Don Hale
Nov 21, 20233 min
*Jonathan Kettle (*above) enjoyed an easy run at Conwy.
Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.
https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com
Ten North Wales Road Runners were amongst a bumper turn-out of over three-hundred entrants at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday with the usual numbers boosted due to a local half-marathon event the following day.
This popular annual race, well organised by RunWales, always attracts a massive following and ensures this particular parkrun date records one of the busiest days of the year, as many athletes utilise this event as an ideal warm-up.
After the parkrun however, it was hoped that most of the participants had a change of footwear available, as once again, this saturated riverside 5k course dominated proceedings, and made the narrow, twisty, riverside route quite a challenge, especially with so many visiting runners.
NWRRC members were restricted again due to additional competing fixtures, and with others possibly saving their energy for the Sunday race, yet the club still claimed one PB, two age category victories, and one second placing!
Jonathan Kettle led the team home after completing an easy run in 25th place, and he was 4th in his VM45 age cat in 23.29. Next back was youngster Joe Culverhouse, who ran with his father Stuart, and Joe finished 38th in 24.31, and won his JM11-14 cat, with Stuart 42nd in 24.42.
*Pictured above - Stuart and Joe Culverhouse at Conwy parkrun, and (*below) Master vet Don Hale and vet Rob Fryer.
Master vet Don Hale finished in 54th place with his second fastest time this year in 25.38, and he also won his VM70 cat, with veteran Rob Fryer 59th, and 2nd in his VM65 cat in 26.05.
Ceri Jones enjoyed a solid run in 71st place in 26.39, with Gethin Wyn Jones building back towards full fitness with an improved performance in 75th place in 26.52, and Steve Mason, who ran with Gethin finished just one place and one-second behind him.
*Gethin Wyn Jones (*above left), with Steve Mason.
Samantha (Sam) Williams was another runner battling to regain fitness and she finished well in 113th place with a new course PB of 28.47, but veteran John O’Shea was hot on her heels, and he was only one place and three-seconds adrift of Sam.
*Despite a large number of visiting club runners, it was interesting to note that two local athletes were amongst the top three male finishers. The 1st man back overall was Adrian Leonard (GOG Triathlon), who was the VM40 victor in 18 minutes and 50 seconds, with James Williams (Lymm Runners), 2nd in 19.26, and he won his VM45 cat, whilst Stephen Eardley (Colwyn Bay), claimed the 3rd spot, and he won his VM50 cat in 19.38.
*The 1st female athlete was Aeronwy Craig (Bramhall Runners), in 11th place overall, with a new course PB of 22.00, and she won her VW35 cat, with Ruth Mewis 22nd, and the 2nd female in 23.24, and she won her VW40 cat, whilst debutant Galiya Brogden, claimed 3rd place, finishing 30th overall in 23.56, and she was 2nd in her VW40 cat.
*Praise was given to the Conwy run director and their hard-working team of volunteers and marshals. This is the link to the provisional results from Conwy: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/
Other race results:
*Stamford: Richard Scamans won his VM50 age cat at the rather hilly Stamford parkrun where he finished 19th in 25.08, and said he was the first NWRRC to take part at this venue.
*Beacon: Steve Forsyth was another travelling Road Runner who recorded a good time of 20.21, to finish in 11th place at the Beacon parkrun, and he was 2nd in his VM40 age cat.
*Betws-y-Coed: Gwennan Charlton ran in the Betws-y-Coed 10k trail race last Saturday and finished 98th overall in a chip time of 1.22.20.