John completes 53-mile charity race and wins first Welshman tag

The experienced endurance athlete was the first Welshman to finish amongst a top-quality international field of 450 starters – with only 315 finishers – during the Highland Fling Ultra Marathon in Scotland.

John was 116th overall and completed this extremely tough course, with 7,187 ft of elevation, in just 11 hours 47 minutes and 52 seconds, knocking a massive 37 minutes off his previous best time.

The race attracted athletes from over 20 countries to Scotland’s biggest ultra-marathon race, which started at Milngavie and continued along the West Highland Way to Tyndrum for a spectacular red-carpet finish.

After the race John, confirmed: “Had a really good day. Sub-12-hour was the target, and I went in the 10-12-hour wave, which took me 16-miles to settle, and letting people pass me by keeping to 10-11 miles a minute pace.

“Conic Hill felt easier this time, but I had to wait at Balamaha (19.8) so lost time there and started blowing up.

“The 30/34-mile feed station was a welcome site, and at the last feed station at 41-miles I had 9:03 on my watch. 12 miles in three hours, easy-ish, and so happy to finish. Pleased with my time!

“Thanks to everyone who sponsored me to help keep Wales Air Ambulance in the sky, and secondly, it was exactly how I remember it from four years ago, but it’s still the best race I’ve done.

“Grandad was a countryman, and I hope I have done him proud today.

“I also bagged myself a 37-minute personal best, so not sure if I’ve got these ultras out of my system yet.”

This is John’s Facebook appeal link for the Welsh Air Ambulance: www.facebook.com/donate/300401852186181/10159108308227683,

Great result for Martin at Wrexham Elite Marathon

Martin Green confirmed his pedigree once again as a top marathon runner and a keen competitor with another tremendous performance at the Wrexham Elite Marathon last Sunday.

The North Wales Road Running Club (NWRRC) member finished the tough seven-lap course in a great time of 2 hours 31 minutes and 19 seconds in a race that attracted numerous elite athletes who were all capable of running a sub-three-hour marathon on a new world accredited fast course along closed roads.

The provisional results confirm that Martin finished 15th out of 167 finishers, and he came second in his MV45 age category.

Afterwards, Martin said: “These marathons don’t get any easier, at halfway in 74:00, then got slower… pleased to finish, no complaints, onto the next one!”

Fun in the sun for Conwy parkrunners

Conwy parkrunners were greeted by bright, warm sunshine, and a light breeze, as they tackled the spectacular 5k course along the river estuary last Saturday morning (April 23).

The event attracted over 200 finishers, with the first 12 runners all dipping under the magic 20-minute barrier.

And runners of all ages and abilities from across the UK were again well represented, while one runner even travelled from New Zealand.

Teenager James Smith (Menai T&F) was the first runner back in a fast time of 17 minutes and 39 seconds, and he also won his SM18-19 age category, with Guy Roberts (Mossley Hill AC) second overall, and first in his VM35-39 group in 18.09.

Well-known local athlete Chris Yorke finished third, but won his VM50-54 age category.

The first lady was Anna Mackenzie (Eryri Harriers) in 20.02.

North Wales Road Runners entered 12 seniors and one junior, and claimed three age category wins, four-second placings, and two-thirds, but surprisingly failed to record any personal bests.

Steve Mason was the first club man home in sixth place overall in 19.18, and he was second in his VM45-49 age category.

Harry Driscoll gave Steve a hard chase to finish seventh, and he was just 11 seconds adrift in 19.29 but won his SM20-24 age category.

And Steve Roberts continued his good form to win his VM55-59 category in 21.37, finishing 22nd overall.

Gethin Wyn Jones maintained his form from last week’s Amsterdam parkrun to finish 30th in 22.20, and Carla Green finished as the fourth female runner, 35th overall, but won her VW50-54 age group in 22.45.

Youngster Joe Culverhouse ran with his dad Stuart again and claimed third spot in his JM11-14 category in 24.00 in 51st place, with Stuart just one place and two seconds behind.

Lesley Goodson returned to Conwy parkrun and enjoyed a steady performance in 72nd place overall, and she was the 12th female runner, while claiming second spot in her VW55-59 category in 25.45.

And Helen Hannam also ran well in second place in her VW45-49 age category, and the 16th female, in 84th place overall in 26.50, whilst veteran runner Sue Smith finished third in her VW55-59 category in 28.56, and 106th place overall.

Gwennan Charlton finished in 127th place and she was second in her VW35-39 category in 30.37, followed by Rachel Morris in 132nd spot in 31.07, and Sue’s husband Mike Smith was 152nd in 33.41.

This is the link to the provisional results from Conwy parkrun: www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults.

Elsewhere, Josh Keogh finished second but claimed a great new personal best of 17.42 at the Princes parkrun, Liverpool, on Saturday.

In a very fast race, he was narrowly beaten by Joshua Makin, who also ran a personal best of 17.05.

NWRRC athlete Will Williams took part in the Penrhyn parkrun last Saturday and finished fifth out of 116 entrants. He was also second in his VM45-49 age category in 19.20.

After the event, Will confirmed: “The last three times I have run on this course I have had the exact same time. Very windy this morning so claiming some progression.”

Charlotte-Rose Wilton-Jones was the fourth female athlete, finishing second in her respective F-open age category, and 22nd overall from 106 finishers during the 8.5-mile Goldrush Trail Race last Saturday.

The NWRRC runner completed the race in a superb time of just one hour, 21 minutes and 7 seconds during this popular event, which was run over some of the best trails and singletracks that Coed-y-Brenin has to offer, and often receives rave reviews from runners who embark on this unique challenge.

Kelly-Marie Alford and Cai Roberts travelled to New Brighton on Sunday for the Wirral PB Breaker 10k and completed the course in 51.40 despite some problems enroute.

Kelly later said: “There was no signage, no marshalls, and the guy at the water station said the turn-around was further on, so we ended up running nine miles. Never again!”

Pier to Pier 10k postponed till January 2023

Meanwhile, Russell Godwin, the organiser of the Arthur Bebbington Pier-to-Pier 10k race, has confirmed that this year’s race, which was provisionally re-scheduled for next Saturday, has had to be postponed again and will now be held in 2023.

This is the second time this year that the race from Llandudno Pier to Colwyn Bay Pier has had to be postponed.

The first, in January, was due to ongoing pandemic restrictions, but this latest blow was due to other unfortunate events and fixture clashes.

It will now be run on or about its normal date in January 2023.

Russell, who organises this popular race in conjunction with Colwyn Bay Athletic Club, confirmed the news in an email sent to all registered entrants last week.

He stated: “It is with regret we will have to postpone this year’s race.

“We have tried numerous different weekends and simply just cannot co-ordinate first aid and transport, with so many events back in the calendar following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions.

‘”his time of the year is worsened with the promenade being so busy at Llandudno, Rhos, and Colwyn Bay, and it has been made even more difficult as we approach the summer period.

“For those that have entered we will postpone the race to January 2023 and entries will automatically be deferred.

“The date will either be the January 14 or 21, and we will confirm as soon as the tide information has been revealed.

“Thank you for your patience over the past few weeks as we endeavoured to find a suitable date and look forward to seeing you all again in 2023.”