Urgent last minute course change for the windswept Holyhead 5-mile NW championship race

By Don Hale

*Pictured above - the NWRRC team at Holyhead (*above l-r): Will Williams, Steve Roberts, Mike Hayton, Nia Lister, and Rob Fryer; and (*bottom row): Hannah Griffith, Cheryl Frost and Kay Hatton.

Urgent last minute course change for the windswept Holyhead 5-mile NW championship race

Report by Don Hale

donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026

coastandcountry.blog

 

The course for the popular annual Holyhead Breakwater 5-mile race had to be changed last weekend at the last minute due to a high tide and strong blustery winds that were constantly battering waves against the outer defensive walls.


This event, which was also part of the North Wales 5-mile championships, was therefore quickly amended to just 4-miles, which at least allowed the run to continue for medals, despite a shorter, but safer route for the 171 runners.


Samuel Gunning (Cybi Striders) was the overall winner in 20 minutes and 36 seconds, but it proved to be an exciting tussle for honours with his rivals Cai Llewelyn (Rhedwyr Hebog) in 20.42, and Josh Keogh (Eryri Harriers) in 20.49.

Anna Drinkwater (Eryri Harriers) was the first female finisher in 24.07, and local teenager Tamsin Seguin (Menai T&F) was the runner-up in 25.24, with Margot Sayer (Eryri Harriers) third in 25.50. 


*Cybi Striders had three club members in the top six finishing places in both the male and female sections and they finished second in the mixed clubs category with Eryri Harriers top, and North Wales Road Runners third.


  


*(Above l-r): Jonathan Kettle, Cheryl Frost, and Kay Hatton.


*NWRRC entered nine athletes and Jonathan Kettle led the team home in 13th place in 22.35, and he was second in his VM50 age cat. Will Williams was next in 22nd place in 23.44 and he was third in the same cat as Jonathan. Steve Roberts was 72nd and he finished second in his VM60 cat in 29.20, with Cheryl Frost in top form and she won her FV60 age cat in 29.22.


Kay Hatton was 95th in 31.01, and she was second in the same cat as Cheryl, with Nia Lister 106th in 32.20, and Hannah Griffith was 114th in 33.01. Master vet Rob Fryer finished well second place in his VM70 cat in 133rd place overall in 35.16, whilst super-vet Mike Hayton was 157th and he won his VM75 age cat with a determined run in 40.10. 


  


*Pictured above - Nis Lister, Hannah Griffith, and Rob Fryer.


*In the NW 5-mile championships, the NWRRC club won seven prestigious medals in their respective age categories, with veterans Cheryl Frost (FV60) and Mike Hayton (VM75) winning gold medals; whilst silver medals were awarded to Jonathan Kettle (VM50), Steve Roberts (VM60), Kay Hatton (FV60) and Rob Fryer, whilst Will Williams (VM50) won a bronze medal.

 

*This is a link to all the other provisional results from the Holyhead 5-mile race.

https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-embed.php

 


















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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