*Some of the NWRRC members (above) pictured at the Twin Piers 10k.
Hundreds of runners celebrated a return of the popular Twin Piers 10k race...with medals for the Road Runners.
Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery.
The revised Arthur Bebbington Twin Piers 10k race returned to huge acclaim last Saturday following an absence of several years due to the extensive renovation and flood protection works to the promenade at Rhos on Sea and Colwyn Bay.
Nearly four-hundred elite, and mixed ability athletes, many from far afield, celebrated the reinstatement of this popular challenging event from Llandudno Pier to Porth Eirias, and despite the rather dismal and damp weather, enjoyed a new course, which this time included a closed section of the latest one-way road layout just below Cayley promenade.
Well organised by Russell Godwin and his support team from Colwyn Bay AC, the race also formed part of the North Wales 10k championships and attracted numerous top club runners, who competed for prestigious medals. Generous plaudits were later offered to all the marshals and volunteers including race MC John Hatton from NWRRC, and photographer Steve Jeffery.
Russell Godwin confirmed some updates on Monday. He said: "We had 451 entries which we were very pleased with. This included the fun run held in the morning. We had 375 finishers for the 10k and there is always an average of 10% dropout which could be for several personal reasons. "The winner, Daniel Bebbington was Arthur’s grandson who won it last time it was held. The winning time was 29.47 a fantastic performance although not sure where this sits in terms of course records and will have to enquire within the club to ascertain. The course has changed to accommodate the various road closures and works over the years but essentially it is the same route.
"Incidentally, it really was a Bebbington event as I had Arthur’s wife Chris and son Nigel (father of Daniel) assist with the prize giving. A very special day for them and us all in the memory of Arthur who was quite the legend of Colwyn Bay Athletic Club and a key to the success of the club during his term."
The overall 10k event was won by Daniel Bebbington (Blackburn Harriers & AC) with a very fast time of 29 minutes and 47 seconds, followed by Elliott Smith-Rasmussen (Newark AC), in 30.39, with Dion Griffith (Menai T&F) 3rd in 31.55.
Amie Smith (Cheshire Dragons) was the 1st female finisher, 26th overall, in 37.45, with Rachel Shipley (Abergele Harriers), hot on Amie’s heels, and just seven-seconds adrift, as the runner-up, in 27th place overall, in 37.52, with Emma Alofs (Cybi Striders) 3rd, and 41st overall in 39.23.
*Pictured above - Six female members of NWRRC at the finish (l-r): Gwennan Charlton, Nia Lister, Helen Hannam, Nicola Wylie, Hannah Griffith, and Samantha Williams, and (below left), Kevin Slattery and Steve Roberts, with (*below right), Iwan Evans and Stuart Culverhouse.
North Wales Road Runners entered a large contingent of some thirty-five athletes and claimed five top-three finishes in the main race, in addition to winning six NW championship medals. This included a well-deserved silver medal for the club’s veteran chairman Kevin Slattery, who recorded an incredible time of 43.47 in his M65 age cat, and fellow vet Cheryl Frost, who also won a marvellous silver medal winner in her F55 cat in 47.11.
*Pictured above Cheryl Frost, Gwennan Charlton and Kay Hatton, and (*below) veteran and NWRRC club chairman Kevin Slattery, with Steve Roberts.
Llyr ApGeraint Roberts was the first NWRRC club runner home following a superb performance in 21st place, and he was 3rd in his M50 age cat in 37.05, and won a bronze NW champs medal.
Will Williams, who made a quick dash back from his holidays, gave chase to Llyr, and finished just one place and twenty-two seconds behind him in 37.27, with Iwan Evans 36th, and 3rd in is M45 cat in 38.55, winning a bronze championship medal.
Steve Mason finished just behind Iwan in 37th place in 39.01, with Will Evans 45th in 39.47, and Harry Driscoll was 49th in 40.08, whilst Stuart Culverhouse was just eight-seconds behind Harry in 50th place in 40.16. Richard Eccles also enjoyed a good run in 61st place in 41.01, and Sion Thomas was 92nd in 43.34.
