CONWY half-marathon attracted a bumper starting field of nearly 1,000 mixed ability runners last Sunday (November 20) for a challenging encounter from Conwy Castle and around the Great Orme and back.

Elite athletes joined with top club members and social runners to help raise thousands of pounds for charities, and people travelled from all parts of the UK again just to take part in this popular and spectacularly scenic race.

The event was won by Dave Barratt (Salford Harriers) in a fast time of just one hour, 10 minutes and 41 seconds, with Adam Jones (Eryri Harriers) second in 1.13.09, and Michael Young (West Cheshire) taking third place in 1.14.17.

For the ladies, Anna Bracegirdle (Salford Harriers) ensured it was a race double for the Salford club in 1.15.54, and Dutch athlete Tinka Vinks (Breda), celebrated her overseas venture to claim second place in 1.28.02, with Katie Latham (Nantwich RC) third in 1.29.04.

North Wales Road Runners Club (NWRRC)’s Martin Green was up with the leaders for the much of the race but eventually had to settle for well-deserved fifth place overall in 1.16.26, and he also won his MV45 age cat.

NWRRC entered 23 runners and were delighted with four podium places, including one outright cat win, with two second places, and one third.

Mark Jessett enjoyed another strong performance in 13th place in 1.19.15 and finished second in his M35 cat. Rory Middleton made a rare appearance in club colours but ran hard in 54th place in 1.28.06, with Stuart Culverhouse 117th in 1.32.42.

Steve Bozier seemed to back to form after his marathon efforts in 141st place in 1.34.12, and afterwards he summed-up the feelings of many when he said: “The support and amazing course really makes the Conwy half-marathon the best local half there is!

“Not my fastest race by any means but the most enjoyable of the year especially with the best support from family and friends.”

Steve Roberts ran home in 1.44.28 for 409th place, and Charlotte-Rose Wilton-Jones ran well again to finish 431st in 1.45.17.

Meanwhile, Cheryl Frost and Kay Hatton continued their fascinating cat and mouse battle less than 24-hours after their North Wales Inter-Regional cross-country challenge success in Monmouth.

Cheryl finished as the 90th female runner and in 515th place overall to claim the second spot in her W55 age cat in 1.47.36, with Kay hard on her heels in 517th place and third in the same age cat in 1.47.39.

Kelly-Marie Alford recorded a great new PB and knocked over two minutes off her previous best time in 1.53.26 in 718th place, and Tony Gibson was another long absentee from competition and finished in 736th place in 1.53.44.

Nicola Wylie was another runner in top form, and she also knocked two minutes off her previous best in 1.54.07 to finish in 750th place.

Kevin Higgins finished in 925th place in 1.59.18, and he was narrowly ahead on chip and gun placings from club veteran Rob Fryer, who celebrated his determination to just dip under the two-hour mark in 1.58.04 in 945th place.

Jonathan Kettle and John Dalzell ran as volunteer target markers for the two-hour groups and confirmed their pace well in 1.59.00.

Helen Hannam said she was unable to hang onto this time but still enjoyed her run in 2.02.29 in 1,047th place overall, and she finished about a minute ahead of Adam Lamelle in 1,063rd place in 2.03.44.

Cai Roberts, however, said he felt out of sorts and struggled for some reason, recording a time of 2.06.27 in 1,140th place, but in contrast, Gwennan Charlton was pleased with her efforts of 2.21.20 in 1,564th place.

Susan Smith had a good run in 1,706th place in 2.29.56, and Vicky Taylor ran in close pursuit, finishing well in 2.31.19 in 1,719th place, whilst Samantha (Sam) Williams ran home in 1,126th place in 2.05.34.

Hat-trick of silver medals at Welsh cross-country championships

A trio of NWRRC members took part in the Welsh Athletics Inter-Regional cross-country championships at Monmouth last Saturday (November 19) and all collected silver medals as part of their respective age group team medals.

Richard Eccles finished sixth in his MV55 race with the team coming home in second place overall, and Cheryl Frost and Kay Hatton ran in the FW55 age cat race and again were rewarded with silver medals for a similar second-placed finish.

Cheryl was 109th and the eighth MW55 runner in 31.17, with Kay 122nd and 11th in the same age cat in 32.08.

After the race Richard said: “A well organised event on a great course and although it was a long journey to earn my first NW vest it was great to see so many young runners competing, they had such talent and energy!”

Elsewhere, Hannah Griffith completed the tough Penmaenmawr Fell Race last Saturday, which is run over a challenging and undulating 11-mile course.

Hannah finished in 134th place overall, in two hours, 24 minutes and nine seconds.

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Six of the best for the Road Runners at Conwy parkrun

NWRRC celebrated nine podium places including six of the best age category winning times at a bright and sunny Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning.

Josh Keogh gave the club a great start with an outstanding performance to finish as the first athlete back home to win his SM30 age cat in just 17 minutes and 14 seconds.

The talented fell runner led a team of eleven club members over another puddle-filled 5k course which also greeted a wealth of fellow runners from across the UK, who had travelled to make a special weekend of competition including the Conwy half-marathon the following day.

Many of the parkrun finishing times probably reflected the preparation needed for the tough challenge around the Great Orme just 24 hours later.

Josh was followed by colleague Steve Mason in third place, who won his MV45 cat in 18.50, with Will Williams 5th and the MV50 cat winner in 19.28.

And Carla Green jogged around the course with her husband Martin Green and finished as the fourth female runner in 31st place overall, and she too won her VW50 cat in 23.18, with Martin running back in 33rd place, and just a second behind Carla to finish second in his MV45 cat.

Stuart Culverhouse had a steady run in 49th place in 24.34, and partially sighted athlete Daniel Owens returned to parkrun for the first time in nearly 12 months running with guide Nick Hayes (Lonely Goat) and finished 81st, and second in his SM25 cat in 26.40.

Master veteran Don Hale recorded a two-minute improvement from previous weeks to finish 83rd in 26.49, and he also won his MV70 age cat, whilst Dave Spofforth and his son Ben ran together with Ben winning his JM10 age cat in 102nd place overall in 28.06, and Mike Hayton continued his good form to finish in 114th place and second in his MV70 cat in 28.54.