Freezing cold gale force winds proved a challenge for parkrunners...and for the hardy volunteers and marshals.
*Some members of the hardworking team of volunteers (*above) at a bitterly cold and windswept Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday with RD Dougie Graham in the blue vest.
Freezing cold gale force winds proved a challenge for parkrunners...and for the hardy volunteers and marshals.
Report by Don Hale. Conwy photos by Michael Finnie.
It was a very stormy and rather windswept morning across much of North Wales last Saturday as many hundreds of parkrunners battled gale-force and blustery headwinds during their challenging 5k workouts.
At the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun, it proved a particularly tough battle along the seafront to Colwyn Bay and back from Rhos for over 2k on the outward leg, against freezing temperatures, and a swirling, gusty wind, plus a sandy course, but it was pleasing to note that so many plaudits were deservedly given en-route and afterwards, to the hard-working team of RD’s, marshals and volunteers.
Despite all the handicaps, and tough conditions, quite incredibly, experienced top athlete Simon Cole (GOG Triathlon) was the first finisher overall in a very respectable time of just 16 minutes and 58 seconds, with Harry Driscoll (Meirionnydd RC) second, despite a gallant effort in 18.19, and James Smith third in 18.57.
Visitor Katie Jayne Latham (Nantwich RC) was the first female finisher, recording an equally good time of 19.30 on her course debut (5th place overall), with fellow visitor and debutant Ursula Dixon (Newcastle/Staffs) second in 20.44, and JW11-14 athlete Lois Evans third in 21.28. *There were 371 finishers at Llandrillo yn Rhos.
*North Wales Road Runners entered nine members at Rhos with Stuart Culverhouse leading the team home again in 13th place in 20.36, and he was second in his VM50 age cat. Paddy Walsh was 30th in 22.31, and Gwen Charlton continued her impressive form, finishing in 113th place in 26.35, and second in her VW35 cat.
And there was some friendly rivalry between the master and super-vets with Rob Fryer 145th in 27.59, and second in his VM70 age cat, with Don Hale hot on his heels and just 4-seconds down in 148th place in 28.03, and third in the same cat as Rob; whilst Mike Hayton ran well again in 179th place, and he won his VM75 age cat in 29.29.
NWRRC Veteran John O’Shea was 290th in in 34.54, with Gethin Wyn Jones 303rd in 36.23, and newcomer Chris Davies finished 317th on his course debut in 37.18. *And praise was given to Stuart Culverhouse’s wife Lucy Culverhouse who completed her 50th parkrun, including eight at Rhos, and she recorded her second-best time in 22nd place in 31.12.
*(*above): Stuart Culverhouse from NWRRC with his wife Lucy, who celebrated her 50th parkrun last Saturday at the very cold and windy Llandrillo yn Rhos event.
*GOG Triathlon entered 14 members, and their top results included Simon Cole, who the first man home overall, with Richard Wilyman 7th on his course debut in 19.41, and Gareth Bowyer 12th on his course debut in 20.24. Their first female was veteran Wendy Trelease in 172nd place in 29.03.
*Porth Eirias Runners had six members involved, with Jasper McQueen their first club finisher in 35th place overall in 22.56, with Tal Michael 156th in 28.23, and Paula Crutchley 195th with a new PB in 30.06.
*Other local runners of note at Rhos included: Nic Brook (Eryri Harriers) 6th with a new PB in 19.34; teenager Josh Mottram(Colwyn Bay AC) 15th in 20.48; and James Yarwood, who ran the course together with his JM10 son Hugo finishing in 45th place in 23.36; Darren Dentith was 50th in 23.53; Andrew Roberts 55th in 24.07; Ian Taylor 81st in 25.33; and especially well done to Rhos RD Chris Spillane, who ran for the second week running as an essential guide, to the partially sighted athlete Daniel Owens (NWRRC), with both athletes finishing well in 130th place in 27.32.
*Conor O'Neill (*above left) crosses the line just ahead of Aaron Dodwell as the first finisher
overall at Conwy parkrun, and (*above right), the first female finisher at Conwy was Hayley Mortiboys (Tipton Harriers).
