Track star visitor won the Holyhead Breakwater 5-mile race.

*Pictured above - some members of the NWRRC team at Holyhead.

Track star visitor won the Holyhead Breakwater 5-mile race.

Report by Don Hale

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

 

There was a good mix of club and social runners at the annual Holyhead Breakwater 5-mile race last Sunday with nearly 200 entrants enjoying a well organised event, which also formed part of the NW Regional Championships.

Visiting track star Samuel Roberts (Retford AC), (*pictured right), who is the 23-year old eldest son of Welsh International triathlete Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts (NWRRC), was the first man home on this undulating course in just 24 minutes and 7 seconds, with Josh Griffiths (Swansea Harriers), second and in close pursuit, finishing in 24.19, whilst local athlete Sam Gunning(Cybi Striders), claimed third place in 27.05.

Sam Gunning’s club colleague Emma Alofs was the first female finisher in 31.15, with Bethan Jones (Black Cloak Runners), second in 32.58, and Margot Saher (Eryri Harriers), third in 33.57.

After the race, Llyr, who also ran well, and finished in 18th place, spoke about his son winning this prestigious event and confirmed: “I am dead proud of Samuel. This was his second race in two days. He also won a silver in the English Athletics track 5k champs on Friday. 

“He didn’t get a NW medal as he wouldn’t be eligible, as he doesn’t run for a NW club and was neither born there, unless parentage counts!”

*Nia Lister (*above left), with Daniel Hennell and Helen Hannam.

*The mixed clubs’ team awards went to: (1): Cybi Striders in 2.01.09; (2): NWRRC in 2.11.45; and (3): Eryri Harriersin 2.11.57. The event attracted a high standard of athletes and the first 17 runners al dipped under 30 mins, and there were 187 finishers.

Many local clubs were well represented including North Wales Road Runners who had 15 members involved: Their first man back was Jonathan Kettle 9th in 28.24, and he was 2nd in his F50 age cat, with Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts fresh from his recent international duty taking 18th place in 30.14, and Will Evans finished 26th in 32.12:  

*Kay Hatton (*above left) leads the runners back after rounding the lighthouse, and (*above right), Adam Lemalle makes a dash for the finish line at Holyhead.

ther NWRRC results included: Adam Lemalle 33.51, 44th Carla Green, who was the fourth female finisher, and she also won her F50 age cat in 34.33. Daniel Hennell 48th in 34.56, Steve Roberts 61st in 35.57, Kay Hatton 88th, and she won her F60 age cat in 38.26, Cheryl Frost was 95th, and 2nd in her F50 cat in 38.56. Nia Lister finished well in 112th place in 41.13, and Hannah Griffith also had a good run, and she was 110th in 40.53. Helen Hannam was 130th in 43.15, and veteran Kevin Higgins finished 143rd in 44.39, whilst Rob Fryer was 146th in 44.36, and Mike Haytonfinished 168th in 49.00. *Jonathan Kettle, Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts, Carla Green, and Kay Hatton were the four counting runners, who claimed 2nd place in the mixed club team awards.

*Carla Green (*above left), with Steve Roberts and Nia Lister.

*Paul Brooks from the NW Regional Athletics Council, was delighted with the overall results and later said: “Congratulations to our new 5 miles champions: Josh Griffiths (Swansea) and Emma Kathleen Alofs (Cybi Striders). Josh smashed the previous Championship best performance (set in 2016 by Rob Samuel, 24:41 at Abergele), with his 24:19, while Emma - the current regional half marathon champion - set a new PB in 31:14.”

*The full list of NW Regional medal winners are now available via this link:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/755410871224908/?multi_permalinks=24087440810928585&notif_id=1753647466447337&notif_t=group_activity&ref=notif

 

*This is a link to all the provisional results from the main race at Holyhead:

https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-embed.php?event=4143#0_3EF1B7