Podium places for North Wales Road Runners at Chester half-marathon

They all competed well, and celebrated with three age cat podium places despite the hot and challenging conditions.

Martin Green looked back to his old self again and led home a team of 15 members, to additionally win his MV45 age cat with a superb chip time of one hour, 15 minutes and 10 seconds, finishing well in 13th place overall, out of nearly 6,000 entrants.

He was one of three NWRRC members who celebrated podium positions, with Martin’s wife Carla Green finishing third in her FV50 cat as the 20th female, whilst veteran Rob Fryer also took the third spot overall, and the second chip place result in his MV65-69 age cat.

Jonathan Kettle said he struggled throughout but he finished well in 47th place in 1.21.15, and Carla Green 237th had an excellent run in 237th place 1.32.40, Stuart Culverhouse was 295th in 1.34.09, and James Jones was 543rd in 1.39.42.

Steve Roberts also ran well to claim 714th place in 1.42.43, with Cheryl Frost 1154th, (151st female), in 1.49.56, and Kay Hatton narrowly missed out on honours after finishing fourth in her FV60 cat in 1.51.26 in 1278th place, (179th female).

Nicola Wylie continued her steady progress with a good time of 1.56.18 in 1838th, (313th female), and Kelly Marie Alford did well to dip under the two-hour mark in those conditions finishing 2093rd, (392nd female), in 1.58.28, with Jon Evans on time again as a pace setter in 1.59.46 in 2210th place.

Cai Roberts finished in 2435th place in 2.02.49, with veteran Rob Fryer 2714th in 2.05.42, and newcomer Molly Evans ran well to record 2.07.29 in 2652nd place, with Nia Lister 3465th in 2.18.48.

North Wales Road Runner wins Southport Sprint Duathlon

NWRRC’s Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts was the proud winner of the Southport Sprint Duathlon event on Sunday with a determined display following his success at two 5k runs and a tough 20k bike ride.

This win came as something of a shock to the experienced GB and Welsh International athlete, as he only confirmed his attendance at the last minute after suffering from an illness all week.

In his first 5k race run he admitted he “wasn’t feeling it,” but persevered, and eventually finished strong in 19 minutes and 33 seconds.

He then battled for honours in the 20k+ bike ride, and said he finally caught the race leader after about 4k.

His final Duathlon Sprint event involved another hard 5k race, but he dug in well, and finished quicker than his first run in 19.13, to win the competition in style.

Road Runners compete well at Great Orme fell race

11 members of NWRRC competed in the gruelling Great Orme fell race, which attracted 150 hardy athletes, and is part of a challenging midweek series of similar events.

Jonathan Kettle led the team home in 17th place overall in 36 minutes and 35 seconds, with Steve Mason close on his heels and finishing 19th in 37.13.

Veteran Kevin Slattery followed up his excellent performance in the Snowdonia half-marathon with another good result in 46th place in 41.42, and Adam Lemalle was pleased with both his run and his time after finishing 69th in 43.41.

Steve Bozier continued to rebuild his fitness and he was 89th in 47.06, with Richard Scamans 115th in 51.07, whilst Nicola Wylie was 120th in 52.13. and it was good to see Elizabeth Driscoll returning back to form with another good run in 122nd place in 53.13, and Nia Lister was 147th in 64.26, whilst Helen Hannam was 148th in 64.59, and Gwennan Charlton finished in 149th place in 66.17.

Perfect weather for 400+ runners as Conwy parkrun celebrates its 400th event

It was a perfect morning at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning (May 18) with warm, bright sunshine, for over 400 athletes, walkers, and volunteers as they commemorated their 400th event.

Blessed with unusually good weather, very little wind, and with an atmospheric touch of mist in the distance surrounding Conwy Castle, people from all parts of the country boosted the number of local entrants to this regular run, with everyone determined to enjoy and celebrate this special occasion.

The event also helped to raise awareness of mental health issues and included a brief presentation by Conwy Mind at the start, who highlighted examples of their good work, and mentioned the many services available for people in need, backed by support from members of the Feel Mind Group.

John Hatton from North Wales Road Runners (NWRRC), who has both run and volunteered as an MC at Conwy since the start of these parkruns, worked hard to promote this occasion during several preceding days, and eventually he was also able to celebrate after achieving this memorable milestone.

NWRRC entered 15 members and collected four age cat wins, despite many runners taking it easy in preparation for the Chester half-marathon race the following day.

Will Evans was the first club man home in ninth place overall in 20.02, and he also won his VM40 age cat.

Adam Lemalle enjoyed another good run in the sun, finishing 18th in 21.34 and he was third in his VM40 cat.

Dave Jones ran his fastest parkrun this year in 23rd place in 22.06, and he too was third in his VM50 cat, whilst youngster Joe Culverhouse continues to impress, and he easily won his JM11-14 cat in 27th place in 22.18.

Jamie Tharme recovered from his recent injury to put in a determined performance, finishing 38th in 23.00, and second in his VM45 cat.

Master veteran Sandy Johnston was back to his best and won his VM70 age cat in style recording an excellent time of just 23.04 in 40th place overall.

Steve Poupart, however, ran Sandy close, and he was just one second and one place behind him, and third in his own VM45 cat.

Richard Scamans finished 60th in 23.57, and Martin Green and Tony Price Jones ran together and jogged around the course, with Martin 65th in 24.07, and Tony was just one second and one place adrift.

Carla Green was another athlete taking it steady for another race, and she ran back with Stuart Culverhouse.

Carla won her VW50 cat in 24.11 in 69th place, with Stuart again just one second and one place behind.

Another master veteran in Mark Mason finished 3rd in his VM70 age cat in 144th place in 27.38, with fellow vets Rob Fryer and John O’Shea running home steadily, with Rob 162nd in 28.20, and John 196th in 29.56.

Other parkrun results:

*Prestatyn: Mal Preece finished ninth overall at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn in 22.24, and he was second in his VM60 age cat.

*Penrhyn: Three Road Runners took part in the Penrhyn Castle parkrun where Will Williams finished third overall, and he won his VM50 age cat in 18.37, whilst Elizabeth Driscoll and Hannah Griffith ran together, where Elizabeth winning her VW55 cat on her course debut in 26.52 in 55th place, whilst Hannah shared the exact same time, and she was second in her VW50 age cat.

*Sharpham: Ben Hudson finished 14th in the Sharpham Estate parkrun, near Dartmouth, last Saturday, with a time of 23.12, and he was third in his VM45 cat.