*Pictured above (l-r): Stuart Culverhouse with Harry Driscoll, Carla Green, and Jamie Tharme at Conwy parkrun.
Road Runners claimed six age category wins at another puddle-filled Conwy parkrun...
Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.
Over two hundred mixed ability athletes took part in last Saturday’s Conwy parkrun with many participants travelling from far and wide to enjoy this puddle-filled but picturesque 5k course.
North Wales Road Runners entered fourteen members and collected six age category victories in addition to three second places and three third, with many enjoying much improved times despite the very wet conditions underfoot.
Will Williams was the pick of the team finishing 2nd overall with another good run in 18 minutes and 37 seconds to win his MV50 cat. He was followed by Will Evans 7th with a new PB of 20.13, and won his MV40 age cat, whilst Stuart Culverhouse remained hot on his heels throughout, and was just one-second behind Will in 8th place in 20.14, and he finished 2nd in his MV50 cat.
*Will Williams (*right) had a good parkrun and finished 2nd overall.
It was good to see young Harry Driscoll back at parkrun and he was 2nd in his SM20 age cat, in 11th place overall in 20.36, with Jamie Tharme recovering from injury to finish 14th in 21,13, and he was 2nd in his MV45 cat.
Carla Green continued with her impressive recovery progress and took another second off last week’s parkrun time finishing in 17th place overall, and the 4th female athlete in 21.24, and she also won her VW50 age cat.
Steve Roberts won his MV55 cat with a strong run in 22.28 in 24th place, and Adam Lemalle was another runner on the mend, and he was pleased to finish 29th with his fastest time this year in 22.51, and 3rd in his MV35 cat.
Richard Scamans enjoyed a good performance in 31st place in 23.00, and veteran Rob Fryer was back to his best in 72nd place, and he also won his MV65 age cat in 26.13, with master veteran Don Hale giving chase, and he recorded his fastest time this year of 26.46, in 79th place, and he also won his respective MV70 age cat.
John O’Shea ran well to finish in 89th place in 27.28, and he was 3rd in his MV65 cat, whilst Mike Smith made a welcome return to parkrun, and he just edged ahead of his wife Sue Smith for the first time, with Mike finishing 147th in 33.05, with Sue 148th in 33.17, but she claimed the 3rd spot in her VW55 age cat in 33.17.
After the parkrun, Will Williams, said: “I started off easy then improved with a managed effort. My legs felt great, but still feeling my hip, so just managed my run. Happy with the time and even happier with my fitness, and not lost as much as I thought I had. It felt comfortable.”
And husband and wife team Mike and Sue Smith exchanged some lively banter with Mike adding: “My 81st Parkrun, and my first in nearly a year. This is the first time I’ve finished ahead of Sue. My time is on a par with last summer, so I’m really pleased with this.”
*This week, the event attracted 204 entrants and the first man home was Julian Ayres (Trismart) on his course debut in 17.51 and he won his MV35 age cat, with Will Williams (NWRRC) 2nd in 18.37 and 1st place in his MV 50 cat, whilst Jake Tapping (University of Manchester XC Club) finished 3rd overall in 19.51, to win his SW20 age cat.
The 1st female finisher was Emily Hanlon, 5th overall, in 20.03, and she won her SW20 age cat, with Alice Johnson (Les Croupiers), the 2nd female athlete in 20.15, and in 9th place overall, with a fast finish, and won her SW30 cat, whilst Jess Varley (Peterborough and Nene Valley AC), claimed the 3rd female spot, in 10th place overall, and she was only four-seconds adrift of Alice in 20.19, but won her SW25 cat.
*Praise was given to the Conwy run director and the hardworking team of volunteers and marshals. This is the link to the provisional results from Conwy: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/