Report by Don Hale

The Deganwy Dash, now known as Rohan’s Run, attracted nearly 350 finishers on a warm, and sun-drenched evening on Deganwy promenade last Friday night, with many thousands of pounds raised by local athletes for Childrens Cancer Charities.

This popular 5-mile race, well organised by John Hatton, and Carla Green, and supported by their hard-working back-up team of club members, marshals, and volunteers, was run in memory of a very talented sportsman and student Rohan Ingley, from Abergele, who tragically lost his life to leukaemia in August 2018.

His parents, Sanjay and Aradhana Ingley, together with their daughter Shreya, have remained determined ever since to help commemorate Rohan’s short but extraordinary life, by fundraising for essential children’s cancer charities, and following an offer from the race organisers a few years ago, they gladly accepted the opportunity to re-name this event to Rohan’s Run.

And Rohan’s sister Shreya Ingley also took part in the race again and ran well to finish 218th overall, the 70th female finisher, and the 16th FSen, in 45.56.

The race was eventually won by Tom Wood (Eryri Harriers), following an outstanding performance over this picturesque coastal course, which started at Deganwy, and then followed a narrow and winding route pathway around Conwy Cob to the RSPB Nature Reserve and back.

Tom finished in just 26 minutes and 20 seconds, and won his M24 age cat, with Josh Keogh 2nd, and despite his determined efforts, he was still over a minute adrift in 27.56, but won his MSen cat, whilst Andrew Bromley took the 3rd spot in 28.21, and he was 2nd in the same cat as Josh.

For the ladies, Amie Smith (Cheshire Dragons), was the first female finisher in 31.19, and she won her FSen cat, with Emma Alofs (Cybi Striders), 2nd, and the runner-up in the same cat as Amie in 32.24, whilst Jane Doughty (Buckley RC) finished 3rd, and she won her F45 age cat in 33.47.

The event created a superb atmosphere and was well attended by a wide assortment of mixed ability runners from across the country, in addition to a generous number from athletic clubs, and local groups including GOG Triathlon, Porth Eirias Runners, Black Cloak Runners, and Dalzell Runners, amongst many others.

North Wales Road Runners entered thirty-one members amongst the 341 finishers, with many other club athletes helping out with other volunteering duties, and Jonathan Kettle was the first club man home as the team celebrated with nine podium places including four age category victories for Jonathan Kettle M45, and M70 Sandy Johnston, in addition to Nicola Wylie F55, and Karen Butler F65.

These are the final results for NWRRC team members: •4th Jonathan Kettle 28:29 4th overall, 1st M45 •19th Iwan Evans 31.38, 18th M, 3rd M45 •24th Steve Mason 32:21, 23rd M, 4th M45 •34th Will Evans 33:20, 32nd M, 8th M40 •41st James Jones 34:14, 37th M, 14th M45 •48th Sion Thomas 34:37, 44th M, 11th M40 •56th Adam Lamelle 35:20, 56th M, 12th M40 •67th Mal Preece 35:47, 61st M, 3rd M60 •69th Dave Jones 36:01, 63rd M, 2nd M50 •70th Steve Poupart 36:02, 64th M, 7th M45 •78th Ben Hudson 36:28, 72nd M, 9th M45 •85th Sandy Johnston 37:13, 77th M, 1st M70 •86th Sarah Hudson 37:11, 9th F, 3rd F45 •94th Richard Scamans 37:47, 83rd M, 8th M50 •116th Cai Roberts 39:30, 111th M, 17th M40 •119th Nicola Wylie 39:38, 17th F, 1st F55 •122nd Sarah Jones 39:54, 19th F, 4th FSen •123rd Dan Hennell 39:54 104th 12th M45 •127th Karen Butler 40:15 22nd F, 1st F65 •136th Phillip Moss 40:53, 114th M, 6th M60 •146th Tony Gibson 41:40 119th M, 4th M65 •150th Helen Hannam 41:59, 29th F, 7th F45 •156th Rob Fryer 42:12, 124th M, 2nd M70 •164th Greg Taylor 42:40, 129th M, 10th M55 •177th Kelly Alford 43:51, 43rd F, 7th F40 •178th Gethin Jones 43:53, 135th M, 13th M35 •192nd Nia Lister 44:44, 51st F, 8th F35 •198th Carol Moss 44:47, 54th F, 5th F55 •252nd Mike Hayton 49:17, 160th M 6th M70 •253rd Gwen Charlton 49:09, 93rd F, 12th F35 •306th Rachel Morris 56:14, 135th F, 19th F40.

*NWRRC member Dave Jones summed up the feelings if many on the night and said: “I’ve knocked a minute and forty off my time from last year! What an amazing local race, perfect weather, superbly organised, tons of support along the route, with great marshalls keeping us right, and shouting us all on.”

*Praise was later given to the organisers, volunteers, marshalls, and sponsors, which included Tesco, Conwy CBC, with the main sponsor was MKM, and their director Konrad Roberts later presented all the prizes.