NORTH Wales Road Runners Club (NWRRC) member Llyr Ap Geraint Roberts competed in his Great Britain vest during the veteran’s MV50 European Sprint Duathlon Championships in Italy, and recorded an excellent top 10 finish.

The international all-round Welsh master was even leading the pack at one stage but admitted to a slight mishap during transition which pushed him back, but he recovered well to eventually claim a prestigious eighth place overall.

Held in Carole, which is about 50km from Venice, his split times included 16 minutes and 35 seconds for the first run of about 5k, and 36.20 for the cycle ride, with 11 minutes for the second run.

After the event Llyr said: “I was really pleased, but it could have been higher if I hadn’t had trouble getting my feet into my bike shoes during T1 transition, but I’ll take the top 10 any day!”

Road Runners on the move

Three NWRRC members travelled to Merseyside last Sunday (March 26) to take part in the Liverpool Skyline half-marathon, where veteran Kay Hatton won her F60 age cat with a superb run.

She finished as the 69th female, and 726th overall out of nearly 3,929 entrants in 1.42.39. Kay was supported at the race by Kelly Marie Alford and her partner Cai Roberts.

Kelly ran well in 1,763rd place in 1.49.44, despite spraining her ankle during the final 100 metres, with Cai 2,404th in 1.58.47.

Richard Eccles was in top form again at the Welshpool 10k where he finished in 17th place overall, and he also won his MV55 age cat in 39.27.

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North Wales Road Runner on form for club and country

NWRRC member Steve Gardner competed for GOG Triathlon on Sunday in the Welsh sprint duathlon champs in Harlech.

After the event he said: “I was very happy with my first run, then Andrew Haines from Risca Triathlon club Cardiff blew me away on the bike.

“I managed to pull time back in transition and on the last run to finish second MV60, just five seconds behind Andrew.”

Club newcomer Beth Williams travelled to Harlech on Saturday to compete in the world’s steepest street race where she was 76th out of 107 entrants and finished eighth in her F-Open age cat in 44.11.

Stuart Culverhouse finished sixth at the Hafan Pwllheli parkrun on his debut last Saturday with an impressive time of 23.08 and he was second in his MV50 age cat.

Helen Hannam claimed third place in her VW45 age cat at the Blackpool parkrun, finishing in 80th place overall in 28.33.

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Will Williams won his MV50 age cat at the Penryn Castle parkrun, finishing in fourth place in 18.51.

Mike Hayton enjoyed a good workout in the 10k trail race at Loggerheads Country Park, near Mold, on Saturday (March 25).

Mike completed his run in 74 minutes, and later said: “It was a nice course of two 5k laps with a steep section in each lap. An enjoyable run.”

Breeze for teenager Morgan in blustery Conwy parkrun

North Wales-based student Morgan Kendall, representing Durham City Harriers, made light of the rather cool and blustery conditions at Conwy parkrun last Saturday to record a great new course PB of just 16 minutes and 30 seconds as the first male runner home.

The teenager finished nearly two minutes ahead of his nearest rival, veteran Road Runner Martin Green, in 19.25, with debutant veteran John Brogan 3rd in 19.49.

NWRRC entered 12 athletes and claimed eight podium places including five first-place age cat winners and three second placings, including Martin Green, who led the team home in second place overall to additionally win his MV45 cat in 19.25.

Harry Driscoll returned to Conwy parkrun again to win his SM20-24 age cat in fifth place overall in 20.36, with Dave Spofforth in close pursuit in seventh place in 20.51, and he also won his MV40 cat.

Youngster Joe Culverhouse enjoyed an unusual solo dash to win his JM11-14 age cat in 43rd place in 24.25, with Richard Scamans 46th in 24.41.

Gethin Wyn Jones finished 67th in 25.48, and veteran Rob Fryer was 72nd, and second in his MV65 cat in 25.56.

Elizabeth Driscoll finished in 90th place in 27.18, and she too finished second in her VW55 cat, with master veteran Mark Mason 102nd in 27.40 and he won his MV70 cat.

Veteran John O’Shea meanwhile ran home in 115th place in 28.48, and another master vet Don Hale continued his battle with injury and finished 130th overall, and second in his MV70 cat in 29.45.

But he knocked several minutes off last week’s result, while Steve Mason jogged around the course as part of his marathon training in 186th place in 37.11.