THERE were mixed emotions at Conwy parkrun on Saturday as nearly 300 mixed ability social and club runners paid tribute, including a minute's spontaneous applause, to the popular and well-known photographer Steve Jeffery, who died on Wednesday.

Steve was a founding member of North Wales Road Runners, and at Abergele Harriers, and was a regular supporter at Conwy, and at numerous other local parkruns, plus a variety of sporting events throughout the region.

Photographer Steve Jeffrey with his dog Bonnie.

Photographer Steve Jeffrey with his dog Bonnie.

There was a notable feeling of shock and sadness amongst the packed ranks as parkrun officials John Hatton, and Bethan Wyn Roberts, and Steve’s friend John Humphries, spoke to the gathered runners at the start of the parkrun and confirmed the sudden and unexpected loss of Steve, who usually attended events with his pet dog Bonnie, and willingly posted all his treasured pictures online.

After the run, John Hatton said: “A great tribute to Steve Jeffrey at Conwy Parkrun this morning, with Steve’s partner and Bonnie his dog. Thank you to all club runners in their club vests this morning as a tribute to Steve.”

North Wales Road Runners paid their own personal tribute to Steve by wearing their club colours and entered a remarkable twenty-two members, with three runners finishing in the top-ten and claimed three age category victories.

Brothers John and David Jones, together with Paul Quentin, paid tribute to photographer Steve Jeffrey.

Brothers John and David Jones, together with Paul Quentin, paid tribute to photographer Steve Jeffrey.

Three runners from different local athletic clubs paid their own personal tribute to Steve Jeffery.

Brothers John and David Jones, together with Paul Quentin, initially intended to run at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday to celebrate Paul’s 100th parkrun, but they also wanted honour the memory of a beloved friend and a former colleague.

Paul won his age group during an emotional run, but confirmed, that although he is no longer a member of Abergele Harriers, he was a member when Steve Jeffery founded the club, and ran with him for many years.

Meanwhile, Josh Keogh led a strong club team home in 5th place overall, and he won his SM30 age cat in 18 minutes and 44 seconds. He was closely followed by Will Williams, who was just one place and seven-seconds behind, but won his VM50 cat, and Harry Driscoll ran well in 11th place, and he was 3rd in his SM20 cat in 19.40.

Four other club runners packed well, with each member finishing within a few seconds of each other in a final dash. Dave Jones led the group back in 34th place in 22.23, followed by Jamie Tharme 40th in 22.46, and he was 3rd in his VM45 cat, with Steve Roberts 42nd and 2nd in his VM55 cat in 22.50, whilst Tony Price Jones was only four-seconds adrift in 43rd place in 22.54. And despite a good chase Adam Lemalle had to settle for 49th place in 23.13, with Karl Morris 52nd in 23.24, and a recovering Martin Green finished well in 53rd place in 23.33.

Kelly Marie Alford meanwhile continued her rapid progress with a third parkrun PB on the trot and she knocked almost a minute off her previous time, finishing 67th overall, thanks to her latest PB of 24.44 as the 7th female, and she was 2nd in her VW40 age cat.

Veteran Karen Butler was on good form again, and she was 2nd in her VW65 cat in 80th place in 25.35, with master vet Don Hale winning his VM70 cat in 25.55 in 87th place. Ceri Jones was 107th in 27.23, and Rob Fryer was back in action again, and he enjoyed a steady run in 27.43 to finish in 113th place.

Another master vet, Mark Mason, claimed the 2nd spot in his VM70 age cat in 118th place overall in 27.51, and Hannah Griffith was 143rd in 29.08, with veteran John O’Shea 144th in 29.11. Gwennan Charlton also ran well in 169th place in 30.38, with Nia Lister 179th in 31.16; whilst Rachel Morris continued her marathon build-up in 197th place in 32.42.

The injured Steve Mason, and his dog Coco, walked the course as the sweeper in 287th place in 52.38.