NORTH Wales Road Runners Club (NWRRC) had eight members involved in the popular Nick Beer 10k race yesterday (February 11).

And they celebrated with two veteran age category victories amongst a bumper entry of 627 club and social runners.

The event, named in honour of a former NWRRC athlete, followed a picturesque but very challenging course, which started from Llandudno promenade and travelled around the Great Orme and back.

Harry Driscoll was the first club runner home with an excellent run finishing in 26th place in 39 minutes and 38 seconds.

He was followed by veteran Steve Gardner who won his Over-60 age cat in 50th place in a chip time of 41.33.

Steve Roberts was back to his best in 132nd place in 48.18 and he was 5th in his Over-55 cat, whilst master vet Barrie Wells ran extremely well to win his Over-70 age cat in 229th place in 52.16.

Newcomer Phillip Moss was 261st in 53.20, whilst Sarah Jones and Daniel Hennell ran together and both enjoyed good performances with Sarah 286th in 54.01, with Daniel just one place and one second behind.

Rachel Morris was also pleased with her performance, which she used as part of her marathon training plan and finished well in 560th place in 1.12.09.

After the race Steve Roberts said: “When I first ran this 10km race 40 years ago, it was called the Speakeasy 10km, and it is now known as the Nick Beer 10k.

“I first ran it in 1984 in 41.10, and today, I ran it in 48.18, so not too bad for someone nearly 60-years young.”

Rachel Morris added: “I may run the Great Orme every week, but that was tough today with the wind pushing against me on the way up, but I enjoyed it.

“The marshals were fantastic, and a great race supported by my own running club."

The 10k race was won by Simon Cole (GOG Triathlon) in a fast time of 33.55, and he also won his Over-40 age cat.

Parkrunners tackle waterlogged course at Conwy

More than 200 entrants, including two-dozen from NWRRC, tackled the waterlogged conditions at Conwy parkrun last Saturday (February 10), before discussing a controversial decision taken by the organisation’s HQ this week to remove all male, female, and age category records.

The dreadful puddle-filled, muddy, and challenging 5k course took quite a beating during the previous few days, with strong winds, and torrential rain making everyone wish they had been wearing flippers, or wellies, rather than expensive training shoes.

Stuart Culverhouse though led home a team of 12 NWRRC athletes home, who secured four age cat wins, and four second placings.

He finished sixth overall, and claimed second place in his VM50 age cat in a fast time of 20 minutes and 31 seconds.

Jamie Tharme also finished second in his VM45 cat in 13th place in 21.36, and Carla Green seemed back to form again, winning her VW50 age cat, as the second female runner in 19th place overall in 22.52.

Adam Lemalle also continued his recent improvements in 20th place, and he was just six-seconds adrift of Carla, and he was second in his VM40 cat in 22.58.

Kay Hatton enjoyed a good run in 25th place overall, and won her VW60 age cat, as the fourth female finisher in 23.38, whilst master vet Barrie Wells ran well to win his VM70 cat in 31st place in 24.06.

Youngster Joe Culverhouse also won his JM11-14 cat after finishing 34th in 24.22.

Steve Mason was 36th in 24.33, and Gethin Wyn Jones continued his recovery plan in 50th place in 25.25, with vet Rob Fryer on the mend in 76th place in 27.20, and he was third in his VM65 cat.

Another master vet, Mark Mason, returned to parkrun after injury and finished 83rd in 28.11, and he was second in his VM70 cat, with Hannah Griffith 84th, and just two seconds behind Mark in 84th place, and she was second in her VW50 cat in 28.13.

Elsewhere, NWRRC member Will Williams celebrated his first cross-country season in style this week and confirmed: “My first XC season done. I won my first Welsh vest, and first North Wales vest, and I finished second overall in my age cat. Quite a successful first season!”