Hundreds of parkrunners braved the icy conditions in North Wales

*Alex Aldous is pictured above with the leading pack at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkun on the promenade.

Hundreds of parkrunners braved the icy conditions at many North Wales locations...

Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael Finnie and Danielle Peevor.

donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025

 

There was another excellent turn out at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday, despite the freezing temperatures and icy conditions underfoot, which caused the postponement of several other local events, at Conwy and Nant y Pandy amongst many others.

The rather sandy 5k course at Rhos probably helped athletes to keep their feet and once again this particular parkrun attracted a host of visitors from far afield, and quite remarkably, nine out of the first ten finishers were course debutants!

Sam Lewis Jones (Parc Bryn Bach RC) was the first finisher on his course debut in just 16 minutes and 54 seconds, with the second runner unknown, but in 3rd place was visitor Ian Lowe (Oswestry Olympians) on his debut in 18.28.

Eleanor Ashcroft was the first female finisher with a new PB of 20.20 in 13th place overall, with Elin Jones second in 20.34, and Alex Aldous 3rd in 21.26.

 

*Pictured above left - Stuart Culverhouse, Steve Poupart, and master vets Rob Fryer and Don Hale, who celebrated his 250th parkrun at Rhos on Saturday.

*North Wales Road Runners entered nine members at Rhos including three course debutants with Will Williams 9th overall on his debut, and he was second in his VM50 age cat in 19.38, and Stuart Culverhouse also ran well in 11th place in 20.10. 

Steve Gardner marked his debut with a stunning win in his VM60 age cat after finishing 54th overall in 23.02, and he ran the course together with his SM20 son James Gardner, who shared the exact same time, whilst another debutant in Steve Poupart, was also pleased with his time of 25.20 in 106th place.

Master vet Rob Fryer claimed the second spot in his VM70 age cat in 148th place in 26.56, and fellow master Don Hale ran his 250th parkrun after finishing 162nd in 27.32, and he was third in the same cat as Rob. Helen Hannam was 268th in 32,06, and John O’Shea was 317th on 34.15. *There were 428 finishers at Rhos.

*Will Williams (*above left) with Helen Hannam and other parkrunners.

*GOG Triathlon entered 15 members at Rhos and their first finishers were: Daniel Jones 8th in 19.35, Andy Jones24th in 21.16, and Steve Owen 26th in 24.50. Their first female finisher was Lizzie Irvine in 97th place in 24.50.

*Other well-known local runners included: Gwyn Williams (Colwyn Bay AC) 34th with a new PB in 22.03; JM11-14 athlete Charlie Sheen 40th with a new PB in 22.23; Simon Nixon (Denbigh Harriers) 41st, and he won his VM65 age cate in 22.24; Josh Mottram 57th in 23.06; Tris Owen 58th in 23.09; Mike Pemberton was 132nd in 26.27; whilst Bethan Wyn Roberts and Amanda Durber ran together, and they shared the same finishing times of 29.34, with Bethan 208th and Amanda just one place behind; and John Stallard made his course debut, finishing well in 303rd place in 33.38.

 

  

*Mike Pemberton (*above left), with Peter Johnson, and Josh Mottram, at the new Rhos parkrun.

 

*Prestatyn: Over 200 athletes braved the freezing conditions at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn with Mathew Baker the first male finisher in17.44, with Aaron Dodwell second in 18.02, and James Lucas third on his debut in 18.17. *Prestatyn AC’s Lisa Lines was the first female finisher in 21.50, with Catherine Tudor Jones second on her debut in 22.32, whilst Eve Manifold claimed 3rd place in 22.52. *There were 206 finishers at Nova.

 

*Penrhyn: Visiting athlete Kieran O’Brien (St Helens Striders) was the first male finisher at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun with an excellent debut result of 18.24, and he was closely followed by Lloyd Cottrell (Parc Bryn Back RC) on his debut in 18.34, with the third runner unknown. 

*Visitor Stephanie Louise Harrison (Rochdale Harriers) was the first female to finish with another good debut time of 21.33, and Annamarie Lascu took the second spot on her debut in 22.17, with Ellie Evans (Cybi Striders) third in 23.10. *There were 205 finishers at Penrhyn.

 

*Newborough: Sion Edwards was the first finisher at the Newborough Forest parkrun last Saturday on his debut in 17.32, with Griff Roberts second in 19.16, and Armon Williams third in 19.41. *The first female finisher was Cerys Jones in 25.05, and Siwan Jones was a close runner up in 25.07, with Anne Mildon third with a new PB in 25.33. *There were 161 finishers at Newborough.