NORTH Wales Road Runner Carla Green was the first female finisher at the Rhyl half-marathon on Saturday (June 18) and celebrated her return from injury by smashing her age category record in this distance.

Carla set a new North Wales Regional Athletics Council (NWRAC) “all-time best” record by completing the sun-drenched yet breezy course with a new personal best in just one hour and 28 minutes.

She knocked a minute-and-a-half off an impressive record that had stood for more than 10 years.

This popular event attracted more than 250 quality athletes and the ultra-flat promenade route encouraged everyone who was intent on claiming new personal best times.

The race was eventually won by athlete James Yarwood (Abergele Harriers).

North Wales Road Runners Club (NWRRC) newcomer Steve Forsyth led a strong team of 15 club runners, who claimed seven age category podium places, including outright victories for Carla Green and Cheryl Frost, plus several new course personal bests.

Steve ran hard and kept with the early pace-setters but later had to settle for fourth place overall, and second in his MV40 cat in a time of 1.19.14.

Will Williams finished 12th overall and claimed second spot in his MV45 cat in 1.25.22, followed closely by Iwan Evans, 13th and fourth in his M40 category in 1.26.13.

Carla Green was the first lady finisher in 15th place overall and she won her VW50 age category in 1.28 in record time.

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Stuart Culverhouse was additionally in fine form and claimed third place in his MV50 category in 1.32.50 in 29th place, while Steve Roberts continued to impress with another good run finishing in 48th place and third in MV55 in 1.37.19.

Cheryl Frost was another age cat champion in great form, finishing 68th overall, and first in her VW55 cat in 1.43.48 as the eighth female athlete.

Nicola Wylie was another star on the day, recording a half-marathon PB, finishing 114th overall, the 19th female runner, and fourth in her FV50 cat in 1.53.21.

Hannah Griffith maintained a high standard for the ladies in 134th place and the 26th female in 1.56.20, with Tessa Bushnell running well and coming home in 80th place overall in 2.08.56, followed closely by veteran Len Jackson who was fifth in his M65 age category in 182nd place in 2.11.53.

Susan Smith also enjoyed a good outing over this distance in 207th place and she claimed second place in her FV55 category as the 57th female runner in 2.20.

Samantha (Sam) Williams ran well despite limited training, and still finished in a respectable 220th in 2.24.21.

Rachel Morris also had a positive run in 221st place in 2.25.25, with Gwennan Charlton 134th in 2.26.39.

Four successive wins and a great new PB for Josh at Conwy parkrun

Josh Keogh made it four wins in a row at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday, and he also recorded a great new personal best time of 17 minutes and 11 seconds.

The NWRRC all-rounder continued with his stunning form over fells, road, and parkruns, to celebrate knocking a further three seconds off his previous best time over this challenging 5k route.

Josh also won his SM30 age category and despite keen competition from visiting rival Andy Bromley (Prestatyn RC), and club colleague Mark Jessett, who similarly recorded personal bests.

He finally managed to outsprint the pair to claim another impressive victory.

As usual, the parkrun involved another fast and furious event, attracting 185 varied entrants, including nine Road Runners and one junior, who recorded seven age category wins, with the first eight finishers all dipping under the 20-minute mark.

Mark Jessett had to settle for third place, but he won his MV35 age cat in 17.38.

Chris Davies additionally enjoyed another good showing, finishing eighth overall, and third in the same age category as Mark in 19.41.

Sean Butler had a deserved age category win in his masters MV60 section in 22.01, with his wife Karen Butler also winning her own VW60 category, and a new personal best in 25.18.

Don Hale recorded his best parkrun time since last February and knocked a minute off his previous effort, finishing 59th overall and second in his MV65 category in 25.47.

And he was just one second ahead off the fast-chasing Lesley Goodson, who won her VW55 age category in 25.48 and finished in 60th place overall.

Master veteran Mike Hayton was another age category winner of his MV70 age cat in 73rd place and in 27.05, with Ben Spofforth, running with his father Dave, was a repeat winner of his JM10 category in 27.18 in 79/80th places.

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

Other events:

*Wrexham: Kelly-Marie Alford was the female winner of her age category at the Race the Trails 10k event at Alyn Waters Country Park, Llay, near Wrexham, last Sunday.

Afterwards Kelly confirmed: “I was third female. The two before me though were 10k masters (40 plus), so that made me the open female 10k winner (Ages 6-39), and the first place winner. I ran it with Cai Roberts, and we did it in 52.31.

*Coed y Brenin: Vicky Taylor took part in the tough Coed y Brenin half-marathon last weekend.

Vicky completed the challenging route including 2,126 ft of elevation in two hours, 47 minutes, and after the race she said: “This was brutal in places, however I still loved every minute.”