Plenty of newcomers and good times despite wet and windy parkruns - plus results round-up.

*Flashback to a previous start at Penrhyn Castle parkrun

Plenty of newcomers and good times despite wet and windy parkruns...round up of NW results.

Report by Don Hale.

donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025

 

Despite a sudden change in the weather including some blustery winds and intermittent showers, it still failed to deter plenty of newcomers to various North Wales parkruns, where once again many excellent times and PBs were recorded.

The ladies though took most of the plaudits around the region last Saturday morning with plenty of fast finishers, and at both Nant y Pandy, and at Llangollen, visiting female athletes dominated the top three positions. 

Visitor Sarah Evans was the first female finisher at Penrhyn Castle, and there was an interesting battle for second and third places at Nova, Prestatyn, where partners and Eryri Harriers clubmates, Nic Brook and Gemma Moore raced nip and tuck, with Nick eventually finishing second overall in 18.45, and narrowly ahead of Gemma despite her worthy new PB of 19.00.

  

*Nic Brook and Gemma Moore (*above left and centre) ran a close time at Penrhyn parkrun; and (*right) Elizabeth Driscoll.

 

*Penrhyn: Rhodri Williams (Cybi Striders) was the first finisher at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun, in a good time of 19 minutes and 18 seconds, where the 252 entrants were treated to a sudden downpour right at the start of the event.  

Rhodi was quickly challenged by Phil Lynes, and quite remarkably the pair shared the exact same finishing times with Lawrence And Hopey third in 19.42. 

*The first female at Penrhyn was visitor Sarah Evans on her course debut (9th) in 20.29, with Jessica Bibby second (15th) in 21.51, and Katy Nelson third (18th) with a new PB 22.19.

Five members of NWRRC were also involved at Penrhyn with Steve Bozier leading the team home in 8th place, and he also won his VM45 age cat on his course debut in 20.22. Nia Lister enjoyed a good run in 107th place in 27.42, with Elizabeth Driscoll 131st in 29.00, and veteran John O’Shea made a welcome return to finish 187th, and he was second in his VM65 age cat in 34.00, whilst Dougie Graham was 192nd in 34.31.

 

*Pictured above left - Steve Bozier, with Nia Lister, and John O'Shea.

*Prestatyn: Mathew Baker ran home first at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn in 17.24, with Nic Brook (Eryri Harriers) second in 18.45 and his partner Gemma Moore (Eryri Harriers), was third with a new PB in 19.00. *With Gemma also being the first female finisher, the second spot went to Lisa Lines (Prestatyn RC), who was 16th overall in 22.00, and Megan Lewis (Prestatyn RC), who finished in 23rd place.

*The Prestatyn club were well represented at their local event, with fifteen members involved. Alex Ryder was their first finisher (5th overall) with a very good time of 19.16, with Daniel Williams (8th) in 20.29, and Jamie Betts (11th) in 20.58. *Lisa Lines was the first female club finisher (16th) in 22.00, with Megan Lewis (23rd), with a new PB in 22.54, and Jenna Bagnall (42nd) in 24.13.

 

*Stuart Culverhouse (*above left), with Will Evans and Rob Fryer.

 

*Conwy: Five NWRRC members took part in the Conwy parkrun with Stuart Culverhouse finishing 13th in 20.11, and he was second in his VM50 age cat. Will Evans was close behind Stuart in 14th place, and he was just two-seconds adrift in 20.13, and he won his VM45 cat; whilst Richard Scamans was 44th in 23.32. Meanwhile, master veterans Rob Fryer and Barrie Wells took the top spots in their respective VM70-74 age cats with Rob 97th in 27.10, and Barrie 161st in 30.23. 

*Porth Eirias members also supported this event, and they had four athletes taking part with three out of the four also claiming the fourth spot in the various age cats. Jasper McQueen was their first club man home in 24th place in 21.30, with Barry Palmer 46th in 23.46, master vet Roy Warden 228th in 41.12, and Kevin Edge 239th in 45.35. *There were 252 finishers at Conwy.

 

*Nant y Pandy: John Strange was the first finisher at the Nant y Pandy parkun in 19.55, with visitor Paul Rajan(Preston Harriers) second on his course debut and in close pursuit in 20.03, and another visitor James Purdon, took third place in 21.12. *The first female finisher (6th overall) was visitor Alison Smith (Abbey Runners/Leeds) on her course debut in 22.58, and Isobel Ovenden was the runner-up (21st) on her debut in 26.30, with Moyna Richey(Shropshire Shufflers), third (28th) on her debut in 27.35. *There were 91 finishers.

 

Newborough: Frederick Purcell (Queen’s Park Harriers), took the top spot at the Newborough Forest parkrun in 19.12, with William Elgan Jones second in 21.03, and Joseph Symonds was third in 21.14. The first female (5th overall) was Claire Donnelly (Eryri Harriers) in 21.54, and visitor Amanda Young finished second (18th) on her course debut in 23.53, with Josy Taylor (20th) despite a new PB in 23.55. *There were 144 finishers.

 

*Llangollen: Some 140 runners were involved in the Old Railway Trail parkrun at Llangollen, with David Barlow finishing first in 18.14; with Harvey Jones a close second in 18.31, and Joe Murphy third, despite a new PB in 18.50. 

*The first three female finishers were all visitors including Paula Pilling (Bolton Metro), who was first on her course debut (9th overall) in 21.50; with Helen Fagan second (16th) in 23.15, and Debra Stevens (South Wales Runners), finished third (26th) in 24.44. *There were 140 finishers at Llangollen.