th) in 21.43, and Alex Aldous 3rd in 23.04.

Whilst carefully dodging a vast array of heavy lift construction equipment and cabins parked near the start area, parkrun officials confirmed that work will start next week on creating a new cycle track to Betws-y-Coed, resulting in the complete closure of the existing riverside trail, until about 14th June, with further updates to be announced in due course.

 

*Plaudits were given to the run director Bethan Wyn Roberts, MC John Hatton, and to all the many volunteers and marshalls. This is a link to the provisional results:

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

*Above - A vast number of social runners and mums with buggies at the start of the parkrun, and (*below), members of Port Eirias Runners at their free cake and goodies staff after the race and the completion of their couch to 5k plan.

*Pictured below - the large group from Littleborough Runners who made the trip from Lancashire to join in with the fun at the final event at Conwy parkrun.

*A closure warning sign (*below), is shown at the start of the riverside trail at the RSPB Nature Reserve at Conwy, and (*lower), some heavy equipment is already in place ready to start work on the new cycle track route.

Other local parkrun results:

*Nova Prestatyn: 1st Andrew Bromley (Prestatyn RC), with a PB of 17.33, 2nd Mathew Baker 17.46, and 3rd was Dafydd Montgomery in 19.57. The first three female athletes were: 1st Ceri Jones, 26th overall, (City of Salisbury), in 25.24, 2nd Jane McDonnell (29th) in 25.30, and 3rd was Gabby Mercer (30th), on her debut in 25.41. There were 202 runners.

*Penrhyn Castle: 1st Matthew Edwin Roberts 16.20, 2nd Unknown, and 3rd was Mike Holdroyd, (Cybi Striders), with a new PB of 18.15. The first three female athletes were: 1st Katie Waller on her debut, (7th overall), in 20.05, 2nd Brooklyn Wright (22nd) with a new PB of 22.01, and 3rd was Louise Brookwell, (25th), in 22.11. There were 187 runners in total.

*Newborough Forest: 1st Tom Casey on his debut in 18.36, with 2nd Dean Horrell in 18.42, and in 3rd place was Lucy Cartwright, (Exeter Tri Club), in 20.26. And with Lucy also finishing as the 1st female, the 2nd female placing went to Ishbell Holt (15th), with a new PB of 22.32, and 3rd was Lowri Roberts (28th), on her debut in 24.10.