Report by Don Hale

It was another bumper turn-out at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning for the ever-popular Christmas event with nearly three-hundred club and social runners braving the wild and windy conditions over this challenging 5k course.

And it turned out to be a dash with a blast for two top young guns who battled for honours with just five-seconds separating 1st and 2nd places. Students Morgan Kendall and Bryn Woodall, who are both back home again in North Wales for the festive break, raced neck and neck throughout, with a near photo-finish on stand-by!

Morgan (Durham University Harriers AC) eventually took the 1st finisher place overall in 17 minutes and 15 seconds, and won his SM20 age cat, with Bryn (Colwyn Bay AC), a very close 2nd in 17.20, and he was 2nd in the same age category as Morgan, with veteran Simon Cole also celebrating a very fast finishing time in 3rd place in 17.30 and he won his VM40 cat.

North Wales Road Runners only entered twelve members this week due to other commitments and with several people recovering from festive parties, illness, or injury. Will Williams though was the first club man home in 10th place overall, and he was 2nd in his MV50 age cat, with Mark Jessett 3rd in his VM35 cat in 20.03. Steve Mason was 18th, and he was 2nd in his VM45 cat in 21.11.

Jamie Tharme finished 39th in 23.03, whilst Carla Green won her VW50 age cat, in 51st place overall in 23.53, and Daniel Hennell was 62nd in 24.22, and newcomer Sye Channer ran home in 82nd place in 25.28.

Veteran Tony Gibson was 98th in 26.27, with Ceri Jones 139th in 29.11, and another male veteran John O’Shea finished in 158th place in 30.10. Gwennan Charlton and her son Edward ran together in 160th place, in 30.17; meanwhile, Hannah Griffith completed the course in festive attire in 167th spot with Stef and Fred in 30.58, and Rachel Morris ran her 99th parkrun in 209th place in 34.42.

Plaudits were also handed to Ian Slattery, the son of the NWRRC chairman Kevin, who ran at Conwy during his festive visit and finished 9th overall in 19.01, and he was 2nd in his VM35 age cat

Conwy run director Bethan Wyn Roberts praised the support for this colourful festive event and said: “Thank you to everyone who turned up to run at Conwy Parkrun this morning. It was a blustery one! And congratulations to some individuals after reaching hugely impressive milestones this morning: Saxon Ridley 100th, Roy Worden 150th, and Keith Tubman 200th.

“As always, a huge thank you to all the volunteers who braved the conditions to allow the magic to happen yet again. And from all at Conwy Parkrun, we would like to wish everyone a happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year.”

This is the link to the provisional results at Conwy parkrun: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/.