*Conwy: There were 48 visiting athletes amongst the 146 finishers at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday, including the first three males, and two out of the first three female runners, and the results also confirmed that six out of the first ten finishers were all newcomers to this controversial and challenging riverside course.
Conor O’Neill was the first man home on his debut in 17.49, but he was only one-second ahead of second placed Aaron Dodwell, a keen local footballer, who usually runs at Nova, in 17.50, and Inigo Atkin, who finished third in 18.28. *The first female finisher was Hayley Mortiboys (Tipton Harriers) on her debut (4th overall) in 19.22, with Elen Jonessecond in 21.18, and visitor Andrea Harland (Crossgates Harriers & AC) making her debut in 24.25.
*Gwyn Williams (*above left) with Tony Parvin and John Stallard.
*Some other notable local results at Conwy included: James Singleton 12th in 21.56; Paul Aubert (NWRRC) 13th in 22.00; Gwyn Williams 14th in 22.10; Gareth Jones (GOG Triathlon) 20th in 23.57; Rhys Pugh 27th in 24.36; Tony Parvin 38th in 25.27; Amanda Durber 62nd in 28.32; John Stallard 64th in 29.07; and Pam Grant 82nd in 30.45.
*Prestatyn: Jonah Armstrong (Prestatyn RC) was the first man home at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn in 19.44, with Louise Bennett second following a new PB in 20.32, and David Ellis (Prestatyn RC) third in 21.09. *Eve Manifold(Prestatyn RC) took the first female spot (15th overall) in 23.52, and Michelle Meredith-Roberts came second in 25.26, with JW11-14 visitor Megan Hatfield (Wrexham AAC) claiming third place on her course debut in 25.40.
The home based Prestatyn RC team proved dominant, with 24 members involved including two out of the first three male finishers, plus the top female finisher, and Adam Jeffries also ran well to claim 4th place overall in 21.39.* There were 241 finishers at Prestatyn.
*Penrhyn: There was a good turn-out of 186 athletes at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun, where Steffan Sayer (Menai T&F) was the first finisher in 17.35, followed by teenager Rowan Townsend in 19.52, and Lawrence And Hopey third in 20.02. *Visitor Lottie Rowedder (Herts Phoenix) was the first lady on her debut in 20.41, but it was a close encounter with fellow visitor Anna Mathew (Lindley RC) second in 20.49, and JW11-14 athlete Holly Worth third despite a new PB in 20.54.
*Nant y Pandy: Andy Savage (Cybi Striders) was the first finisher at the Nant y Pandy nature reserve parkrun in 21.25, and he was closely followed by Medwyn Roberts, who was just 8 seconds adrift in 21.33, and visitor Chris Moss(Congleton) on his course debut in 21.52. *And it appeared to be a Cheshire based family occasion, with debutantsJoanne Moss (Sandbach) claiming the first female spot (8th overall) in 23.36, and Cara Moss (Congleton) was the second female in 24.44, whilst Jo Alexander was third in 25.33. *There were 78 finishers.
*Llangollen: Chester RC athlete Nathan James was the first finisher with a new PB of 18.09 at the Old Railway Trail parkrun at Llangollen, with Dan Gunner second with another PB in 18.30, and Chris Knox was third in 20.16. *The first female (11th overall) was talented JW15-17 athlete Ella McInnes in 21.55 and Evie Hughes (Wrexham AAC) took the second spot in 22.40, with Louisa Williams third in 23.06. *There were 127 finishers overall.
*Newborough Forest: First time visitor Nicholas Tynan (Sale Harriers) was the first man home at the Newborough Forest parkrun after recording a good time of 17.50 on his course debut, but he was only 2-seconds ahead of second placed Joseph Tideswell with a new PB of 17.52, and another visitor in Callum Lovatt third in 18.17. *Lucy Spence(10th overall) was the first female finisher in 21.35, and visitor Emmy L (Todmorden Harriers & AC) claimed second place on her debut in 23.09, with JW11-14 athlete Celsi Jones third in 23.20. *There were 174 finishers.
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