A WEEKEND staged in unusually warm weather included 17 members of North Wales Road Runners Club (NWRRC) involved in the Bangor 10k and half-marathon, the Chester Metric Marathon, and the Chester Marathon.

NWRRC had two members selected to represent Wales last Sunday during the International match versus England, within the Chester Marathon.

And both Martin Green and Cheryl Frost competed well, and proudly wore their prestigious and famous red vest.

Veteran athlete Martin, who is an experienced long distance champion, enjoyed an exceptional run, finishing in 16th place overall out of 4,586 entrants, and he also won his MV45 age category in just two hours, 34 minutes and 27 seconds.

Martin later admitted: “A great day at the Chester marathon this morning, and nice to meet up with lots of fellow athletes.

“The beauty of this sport is generally you get out what you put in so with different targets over the summer this was always going to be a tough ask, but I couldn’t ask for more than 2.34.30 off just two long runs.”

Cheryl, meanwhile, unfortunately suffered from a few health issues during the race, but she did not disappoint, and despite some additional pre-race nerves, she still turned in a very brave and gritty performance to run home in 2,051st place in 4.24.14.

A downhearted Cheryl later confirmed: “I had a disastrous marathon, right on target up to eight miles from the end, but then I had an asthmatic episode, followed by a couple more.

“Very disappointed and frustrated. I will have to do Manchester now to prove I can do it!”

This challenging 26.2-mile distance also attracted three other club members, with newcomer Tom Aindon finishing in 375th place in 3.13.22.

Kelly Marie Alford celebrated an incredible run, knocking a remarkable 28-minutes off her previous best time in 1,415th place, and she just dipped under the four-hour marker with a fantastic effort in 3.58.04.

Evergreen marathon man Jon Evans ran the adjacent four-hour pacer bus, and once again he arrived right on time in 3.59.29.

A delighted Kelly added: “I finally got myself a sub-4-hour marathon! I’m over the moon! And it was a 28-mi PB too!”

In the Chester Metric Marathon, Sarah Ferguson Hudson led her team home with a great run in 77th place out of 1,204 starters, and she was the 13th female athlete, and claimed the fifth spot in her FV45 age cat in 2.05.09.

Her husband Ben, who had been suffering from a heavy cold, finished in her wake this time, despite a brave effort, with Ben recording 2.14.54, in 134th place.

Cai Roberts was another man in good form, and he finished 431st in 2.38.39, with Vicky Taylor 666th in 3.01.09, and Rachel Morris continued her excellent Eryri Marathon preparations, with a very determined and brave run in 843rd place in 3.20.30.

Rachel later said: “The conditions were extremely hot! I felt unwell enroute and had to take it easy. Some runners collapsed. Such a shame as so much training goes into these long runs.

“This was my toughest race yet, I think. My feet are burning. I felt ill but I’ve got a nice shiny medal now and a new training top – plus a bag full of goodies.”

Elsewhere, five Road Runners took part in the Bangor City half-marathon and Will Evans was the pick of the pack finishing well in 12th place overall out of 264 entrants, and he was also third in his MV40 age cat in 1.32.11, with Sion Thomas also on song in 40th place in 1.42.29.

Steve Roberts was 46th overall, and he additionally won his MV55 age cat with a strong performance in 1.44.31, and Dave Jones finished 69th in 1.50.32, whilst newcomer Carol Moss was pleased with her club race debut in 180th place in 2.13.24, and she claimed the second spot in her FV55 cat.

With so many other events underway this weekend, just two club members entered the Bangor City 10k race, but both runners enjoying podium places, with another promising newcomer Daniel Hennel winning his MV45 age cat in 54.30 in 47th place.

Master veteran Mike Hayton enjoyed a strong finish in 79th place in 61.01, and he was third in his MV70 age cat.

In Southend, Kay Hatton won her VW60 age cat after finishing 39th overall, and the fourth female runner at the Southend-on-Sea parkrun last Saturday, with a good time of 23.21.

And in Chester, Stuart Culverhouse was another age cat winner after finishing ninth, with a course debut time of 19.50, to win his MV50 cat.

Top duo battle for honours amid sprint finish at Conwy parkrun

It was another battle from start to finish by two talented club runners during last Saturday (October 7)’s parkrun at Conwy, with Wrexham AC’s James Yarwood just holding on to the top spot following a sprint finish ahead of Road Runner Jonathan Kettle.

NWRRC entered 10 members, and celebrated two first-place age cat wins, one second, and two third places.

Jonathan Kettle again led the team home, and he also won his MV45 age cat in 17.49, with Steve Bozier seventh, and third in his MV45 cat with a positive display in 20.59.

Newcomer Phil Rogers ran home in 20th place on his course debut in 22.05, and he was second in his MV60 cat.

Karl Morris enjoyed a comfortable outing in 21st place in 22.30, and he was third in his MV40 cat, with Adam Lemalle going from strength to strength in 23rd place in 22.40.

Master veteran Don Hale won his MV70 age cat finishing in 60th place in 26.37.

Meanwhile, fellow vet John O’Shea ran hard in 27.51 in 83rd place, and partially sighted runner Daniel Owens returned to parkrun after nearly a year away.

He enjoyed a strong finish in 121st place, alongside his trusted guide Richard Scamans in 30.20, while Rachel Morris also ran well in preparation for her Chester Metric run, finishing in 132nd place overall in 31.59.