Tough challenge for volunteers at North Wales parkruns.
*Pictured above - the rather wet start to the Conwy parkrun.
Tough challenge for volunteers at North Wales parkruns.
Report by Don Hale. Conwy photos by Michael (Pat) Finnie.
It was wild wet and very windy at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun and at most other North Wales events last Saturday morning with entrants later praising the hard-working run directors, volunteers, and marshalls for turning out on such a challenging day.
Once again, the visiting speed merchants ignored the conditions to record numerous top 5k finishing times, but James Yarwood (Wrexham AAC) and his sturdy twin-buggy claimed first place yet again with a fast finish in just 18 minutes and 5 seconds.
Quite remarkably, the first six finishers all dipped under 19 minutes with JM15-17 athlete Joe Culverhouse (NWRRC) taking the second spot with a determined effort, and he was only two seconds adrift of James, with Sion Hill third in 18.76.
*The first female finisher was visitor Sarah Wingfield (16th overall) in 20.41, with Andrea Rowlands second in 21.31, and Abbie Robinson third in 21.44. *There were 326 finishers at Rhos where Dougie Graham commemorated his 250th parkrun volunteering role.
*NWRRC entered five members including: Joe Culverhouse 2nd in 18.07; Steve Mason 65th in 24.10; Steve Roberts 70th and third VM60 in 24.22; Kay Hatton 84th, and she won her VW60 age cat in 24.52; with master vet Don Hale 177th in 28.18.
*GOG Triathlon had a remarkable 28 entrants, and their top three finishers included young Gwion Brown 7th on his course debut in 19.21 and he won his SM20 age cat; Paul Manington 9th in 19.52 and he won his VM45 cat; and Paul Garstang 12th in 20.14, and he too won his VW60 age cat.
And it was interesting to see four members of the Cole family in action at Rhos, with Simon Cole running with his son Lewis – who recorded a new PB in 30.47 - and Vicky Cole who ran with their other son Finley in 24.01, and he also claimed a new PB!
*Colwyn Bay AC had six runners, and their top three finishers were: Josh Mottram 23rd in 21.23 and third SM20; Ian Taylor 34th in 22.14; and Rebecca Downs 38th in 22.26. *Other local runners of note were Ben and David Spofforth 57/58th in 23.35; Mike Pemberton 122nd in 26.51; and Amanda Durber 157th with a new course PB in 27.45.
*Conwy: Gavin Roberts (Eryri Harriers) was the runaway leader at the Conwy parkrun in 17.58, with team colleague Anna Drinkwater second overall in 19.44, and Aidan Thomas third in 20.47. The second female finisher was teenager Victoria Band in 23.35, with Dana Lanceman third on her debut in 24.07. *There were 141 finishers at Conwy.
*GOG Triathlon entered five members, and their top three all won their respective age cats including: Joshua White 20th in 24.26 and first SM30; Tracey Haseldine 24th with a new course PB in 24.47, and she won her VW55 cat; and VM75 athlete Liz Evans finished 35th and she also won her VW75 age cat in 25.41.
*NWRRC member Vicky Taylor finished well in 89th place in 31.25, and she was third in her VW55 age cat. *Praise also to John Stallard 55th in 27.40; and to Pam Grant 96th and second VW65 in 33.02. *And well done to Porth Eirias Runners Tal Michael 64th in 28.48; Chris Hammond 72nd in 29.45; May Wimbury 108th in 34.41; and Roy Warden 130th in 34.16.
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*Liz Evans (*above left) with John Stallard and Vicky Taylor.
*Prestatyn: There was only six seconds between the first and second finishers at the Nova parkrun with Tom Carter (Prestatyn RC) just claiming the first place in 19.03, with Tony Wood (Denbigh Harriers) second in 19.09, and Mathew Baker third in 20.14. *And the first female finisher also represented Prestatyn RC, with Michelle Meredith-Roberts running home in 24.16, ahead of Catherine Jones in another close finish with a new course PB in 24.24, whilst Katy Welsh was third on her debut in 25.45. *There were 193 finishers at Nova.
*The Prestatyn club had a tremendous entry of some 29 runners and included three members in the top ten placings with: Tom Carter 1st in 19.03, Alex Ryder 7th in 22.17, and David Hudd 9th in 22.29. And well done to super vet Mike Davis 105th in 31.53 and he was second in his VM75 age cat. *There were also three members of the new NW parkrunners group with Daniel Huws 43rd in 26.06; Charlotte Bloomfield 162nd in 41.00; and Catrin Williams 170th on her debut in 44.55.
*Penrhyn: Teenager Cai Dafydd was the first finisher at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun with a new course PB in 17.05, with Steffan Sayer (Menai T&F) second in 17.48, and Cameron Nightingale third on his debut in 18.08. And it was interesting to note that the first six finishers all dipped under 19 minutes.
*The first female was Kate Browning with a new course PB in 20.49, and Helen Morgan (Eryri Harriers) was second in 23.06, with Zoe Brookes third on her debut in 23.23. *There were 186 finishers at Penrhyn.*Endurance athletes Ben and Sarah Hudson also ran at Penrhyn with Ben 20th in 22.42, and third in his VM45 age cat, with Sarah 41st, and second in her VW45 cat in 22.42.
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