North Wales quartet proud to run in the heat for Welsh Masters

By Don Hale


North Wales quartet proud to run in the heat for Welsh Masters

Report by Don Hale

donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026

coastandcountry.blog

 

Four very proud athletes from North Wales Road Runners competed as part of the Welsh Masters team in their match against England at the weekend during the Shrewsbury 5k Festival lap races.


Jonathan Kettle, Steve Gardner Cheryl Frost, and Will Williams all spoke about their immense pride to have been selected to represent their country, and they each performed well despite the extremely hot and dry conditions.


*Pictured right - Jonathan Kettle with Will Williams.


In a very fast, packed, and high-quality encounter including 452 elite runners, Jonathan Kettle finished in 89th place overall in just 17 minutes and 44 seconds, and he was 6th in his M50 age cat, whilst GB international veteran track and duathlon champion Steve Gardner was 135th in 18.50, and he was 6th in his M60 cat. Will Williams also ran well after returning after injury in 179th place in 19.19. And Cheryl Frost had an exceptional run finishing as the 7th F60 athlete and the 83rd female in 23.36.


After the event, Will Williams confirmed: “Another proud day, and I was very lucky to wear the red vest again. The time not what I wanted nearly two min slower than last year. Lack of racing and fitness due to injury struck season really showed up today. 


“The heat was also mind blowing. Never mind was a great day got to hear my granddaughter cheering me on and running for Wales masters is always an honour, and too good of an opportunity to give up!”


 



*Pictured above left - Steve Gardner and (right) Kay Hatton at Aintree.


*Other road results: Cheryl Frost and Kay Hatton travelled to a very hot Aintree 10k on Sunday with Cheryl finishing as the 5th female in 48.11, and she won her FV60 age cat, with Kay 8th, and she was second in the same age cat as her colleague.


*This is the link to the Coast and Country online magazine feature:

https://www.coastandcountry.blog/post/north-wales-quartet-proud-to-run-in-the-heat-for-welsh-masters-v-england-at-the-shrewsbury-5k

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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