*Pictured above - Colwyn Bay student Bryn Woodall - set a new record.
Bryn Woodall set an incredible new course record at Conwy parkrun...and recorded the quickest time in the UK?
Report by Don Hale.
*UPDATE: It has now been confirmed that American student Bryn Woodall from Colwyn Bay AC in North Wales recorded the quickest parkrun time in the UK last week - which also smashed the course record at Conwy. He is also hoping to be selected for the U23 Wales squad and Team GB.
Talented Colwyn Bay AC student Bryn Woodall set an incredible new course record of just 14 minutes and 45 seconds on Saturday at Conwy parkrun following an outstanding performance over this challenging 5k riverside route from the RSPB Nature Reserve to Deganwy and back!
And it quite bizarrely, it was almost three years to the day since he smashed the previous parkrun PB record at the same venue on 21st August 2021 of 15.16.
And Bryn, who is on a brief summer break from his studies in America, finished more than two minutes ahead of his nearest rival and clearly dominated the event with his runaway success.
It seemed right the start that this popular athlete was determined to attack the course record before returning to his overseas studies, and with weather conditions favourable he just went flat out to finally achieve his goal!
John Hatton from North Wales Road Runners, who has been the parkrun MC, and a keen volunteer at Conwy for many years, was thrilled by Bryn’s results and said: “What a parkrun this morning, Bryn Woodall beat his old record of 15.16 to do 14.45. I spoke to him at the start, and he said he was going for it, he wanted to go sub 15 before going back to the States. Bryn was delighted, and talking to him afterwards, he said he wants to compete in the U23 European championships next year.”
Alastair Canaway (*pictured right):
The Road runners entered fourteen members and Alastair Canaway led the team home in 4th place overall in 17.42 and won his VM35 age cat. Will Williams enjoyed a good run after injury and he finished 19th in 20.25, with Sion Thomas celebrating a new PB of 20.49, and 2nd in his VW40 cat.
Adam Lemalle was 29th in 21.24, with Steve Roberts 43rd, and 2nd in his VM55 cat in 22.06, and Richard Scamans finished in 50th place in 22.19.
Jamie Tharme looked back to his best again finishing 68th in 23.31, and veteran Kay Hatton won her VW60 cat with an excellent run in 24.22 as the 9th female in 77th place overall.
Master veteran Barrie Wells claimed the second spot in his VM70 age cat despite a good outing in in 78th place 24.24, and Hannah Griffith finished 2nd in her VW50 cat in 117th place in 26.14, whilst master vet Rob Fryer gave Hannah a close chase on his 200th Conwy parkrun, finishing just one place and six seconds adrift, and he was 3rd in his VM70 cat in 118th place in 26.20.
Another master vet in Mike Hayton ran well in 154th place in 28.20, with Nia Lister was 207th in 30.25, meanwhile, Steve Mason walked the course as a sweeper in 394th place in 60.42. *There were 396 finishers.
Pictured (right), Master veteran Mike Hayton at Conwy parkrun.
*The first three male runners at Conwy parkrun were: 1st Bryn Woodall (Colwyn Bay AC), SM20-24 with a new PB in 14.45, and in 2nd place was youngster Thomas Bushby (City of Hull), JM15-17, on his debut in 17.04, with Tim Rogers (Trafford AC), SM30, 3rd on his debut in 17.23.
*The first female finisher was Anna Drinkwater (Eryri Harriers), 8th in 19.04, with Tracey Holdcroft 2nd (26th overall), with a new PB in 21.19, and Alex Aldous was the 3rd female (35th overall), who also recorded a new PB in 21.42.
*Praise was given to the run director and to all the volunteers and marshals. This is a link to the provisional results at Conwy: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/
Other results:
*Nottingham: Ben and Sarah Hudson took part in the Rushcliffe Country Park parkrun, near Nottingham, on Saturday with Ben finishing 65th overall in 22.21, and Sarah was the 12th female, 107th overall in 23.48, and she finished 3rd in her VW45 age cat amongst 444 entrants.
After the event Sarah confirmed: “My legs are finally beginning to forgive us for the ultras. Great undulating course around the country park! Loved it!”
*Penrhyn: Sandy Johnston easily won his MV75 age cat with another superb performance at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun, finishing in 46th place overall in 23.52.