Steve Gardner continued his impressive form in 67th place and won a NW bronze medal after finishing 3rd in his M60 cat in 41.29. Vet Kevin Slattery was on fire in his M65 cat finishing 2nd with a silver medal in 43.47 in 96th place, and he was just 13-seconds adrift of winning gold!
*Mal Preece and Rachel Morris (above), with their medals at the finish.
Mal Preece finished well in 119th place in 45.03, and Steve Roberts was 127th in 45.39, followed closely by Steve Poupart, who was just one place and one second behind. Dave Jones was on form in 133rd place in 46.18, with another holiday returnee, Jamie Tharme, finishing 138th in 46.29.
Cheryl Frost put in a determined display to win a superb silver medal after finishing 2nd in her F55 age cat in 149th place in 47.11, with Richard Scamans 158th in 47.45. And vet Kay Hatton won a bronze medal following another good performance in 164th place, and she was 3rd in her F60 cat in 48.00.
Adam Lemalle was 174th in 48.49, and both Sarah Jones and Daniel Hennell celebrated massive PBs after running together, with Sarah 185th in 49.56, and Daniel 188th in 50.15.
Veteran Tony Gibson was 217th with a good time of 52.20, and Hannah Griffith finished well in 219th in 52.23, with Nicola Wylie making a welcome return to racing in 233rd place in 53.40 and she shared the latter part of the event with colleague Helen Hannam, who matched the exact same time, and finished just one place behind.
*Pictured right, Veterans' Don Hale with brothers John and David Jones, at the 10k finish.
Master vet Don Hale was pleased with his first 10k for years in 236th place in 54.03, but like several other NWRRC members, he just missed out on a medal after finishing 4th in his M70 age cat. Gethin Wyn Jones continued his recent recovery in 245th place in 55.26, with Nia Lister running well again in 263rd place in 57.35. Another master vet Mark Mason performed well in 265th place in 58.00, with vet Len Jackson in close pursuit of Mark, running home just twenty-seconds behind, in 273rd place in 58.20, whilst fellow master vet Mike Hayton was only nineteen-seconds behind Len in 275th place in 58.39. Gwennan Charlton and Samantha Williams ran the course together in 283rd and 284th places, and both shared the same finishing time of 60.04, whilst ultra-distance and marathon enthusiast Rachel Morris enjoyed another positive run in 321st place in 68.52.
*North Wales 10k championships: NWRRC medal results: Male: M45 Iwan Evans (bronze) 38.55; M50 Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts (bronze) 37.05; M60 Steve Gardner (bronze); 41.29; M65 Kevin Slattery (silver) 43.47: Female: F55 Cheryl Frost (silver) 47.11; and F60 (bronze) Kay Hatton(bronze) 48.00.
*Some other notable gold NW 10k championship medal winners: Male: M55 Eddie Davies (Buckley) 39.15; M60 Eric Campbell (Buckley) 38.20; M65 John Jones (Eryri Harriers) 43.35; M70 Sandy Johnston (Les Croupiers) 46.05; M75 Gareth Hughes (Prestatyn RC) 56.16; M80 Jack Thomas (Buckley) 75.31; and M85 Roger Harrison-Jones(Prestatyn RC) 67.01.
*Super veteran Roger Harrison-Jones (pictured above) won his M85 age cat
*Female: F55 Debbie Cattermole (Meirionnydd) 46.31; F60 Margaret Ludden (Buckley) 47.10; F65 Christine Wyn Jones (Deeside) 50.56; F70 Liz Evans (GOG Triathlon) 51.58; F75 Ann D’Albuquerque (GOG Triathlon) 58.59.
*Sandy Johnston (right), won his M70 age cat at the Twin Piers 10k.
*This is the link to the provisional results from the Twin Piers 10k race: