North Wales parkruns battered by Storm Amy but Ruthin survived! And news from Gareth and Kath Down Under!

 

*Pictured above - Father and son - Stuart and Joe Culverhouse at Ruthin.

North Wales parkruns battered by Storm Amy but Ruthin survived! And news from Gareth and Kath Down Under.

Special report by Don Hale.

donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025

 

Storm Amy forced the postponement of numerous parkruns throughout the UK last Saturday with North Wales events in particular badly affected by course flooding, heavy rain and gale force winds.

Regular events at Newborough Forest, Nant y Pandy, Wepre, Penrhyn Castle, Conwy, Llangollen, Prestatyn, and Wrexham’s Park in the Past parkruns were all affected, with the Ruthin Memorial parkrun one of the few survivors.

The Ruthin event on the Memorial Playing Fields, attracted 146 hardy runners including 74 visitors, with many travelling from far afield after searching hard to find a live parkrun, and despite the challenging conditions, ten people still recorded some very worthy personal best (PB) times.

At the time of writing the name of the first man home at Ruthin remained unknown, but visitor Alan Southwick (Malvern Buzzards) finished second on his course debut with a fast time of 18 minutes and 43 seconds, with James Williams(Lymm Runners), third with a new PB and he was just ten-seconds adrift of Alan in 18.53.

The first two female finishers at Ruthin were visitors, with Laura Coucill (Salford Harriers) first on her debut (14th overall) in 20.16, with Naomi Drakeford (Barnsley AC) second (21st) in 21.00, whilst Catherine Tudor Jones took the third spot (22nd) following a keen tussle for placings with Naomi, and she was just seven-seconds behind her in 21.07.

 

*Joe Culverhouse (*above left), with his father Stuart. They both ran well at the Ruthin parkrun with Joe celebrating a great new PB. (*Joe's photo courtesy of Bill Scrivens).

*North Wales Road Runners – father and son – Stuart and Joe Culverhouse entered the Ruthin parkrun where talented young Joe enjoyed an exceptional performance, finishing in 11th place, and he also recorded a great new PB of just 19.54 and won his JM11-14 age cat, with Stuart running well in 11th place in 20.38. After his run Stuart said: “I didn't start my watch at the start, but Joe has a new PB, and a first sub 20 with a time of 19.54. It was well worth braving the elements for.”

*Pictured above - a scenic view of Melbourne, Australia, and (*right), Kath and Gareth Southworth at the Albert Park parkrun in Melbourne last Saturday.

Australia: Gareth and Kath Southworth took part in the Albert Park parkrun in Melbourne, Australia, on Saturday amongst 1,030 entrants. They both celebrated good runs with Gareth finishing well in 116th place overall on his course debut in 22.46, and he was 3rd in his VM60 age cat, whilst Kath was 929th in 46.56.