A TOTAL of three members of North Wales Road Runners Club (NWRRC) took to the outdoor track last Saturday (May 11) at Deeside for the North Wales Regional Track and Field Championships.

They set some new personal bests, won five prestigious medals, and also smashed a couple of Welsh records.

Veteran Steve Gardner hit top form in the 3000m race for Senior Men, and he finished in seventh place overall within a quality field and won a gold medal after finishing first in his VM60 age cat with a superb time of 11 minutes and two seconds.

His father Dave Gardner also excelled in the shot put and javelin events and he won two gold medals in his VM80 age cat in both events, with some exceptional throws, which are now new Welsh records.

Dave’s throws in the shot included 6.01, 6.26. 6.31, and a PB with his final throw of 7.06.

And in the javelin, his similar excellent throws were 14.17, 13.18, 14.03, and once again, he recorded a final PB and winning throw of 15.38.

Michael Finnie followed up his indoor sprint success from last January with two very good performances to win two silver medals in the VM60-69 age cats in the 100m and 200m events, despite a long time-lag between the two races.

In the Senior Men’s 100m event, he finished sixth, and won his VM65 age cat in a time of 17.78 seconds, and he also finished sixth, and won his MV65 cat in the 200m race in 38.78 seconds.

Road Runners hit peak form at tough Snowdonia half-marathon

Elsewhere, 10 NWRRC members competed in the gruelling Snowdonia half-marathon race on Sunday but were pleased with their results despite a hot, and humid day.

Stuart Culverhouse was the first NWRRC athlete home in 41st place overall with an impressive chip time of 1.47.38, but veteran Kevin Slattery was perhaps the pick of the team after winning his MV65 age cat with a superb performance in 70th place in 1.53.36.

Kevin’s son Ian Slattery, who was visiting, also ran well, and he finished 23rd in 1.42.58.

Charlotte Rose Wilton Jones was delighted to finish as the 15th female and she was 5th in her F35-39 age cat in 1.58.34, with Steve Roberts 103rd in 2.00.20, whilst Dave Jones finished 132nd in 2.05.03.

Adam Lemalle finished in 146th place in 2.07.41, and Cai Roberts was 156th in 2.08.20.

Meanwhile, Helen Hannam was the 78th female in 2.29.17, and Hannah Griffith ran this challenging course with her sister Siwan Kalatzi, and they both finished together, with Hannah the 87th female in 2.30.33, and Nia Lister also finished well as the 136th female in 2.45.01.

Conwy parkrun commemorates International Nurses Day and the NHS

It was another bumper turn-out at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday (May 11), this time to commemorate International Nurses Day and in support of the NHS.

Just short of 300 club and social athletes enjoyed the humid conditions on a bone-hard 5k course to record some outstanding finishing times.

NWRRC’s Will Williams led home a team of 12 other club members, to finish in second place overall in 18 minutes and 30 seconds, to win his VM50 age cat.

And young footballer player Joe Culverhouse, who has just finished playing for his junior team, set a hot pace throughout, and finished 17th, with a new PB of 21.59, to win his JM11-14 age cat, with his father Stuart Culverhouse coming home next in 27th place in 22.51.

Carla Green was the third female finisher, and she also won her VW50 cat with a determined run in 28th place in 22.54, and Richard Scamans was 51st in 24.31.

Meanwhile, Steve Bozier returned to parkrun after a break and celebrated 64th place in 25.22, and 3rd spot in his VM45 cat.

Another returnee, James Singleton, finished in 72nd place in 25.56, whilst veteran Rob Fryer ran well again, and he was 3rd in his VM65 cat in 96th place overall n 27.03.

Gethin Wyn Jones also enjoyed his run in the sun to finish 106th in 27.54, and master vet Don Hale continued with his recovery program in 123rd place in 28.37.

He was third in his VM70-74 age cat and shared the exact same time with his club colleague Vicky Taylor, who finished 4th in her VW45 cat, and just one place adrift.

Elizabeth Driscoll and Hannah Griffith also shared the same times with colleague Hannah Griffith, with Elizabeth 185th in 31.37, with Hannah just one place behind.

Other parkrun results:

*Sutton Manor: Steve Mason was the first finisher overall on his course debut at the Sutton Manor Colliery parkrun, and he also won his VM45 age cat in 21.38, finishing some 19 seconds ahead of his nearest rival.

*Penrhyn: Harry Driscoll and Sandy Johnston took part in the Penrhyn Castle parkrun, with Harry finishing well in 16th place in 19.44, and he was 2nd in his SM20 age cat, whilst master veteran Sandy Johnston won his VM70 cat in 23.37 finishing in 37th place.

*Newent Park: Ben and Sarah Ferguson travelled to the Newent Park parkrun in Gloucestershire, which was Sarah’s former home patch.

And despite running just a week after their marvellous ultra-distance 50-mile plus run, Ben finished 4th overall in 23.20, and won his VM45 age cat, with Sarah also on good form in 13th place, and she was the 2nd female finisher, and she also won her VW45 cat in 25.24.

*Prestatyn: Veteran Karen Butler put in a great performance at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn and  recorded a new PB of 25.20.

She finished 35th overall and claimed the second spot in her VW65 cat.