NORTH Wales Road Runner Josh Keogh celebrated his 50th parkrun at Conwy last Saturday was the first runner home despite competing on a waterlogged 5k course in the freezing cold.

For Josh, this was also his tenth win at Conwy and his fifth consecutive victory, finishing in 17 minutes and 32 seconds, which was some 27-seconds ahead of teenage rival James Smith (Menai Track & Field), who was 2nd in 17.59, and Osian Griffiths, 3rd in 18.35.

For the Ladies Anna Drinkwater (Eryri Harriers) was the first female runner home in seventh place overall in 20.47, and Ella Grundy (Colwyn Bay) finished second, and in 19th place overall in 22.49, with another fine battle for both placings, and age cat results, by NWRRC athletes Cheryl Frost and Kay Hatton.

Cheryl eventually finished in 21st place overall, and she claimed first place in her VW55 age cat in 23.09, with Kay just 7-seconds adrift in 23.16 to take second place in the same age cat.

The Road Runners were split this week due to the two Run Wales Loyalty races taking place just a couple of hours later and staged over much of the same puddled-filled course, so only nine members tackled the parkrun.

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It still turned out to be a successful event, as they claimed six podium places, including five age category wins amongst the one hundred and eleven entrants. Many other local parkruns were cancelled.

Josh Keogh was the first club runner home finishing in first place overall, and he was also won his SM30-34 age cat in 17.32. He was followed by John Dalzell in sixth place and first in his MV45 cat in 20.21. Cheryl Frost was 21st overall, and she too won her VW55 cat in 23.09.

Martin Green took it easy in preparation for his NW selection the following day at Telford and finished 23rd in 23.15, and he was just one second ahead of Kay Hatton, who ran home in 24th place overall in 23.16, and she was 2nd in her VW55 cat.

Rob Fryer continued his fine form to claim first place again in his MV65 age cat, finishing in 40th place overall in 24.52, and master vet Don Hale also collected another MV70 age cat win in 64th place in 27.07, whilst veteran John O’Shea finished 75th in 28.57, and Rachel Morris was 89th overall in 31.50.

After the event, race director Bethan Wyn Roberts thanked her dedicated team of volunteers for their work, saying: “Well done to the one hundred and eleven brave runners who ran along the estuary today.

“A huge thank you to all the volunteers today.

“It would not be possible without our high viz heroes.

“Shame about the weather but at least everyone went home with clean feet after running through our puddles.”