Report by Don Hale

There were a good few tired legs at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning following the participation of many athletes in the previous evening’s 5-mile charity event at Rohan’s Run formerly known as the Deganwy Dash.

Despite this slight handicap, this week’s parkrun was backed by beautifully warm and sunny weather conditions, and still attracted over 300 mixed ability entrants from all over the UK.

North Wales Road runners claimed five age cat victories from thirteen members, and Martin Green claimed the top spot overall as the first male finisher.

Martin also won his VM45 age cat with an outstanding run in just 17 minutes and 19 seconds, whilst his talented wife Carla Green, also hit good form as the second club finisher, in 10th place overall, and she was the 3rd female in 20.34, to additionally win her VW50 cat.

Meanwhile, Adam Lemalle continued his own purple patch in 17th place, and won his VM40 cat in 21.37, and Jamie Tharme was another winner of his VM45 cat in 22nd place in 21.59, with James Singleton 52nd in 23.57.

Master vet Rob Fryer celebrated his new VM70 age cat with a deserved win in 87th place in 25.53, and Gethin Wyn Jones showed his improved fitness with another positive run, just four-seconds and one place behind Rob in 25.57. And another master vet, Mark Mason was back to his best in 111th place in 27.17, and he finished 2nd in his VM70 cat.

Len Jackson made a welcome return to parkrun and enjoyed a good performance in 28.01, in 124th place, and he was 4th in his VM65 cat, whilst another master vet, Don Hale had his first outing in about four-weeks due to injury but was pleased to run around unscathed in 137th place in 28.40, and he too was 4th in his VM70 age cat.

Veteran John O’Shea showed much improved form to finish in 156th place in 29.51, and Gwennan Charlton was 166th in 30.42, and 3rd in her VW35 cat. And praise too to one of the event tail walkers in Steve Mason who finished 298th place in 52.30. *Praise was also given to the run director Mark Jessett, and to all the volunteers and marshalls.

Other parkrun and NWRRC results:

*Hamburg: NWRRC members Elizabeth Driscoll and her son Harry made their debuts at the Alstervorland parkrun in Hamburg, Germany, last weekend, where Elizabeth won her VW55 age cat in her fastest parkrun time this year after finishing 48th, and the 6th female athlete in 25.43, whilst Harry also enjoyed another good run, and he was 10th overall, and 2nd in his SM20 cat in 19.30.

*Prestatyn: A quartet of Road Runners took part in the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn, with Mal Preece 28th with a good run of 23.08 to win his VM60 age cat, whilst Will Evans ran with his daughter Molly, to make their debuts on this course, with Will 44th overall in 24.51, and Molly was just one place and one second behind, but won her SW18 age cat, with Rachel Morris 162nd, and 4th in her VM40 cat in 37.56.

*Penrhyn: Ben and Sarah Ferguson continued their travels and became debutants at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun. Ben finished 32nd in 22.40, whist Sarah was the 11th female athlete in 42nd place overall in 23.42.

*Rhyl: Helen Hannam ran in the Race for Life 5k for Cancer Research from Rhyl promenade last Sunday, and she finished well despite tired legs from her busy weekend of events in 26.37.

And it was good to note that Josie Davies and her 10-year-old son Jordan also completed this special fundraising charity race, in addition to Janice Jackson, and Pam Grant, amongst many other local runners. Josie later said:

“The boy smashed it, not bad for only ten, and completing a 5k in just under 30-minutes. Well done buddy! It's always an emotional day, but such a great cause. Well done to everyone who took part."

*Abersoch: Will William and Vicky Taylor competed in the Abersoch 10k race last Saturday, with Will finishing well in 23rd place in 39.28, and he was 2nd in his VM50 cat, and Vicky also enjoyed her run in the sun in 549th place in just over the hour in 1.00.21.

*Runcorn: Kevin Higgins completed his second 10k race within his unique challenge to run twelve similar events this year. This week he took part in the Jubilee Bridge race at Runcorn, and finished in 57.16.