Half term boost by visitors at Penrhyn parkrun... plus other results.

*Pictured above - some of the NWRRC team and the Conwy regulars at Penrhyn, and (*below), the start of the Penrhyn Castle parkrun.

Half term boost by visitors at Penrhyn parkrun... plus other results...

Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Michael (Pat) Finnie, and others.

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

 

It was another bumper entry for the Penrhyn Castle parkrun last Saturday as some 329 mixed ability entrants from all parts of the country boosted this half term event.

On a lovely warm and sunny morning and braving a rather challenging and undulating 5k lapped course, visitor Matthew Sayers (North Herts RRC), was the first finisher on his debut in just 18 minutes and 19 seconds, with fellow debutant Matthew Jones (Ripley RC), claiming the runner-up spot following a determined battle with his rival, and he was just three-seconds adrift in 18.22. 

At the time of writing, the 3rd male place remained unknown, but the 1st female finisher was visitor Nicola Archer on her debut (7th overall), in 19.00, with Anna Drinkwater (Eryri Harriers), 2nd (8th overall), and she ran hard in close pursuit of Nicola with a superb new PB of 19.06, and was 1st in her SW25 age cat, whilst club colleague Gemma Moore, finished 3rd in 19.25.

*Mike Hayton (*above left), with Liz Evans, and Elizabeth Driscoll with Winston

North Wales Road Runners entered four members with super-vet Sandy Johnston winning his VM75 age cat in 67th place in 23.49, whilst master vet Don Hale claimed a new course PB, despite a heavy fall, in 115th place in 26.30, and he was 2nd in his VM70 cat. Fellow master vet Mike Hayton enjoyed another good performance in 187th place in 29.43, and he was 3rd in the same cat as Don, whilst Elizabeth Driscoll ran the course with her dog Winston, and she was 298th in 38.19.

*John Hatton (*above left), with Carla Green on barcoding duties at Penrhyn

*Other Conwy runners results at Penrhyn: Gwyn Williams 32nd in 22.08, Steve Owen 38th 22.22, Andy Brazier 71st 24.03, Simon Blain 95th 25.18, Rob Stewart 109th with a PB in 26.06, Liz Evans 121st in 26.50 and she won her VW75 age cat, John Stallard 170th in 28.50 and Alison Shepherd was 301st in 38.52. 

*And I would like to add a personal footnote to thank the entire medical team and volunteers at Penrhyn who patched me up after a heavy fall near the finish, with particular praise to Dr Anna Drinkwater

*Praise was given to the Penrhyn run director and to all the volunteers and marshalls. This is the link to the provisional results: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/penrhyn/results/latestresults/

 

*Pictured above left - Dr Anna Drinkwater who was the 2nd female finisher, and (*right), Anna was later on medical duty to help patch up Don Hale after a fall.

 

*Newborough: Junior JM15-17 athlete William Delamere was the first finisher at the Newborough Forest parkrun in 16.50, with Jordan Cooper (Macclesfield Harriers), 2nd with a new PB in 17.30, and Alex Jago claimed the 3rd spot in 18.10. *And four JW11-14 runners also took the first four places in the female age category with Lucy Delamere 1st, (22nd overall), in 21.32, with Elise Hare 2nd, (30th), on her debut in 22.03, whilst Rosa Kellaway finished 3rd (34th), with a new course PB in 22.31, and Chloe Cattroll was 4th in 23.35.

*Prestatyn: There were 229 entrants at the Nova Prestatyn parkun with the first finisher, visitor Richard Wortley, coming home in 18.07, with Stephen Edwards 2nd with a new PB in 18.20, and debutant Timothy Beedles taking the third spot in 18.41. The 1st female finisher was Lisa Lines (Prestatyn RC) in 23.38, with Sabina Davies 2nd in 25.37, and Emily Owen 3rd in 25.38.

NWRRC members included: Stuart Culverhouse 6th with a new course PB of 19.51, with his son Joe winning his JM11-14 age cat in 12th place with a new PB of 20.32, and Steve Mason and his dog Coco completed the course in 221st place in 1.02.31.

*Gwyn Williams (*above) ran and he was also one of the scanning team at Penrhyn Castle last weekend.

 

Regional running round-up by Conwy parkrun director Gwyn Williams: 

Parkrun venues attended this week included: Jesmond Dene, Nant y Pandy, Penrhyn, Hafan Pwllheli, Pont y Bala, Chasewater, Newborough Forest, Dolgellau, Ruthin Memorial Playing Fields, Dalby Forest, Greenfield Valley and Nova Prestatyn.

And away from parkruns, one group ran around the Orme, whilst the Dalzell Runners took on the gun sites route on the Orme. The Porth Eirias Runners continued their weekly meets with a group run around Llanddulas, whilst our usual car park marshal Sue Williams ran in Rhodes whilst on holiday. 

Great to see so many of you running in groups, parkrun is as much about the social aspect as it is about the physical aspect so well done you all on getting out there and encouraging one another to get out and stay active.

I attended Penrhyn where there were huge numbers taking part. They recorded 329 finishers, the second highest ever attendance at Penrhyn, just shy of the record 341 that attended the event in August 2017. As has been the case since our pause, there was a large contingent from Conwy making up the numbers. What was particularly great to see was 7 Conwy regulars (Carla, Ann, Steph, John, Simon, Dougie and me) volunteering there. I see that both Michelle Farrell and Robert Fryer volunteered at Nova Prestatyn too, well done guys. 

*EASTER NOTE: Car park limit at Penrhyn parkrun.

Just a note about next week, as it’s the Easter weekend and historically, the busiest weekend of the year at parkrun. At Conwy in the past, we’ve recorded well over 400 finishers, so it’s safe to assume that our neighbouring parkruns will also absorb these huge numbers. 

I was speaking with Penrhyn RD Chris in the car park yesterday and he was saying that they are limited to 157 parking spaces. If you intend to visit Penrhyn next week, please consider car sharing. If you can use public transport, the number 5 bus passes right by the gatehouse at the bottom of the drive.