Back to the ‘splash and dash’ at Conwy as Storm Claudia strikes - plus parkrun results round-ups.

By Don Hale

*Kay Hatton (*above) with others at the rather wet finish area at Conwy parkrun.

Back to the ‘splash and dash’ at Conwy as Storm Claudia strikes.

Report by Don Hale. Photos by Pat Finnie.

donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 

 


What a difference a week makes as Storm Claudia replaced the previous Saturday’s bright sunshine, bringing 24-hours of heavy rain, and causing extreme flooding to many 5k parkrun courses, forcing several event cancellations throughout the region. 


Conwy parkrun somehow survived but it brought an unwelcome return of the old ‘splash and dash’ riverside route with atrocious conditions underfoot. 


Despite the weather issues, and a large influx of visiting athletes ready for the Conwy half-marathon on Sunday, Rowan Poot still managed a new PB as the first finisher in just 16 minutes and 32 seconds, with Cai Curtis Roberts second in 17.33, and visitor Jordan Dover (Didsbury Runners) third with a PB in 17.45. 


*The first female finisher was Anna Drinkwater (Eryri Harriers) 5th overall in 20.02, and Tessa Hughes took the second place on her debut in 22.27, with another debutant in Amanda Carroll third, and she was just 10-seconds behind in 22.37. 


*Other notable Conwy results included: - Harry Driscoll (Meirionnydd RC) in 21st place overall in 28.23; Darren Dentith 23rd in 23.55, and Bethan Wyn Roberts 93rd in 28.23, and she was second in her VW55 age cat.



*Pictured above left  - Stuart Culverhouse, with master vet Rob Fryer, and super vet Mike Hayton at the soggy wet Conwy parkrun.

 

*North Wales Road Runners entered five members and claimed four age cat wins with Stuart Culverhouse the first man home in 22.58, with Cheryl Frost 28th overall, and first in her VW55 age cat in 23.34; whilst Kay Hatton also won her VW60 cat with a solid run in 23.48 in 31st place; whilst master vet Rob Fryer won his VM70 cat in 27.09; with super vet Mike Hayton in 120th place and he ensured a quartet of age cat victories for the team after finishing well in 31.11, to win his VM75 age cat!

 

*Newborough: Visitor James Smith was the first finisher at the Newborough Forest parkrun with a very good debut time of 18.12, with Jos Poole second in 18.37, and James Richard Biggin (Hillsborough & Rivelina) took the third spot in 19.00. 

*The first female finisher at Newborough was JM15-17 athlete Tamsin Seguin (Menai T&F) in 20.45, and Kirstie Drakeford was second with a new PB in 21.14, with visitor Rebecca Neill finishing well in third place on her debut in 22.09. *There were 154 finishers in total. 


*Prestatyn: James Jones made a good debut at the Nova Prestatyn parkrun and he was the first man home in 18.00. Colwyn Bay athlete Iwan Roberts took second place with a new PB in 18.38, whilst JM15-17 athlete Seth Williams finished third in 19.12. 

*A Prestatyn RC ladies trio took the first three female placings with Lisa Lines first in 21.30, and Megan Lewis second in 24.23, with Tilly Jones third despite a close finish, and she was just one second and one place behind Megan. 

*The home club entered nine members, and the first finishers were Dafydd Montgomery in 6th place overall in 20.01, whilst David Hudd was 9th in 21.23, and Lisa Lines 10th in 21.30. *There were 228 finishers in total. 

Don Hale is a former award winning investigative journalist and now a best-selling author who has created a very popular blog post linked to numerous social media sites. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025.

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