Report by Don Hale - Photos by John Hatton and Lesley Goodson

There was a great turn-out of some thirty-one North Wales Road Runners amongst a massive entry of nearly 3,000 mixed ability athletes, who took on the challenge of the Conwy half-marathon last Sunday.

Described as one of the toughest half-marathons in the country, and following a picturesque but extremely tough course from Conwy Castle to Llandudno and around the Great Orme, some six members claimed podium places, including one age cat victory, two second places, and three third places, in addition to claiming numerous PBs.

Martin Green who has dual registration for both NWRRC and Meirionnydd RC, had a fine run after finishing 9th overall with a chip time of just 1 hour 17 minutes and 3 seconds, and he was 2nd in his M50 age cat. Jonathan Kettle also hit top form, and he was pleased with 18th place in 1.20.48, and 3rd place in the same cat as Martin.

Young Harry Driscoll enjoyed a superb run in 74th place in 1.27.31, and Will Evans was 100th and he celebrated a new PB in 1.28.29. Meanwhile, Steve Bozier’s recent hard work paid off as he dipped under his 90-minute target with a good run in 1.29.23 in 120th place, and Stuart Culverhouse was 167th in 1.32.30, with Steve Mason 183rd in 1.33.14.

Carla Green was another runner back to her best as the 17th female finisher, and she was 2nd in her F50 age cat in 1.34.35. James Jones ran home in 209th place in 1.34.30, and Benjamin Brummit was 303rd, and recorded a good time of 1.38.39. Veteran Kevin Slattery finished 300th in 1.38.52, and he was 3rd in his M65 cat, with Sion Thomas just behind him in 1.38.58 in 314th place following a massive 3-minute plus PB!

Ultra distance athlete Ben Hudson put in an excellent shift in 1.39.42 for 331st place, and Adam Lemalle was another happy man with 1.40.59 in 359th place, whilst Karl Morris probably surprised himself with a good result in 393rd place in 1.42.13, with Steve Roberts 400th in 1.42.21.

Master veteran Sandy Johnson was the club’s only age winner following an amazing run in 1.46.22 in 540th place, and he easily won his M75 cat. Steve Poupart finished 582nd in 1.47.08, and Richard Scamans knocked an amazing 15-minutes off his time from last year in 634th spot in 1.48.36.

Cheryl Frost repeated her excellent performance from the Inter-region cross country championships the previous day, with another well-deserved 3rd place in her respective F55 age cat in 1.50.00 as the 116th lady. Philip Moss enjoyed a steady run 825th place in 1.53.29, and Sarah Hudson just about recovered from her recent ultra efforts to enjoy another good time of 1.53.44 as the 149th female.

Daniel Hennell was 937th in 1.55.56, and Molly Evans finished well as the 260th female in 1.58.07, and master vet Rob Fryer just dipped under the two-hour mark in 1.59.01, in 1024th place, whilst Helen Hannam was the 377th female, and she was satisfied with 2.04.44.

Hannah Griffith ran the course with her sister Siwan in 2.07.48, and Gwen Charlton was 455th in 2.09.05, with Nia Lister 530th in 2.11.30. In addition, Sarah Jones ran exceptionally well in 2.21.32, as the 717th lady, and Rachel Morris celebrated a great effort with another determined display in 2.43.00 as the 967th female finisher.

*The first finisher was Sam Stratford (HI Runners) in 1.13.47, with Harry Lupton (Charnwood) 2nd in 1.14.11, and Bethesda athlete James Browne took the 3rd spot in 1.15.06. *The first female was Keely Smith (West Cheshire AC) in 1.24.37, and Holly Chipman (Silverdale RC) finished 2nd in 1.25.50, with Sarah Atwood (Highland Hill Runners), 3rd in 1.26.03. There were 2,766 finishers.