*Pictured above - Adam Lemalle and Kevin Slattery from NWRRC at the Anglesey half-marathon race. (*This superb image and the one below of Alastair Canaway have been provided, courtesy of Mel Parry photography). Email: dmelparry@gmail.com
of the
NW Road runners celebrated age cat wins at Anglesey half-marathon and 10k races.
Report by Don Hale.
It was a bumper turn-out at the Anglesey half-marathon and 10k races last Sunday with over 1,100 runners taking part in this tough and very challenging course on an unusually bright and sunny morning.
North Wales Road Runners entered five athletes in the half-marathon event, with a further six members competing in the 10k, and once again they celebrated with an excellent M65 age cat victory by club chairman Kevin Slattery in the longer distance race, whilst Alastair Canaway finished 3rd overall in the 10k, and master vet Don Hale won his M70 cat, with fellow vet Rob Fryer claiming the 3rd spot in his M65 cat!
This very popular double event was well organised by Always Aim High, and the conditions also attracted a large crowd of enthusiastic supporters, who cheered the runners from start to finish.
*Pictured right - Alastair Canaway, who finished 3rd in the Anglesey 10k.
Stuart Culverhouse was the first NWRRC member home in the half-marathon with a gritty and determined display, finishing 64th out of 640 starters, in a very good time of 1 hour 34 minutes and 20 seconds. He was followed by Kevin Slattery, who had an outstanding run again, and defied the years, to win his M65 age cat in style, finishing 87th in 1.37.01.
Adam Lemalle was also on form in 286th place in 1.52.54, and Samantha Williams returned to racing in 479th place in 2.07.58, whilst it was also good to see Hannah Griffiths running well with her sister, Siwan Kalatzi (Thames Valley Triathletes), and she was 566th in 2.17.41, with Siwan just one place and one second ahead.
In the 10k race, which included nearly 500 starters, Alastair Canaway blazed a fast trail despite the undulating course, and claimed a well-deserved 3rd place overall as the 3rd O/Sen cat in 37.08, with promising newcomer James Jones making his club debut, finishing 19th in 41.44, and Sion Thomas was 78th in 49.59.
After the 10k, a delighted Alistair confirmed: “I'm very happy to finally be back racing after a long eleven months of injury. I really didn't feel good today, so I'm happy to come away with 3rd place and blew out the cobwebs.”
The vets then took the plaudits in the same demanding race, with Don Hale winning his M70 age cat with a new course PB of 53.54, and his best 10k time since 2021, in 122nd place; whilst Rob Fryer was back to his best and claimed the 3rd spot in his M65 age cat, finishing 145th in 55.30; with fellow master vet Mike Hayton running well as the 5th M70 cat in 1.02.12.
The 10k race was won by Lloyd Williams (Cybi Striders) in 34.59, with club colleague Ryan Roberts second in 35.50, and Alastair Canaway (NWRRC) third in 37.08. The first female athlete was Tilly Edwards (Eryri Harriers) in 40.33, with Lydia Sharpe second in 40.33, and Orla Healy (Mayne AC), finished third in 42.05.
*The half-marathon was won by George Ravenhall (North Leeds Road Runners) in 1.11.28, and Ifan Dafydd finished second in 1.12.14, with Sam Griffiths (Menai T&F) third in 1.14.00.
Praise was also given to Sam’s club colleague Stefan Sayer, who finished fourth in 1.16.17, and Nic Brook (Eryri Harriers), who was 6th overall in 1.18.53. And it was good to note that Sandy Johnston won his M70 age cat with a great run in 1.45.45, finishing in 192nd place.
The first female athlete was Emma Alofs (Cybi Striders) in 1.29.22, with Naomi Wright second in 1.30.39, and Eleri Wright (Rhedwyr Hebog Runners), third in 1.33.04.
*Anglesey 10k results:
*Anglesey half-marathon results.