*Some of the NWRRC team at Holyhead (back row l-r) Jamie Tharme, Cai Roberts, Rachel Morris, Rob Fryer, Iwan Evans, Steve Roberts, Kevin Higgins, and Sion Thomas, (and front row l-r), Kay Hatton, Kelly Alford, Sarah Hudson and Cheryl Frost.
Road Runners won nine regional medals at the Holyhead Breakwater 5-mile championship race...special feature.
Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.
North Wales Road Runners celebrated some great individual performances and won nine prestigious regional medals at the Holyhead Breakwater 5-mile race last Sunday despite battling with a strong and blustery wind.
NWRRC entered fifteen athletes and recorded five podium places in the main race, including one age category win, three second, and one third; and in addition they also claimed nine prestigious North Wales medals, including five gold, in the associated regional championships, which was run in conjunction with this same event.
This popular annual race again attracted a large number of quality club runners, and despite the challenging conditions many still achieved some remarkable results and some excellent PB times.
John Higgs was the overall race winner in a chip time of just 26 minutes and 57 seconds as the 1st MSen cat finisher. He was followed by Simon Cole (GOG Triathlon), who was also the 1st MV40 cat winner in 27.23, and Simon was only five-seconds ahead of Gavin Stuart (Cybi Striders), who was 3rd overall, and 2nd in his MSen cat in 27.28.
For the Ladies, former NWRRC member Gemma Moore (Eryri Harriers) was the 1st female athlete in 31.25, and she also won her FV40 age cat. Rachel Shipley (Abergele Harriers) was the 2nd female finisher, but won her FSen age cat in 32.21, whilst Emma Alofs (Eryri Harriers) claimed the 3rd spot, and the 2nd FSen cat place in 33.27.
*Pictured above - the start of the Holyhead Breakwater 5 mile race.
Veteran athlete Steve Gardner was the first NWRRC member home in 26th place, and he was 2nd in his MV60 age cat in the main race but struck gold in the NW championships in 32.46. Iwan Evans was just six-seconds adrift of Steve in 27th place in 32.52 but won a silver medal in the NW champs, and Jamie Tharme finished 41st in 35.07, and collected a deserved bronze championship medal.
*Pictured left - (l-r) Iwan Evans.
Sion Thomas was 47th in 35.48, with Sarah Ferguson Hudson 51st, and the 5th female athlete with a new PB of 36.18, and she finished 2nd in her FV40 age cat in the main race but won a gold medal in the NW champs.
Steve Roberts was 62nd in 37.15, and Cheryl Frost had another great run finishing in 69th place as the 10th female athlete, and she additionally won the FV50 age cat prize in the main race, and the FV55 age cat title in the NW event to win a gold medal in 38.23.
Kay Hatton was the 2nd placed FV60 runner overall in 39.22, in 77th place, and she also won a silver medal in the NW race. Kelly Marie Alford finished 82nd overall in 40.32, and she was another gold medal winner after finishing 1st in her FV35 age cat in the NW champs; with Cai Roberts sharing the same time as Kelly, and just one place behind her. And veteran Rob Fryer won a NW bronze medal in 102nd place in his MV65 cat in 43.57, whilst master veteran Mark Mason struck gold in his MV70 age cat in the NW race, and he was 3rd in the same age cat in the main race in 45.06. Vicky Taylor finished well in 116th place in 48.04, with Kevin Higgins 117th and just two-seconds behind Vicky in 48.06, with Rachel Morris 122nd in 50.11. *Plaudits were later given to the race organisers, Cybi Striders, and to all the volunteers and marshals, with deserved praise additionally given to MC John Hatton.
*Welsh Master veteran Steve Gardner (*above). *After the race, Sarah Hudson said: “A great race but so windy on the return, so pretty tough, but I managed to sneak a PB somehow.” Rachel Morris added: “I got my fastest-ever mile on the first mile 9.04. An enjoyable race even if the wind was a little tough. Thanks to the organisers and marshals.”
*Pictured above - Welsh Masters Kay Hatton and Cheryl Frost at Holyhead. *North Wales 5-mile championships results: The Road Runners collected nine prestigious North Wales regional medals at the Holyhead 5-mile race including five male and four female awards. The men’s team won two gold medals, one silver and two bronze. Steve Gardner (gold) 1st MV60; Mark Mason(gold) 1st MV70; Iwan Evans (silver) MV45; Jamie Tharme (bronze) 3rd MV45; and Rob Fryer (bronze) 3rd MV65. The Ladies team won three gold medals and one silver. They included: Sarah Hudson (gold) 1st FV45; Cheryl Frost(gold) 1st FV55; Kelly Alford (gold) 1st FV45, and Kay Hatton (silver) 2nd FV60. *The mixed team of Steve Gardner, Iwan Evans, Sarah Hudson and Cheryl Frost later claimed the 3rd place club team prize.
*Kay Hatton from the NWRAC (*above left) presents a championship medal to Kelly Alford and in the background are race official Paul Brooks and John Hatton who was the MC on the day.
*This is the link to the provisional results from the main Holyhead Breakwater 5-mile race, and to all the NW championship and medal winners: -
https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-embed.php?event=3962#0_3EF1B7