North Wales Road Runners beat ‘The Wall’ to complete 70-mile challenge

This went from Carlisle to Gateshead, and covered some of the most scenic but difficult courses in the country.

The duo began their efforts in the early hours of Saturday morning (June 15), and eventually finished some 16 hours later.

They ran together throughout the event, which included a tough journey via several notable north-eastern landmarks including Lanercost Priory, Walltown Quarry, The Sill, Hexham, and Newburn, before eventually crossing the finish line at Gateshead.

The organisers claimed it was the UK’s most iconic ultra-marathon and challenged entrants to conquer 70 stunning miles through historic Hadrian’s Wall country in a continuous, fully supported, and way-marked journey.

It also included some 3,460ft of elevation, but the experienced couple coped very well, and eventually, Sarah was the 38th female, and Ben the 266th male, amongst a massive quality entry of some 797 finishers.

Trio hit the Salomon Trail half-marathon

Three NWRRC members took to the trails last Saturday and braved wet and windy conditions in the tough and challenging Salomon Trail half-marathon race.

Adam Lemalle was the first trio member home in 2.07.42 and he was the 21st M40 runner, with Charlotte Rose Wilton Jones finishing well in 2.08.38, and she was the 15th FSen, and Vicky Taylor was the 12th F40 athlete in 2.59.59.

Good performances for Road Runners at Colshaw 10k

Seven Road Runners travelled to the leafy lanes in Cheshire last Sunday to compete in the Colshaw Hall 10k near Knutsford, with most members pleased with some excellent results.

Newcomer Benjamin Brummit made his club debut and he finished very well in 143rd place in 40.59, out of a massive field of nearly 700 runners.

He was followed by James Jones, who was 165th in 41.47, with Sion Thomas 176th in 42.17.

Veteran athlete Kevin Higgins ran in his fourth consecutive 10k race during his unique series, and he too was pleased with his time of 51.22, which was his best for over two years, and Cai Roberts and Kelly Marie Alford ran the course together and finished in 400th place in 52.15, with Vicky Taylor enjoying another good performance in 522nd place in 58.45, despite competing in the Salomon Trail half-marathon the previous day.

There were 683 finishers overall.

Mixed bag of weather for over 200 entrants at Conwy parkrun

More than 200 entrants at Conwy parkrun faced a mixed bag of weather last Saturday morning with cool, wet, and windy conditions, which made a mockery of the claim that it’s supposedly summer.

NWRRC’s Stuart Culverhouse and his young son Joe Culverhouse, however, celebrated a family double with both members winning their respective age categories.

Stuart, who led home a team of 11, was the first NWRRC man home in 12th place overall in 20.54, and he won his VM50 cat, whilst Joe finished 28th, and won his JM11 cat in 22.34.

Sandwiched in-between was Steve Roberts, who braved a running vest but finished second in his VM55 cat in 22.10, with Martin Green jogging around the 5k course in 23.12.

Master veteran Barrie Wells hit good form to record an excellent time on 24.21 to win his VM70 age cat in 51st place, and Hannah Griffith continued her purple patch of form to record another good time of 25.26 in 69th place to win her VW50 cat.

Additional master vets Don Hale and Rob Fryer enjoyed good runs with Don knocking another minute off his previous time to finish in 76th place in 25.45, and he was second in his VM70 cat, with Rob hot on his heels in 26.40 in 94th place.

He finished third in the same age cat, whilst veteran Len Jackson won his VM65 cat with a positive run in 107th place in 27.56.

Another master vet, Mark Mason, looked more like his old self with a steady run in 123rd place in 28.34, and he was fourth in his VM70 cat.

Gwen Charlton, fresh from her ultra-marathon challenge of last week, enjoyed an easy recovery run in 135th place in 29.40, and she was third in her VW35 cat.