Visitors boosted the numbers at North Wales parkruns

*Pictured above - the busy start at the Rhos on Sea parkrun.

Visitors boosted the numbers at North Wales parkruns

Report by Don Hale. Rhos photos by Michael (Pat) Finnie.

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It was perfect weather for the start of the school holidays, and at Rhos parkrun, as at most other North Wales events last Saturday, the superb conditions attracted a wealth of debutant runners, visitors and walkers.

Local footballer Aaron Dodwell recorded a new course PB at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun in just 16 minutes and 36 seconds, but visitor Colin Latham (Dragons RC Sale) gave chase all the way to finish in second place in 16.57, with promising JM1-14 athlete Lucas Burgess third with a new course PB in 17.25.

*Gemma Moore (Eryri Harriers) was the first female finisher with another outstanding performance in 18.18, and she was followed by Emma Alofs on her debut in 19.36, with Alex Aldous third in 20.22. *There were 483 finishers at Rhos parkrun.

   

*The first male and female finishers at Rhos were Aaron Dodwell (*above left) with Gemma Moore, and (*right) Richard Scamans.

*North Wales Road Runners had seven members involved with Richard Scamans their first finisher in 21.53, but Mal Preece was close behind in 22.02 in 58th place, and he was second in his VM60 age cat. 

Master vet Barrie Wells won his VM70 age cat in 98th place with a new course PB in 24.18, and Daniel Hennell ran well in 156th place in 26.08. 

*Pictured above right - veteran athletes at Rhos, Len Jackson, with Roger Harrison Jones and Don Hale.

Another master vet, Don Hale, is slowly building back his fitness after some health issues and finished in 27.42, and he was third in his VM70 age cat in 202nd place, whilst it was good to see Helen Hannam back at Rhos parkrun in 258th place in 29.34, and veteran Len Jackson finished well in 269th place in 29.48.

*GOG Triathlon had six runners at Rhos, and their top three members were: Steve Owen 16th in 19.10; Andy Brazier 62nd in 22.15; and Ashley Tomlinson was 126th with a new course PB in 25.15. *Colwyn Bay AAC had two runners including Josh Mottram who finished in 40th place in 20.55, and he was third in his new SM20 age cat, whilst Ian Taylor was 71st in 22.55. 

*Porth Eirias Runners had five members at Rhos with Jasper McQueen their first counter in 32nd place overall and a new course PB of 20.28; with Barry Palmer next in 126th place, and the third was Llyr Jones.

*Partially sighted athlete Daniel Owens is shown above left - with his guide Guy Salkeld. The pair finished well in 23.57 for 95/96th places.

*Some other notable local results included: Gareth Southworth (Cybi Striders) 42nd in 21.00; Gwyn Williams (Rhedwyr Hebog Runners) 44th and a new course PB in Darren Dentith 51st, with a new course PB in of 21.42; Morgan Kendall 103rd in 23.22; Mike Pemberton 127th and second in his VM70 cat in 25.17. 

And a special mention to first-time visitor to Rhos parkrun, the legendary super-veteran Roger Harrison Jones (Prestatyn RC) who won his VM85-89 age cat in style and completed the course in 35.41; whilst fellow super-vet Jack Thomas (Buckley), finished 403rd in 36.27.

  

 

*Mal Preece (*above left) with Dave Munday and Gwyn Williams, and (*above right) Mike Pemberton.

*Conwy: Plenty of visiting athletes at Conwy parkrun with Andy Woodhead the runaway leader of the pack in just 17.55, and he was followed Peter Vale (Bromsgrove & Redditch) in 18.57, with George Schreuder (University of Birmingham Tri Club) third on his debut in 19.16. *The first female finisher was debutant Katherine Denby in 22.11, with fellow debutant Heather Lennox second in 24.41, and Kasia Heywood third in 24.48. *There were 254 finishers at Conwy.

*Some other notable runners at Conwy included: Simon Nixon (Denbigh Harriers) who was 24th in 22.47; Martin Green (Meirionnydd RC) was 48th in 25.12; and Jonathan Kettle (Eryri Harriers) finished in 55th place in 25.31; Tony Parvin was 68th in 26.11; John Stallard 101st in 28.20; Kevin Higgins 105th in 28.36; and Bethan Wyn Roberts and Amanda Durber ran together in 28.39 for 108/109th places. 

*GOG triathlon had eight members involved at Conwy and their top three included: 33rd Neil Vicars Harris in 24.24; JW11-14 athlete Enya Maguire Evans was 64th in 25.49; and super-vet Liz Evans finished 65th in 25.35, and she won her VW75 age cat.

     

*Prestatyn: The first four finishers at the Nova parkrun were all first-timers with Chris Green back first in 18.25, and Oliver Franklin took the second spot in 18.41, with Ella Taylor third in 19.27. *With Ella claiming the top place, the second position went to Donna Beard (Rochdale Triathlon Club) with a new course PB in 19.27, whilst JW11-14 athlete Freya Roberts Howie finished third in 23.43. *There were 252 finishers at Nova.

*Prestatyn RC entered sixteen members, and their top three finishers were: Oliver Birch Jones 5th in 19.46; Jamie Betts 6th in 19.58; and Lewis Price 12th in 20.30; and well done to Martin Cortvriend who was 48th, and he won his VM70 age cat in 25.16.

 

*Penrhyn: It was a close finish for the first three athletes at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun with James Allen the first man home in 18.10, with visitor Lucas Present second in 18.12, and first-timer Christopher Parker third in 18.28. *The first female finisher was Susan Begent (Vegan Runners) on her debut in 24.10, and Bethan Philips was second in 24.28, with Stephanie Philippaerts third on her debut in 25.16. *There were 267 finishers at Penrhyn.