NINE Road Runners took part in the Run Wales Loyalty 5k and 10k races last Saturday despite freezing conditions that included sleet, rain, and snow, and run over a tough course covered in mud with many deep puddles.

Race organisers confirmed this was a non-profit event and offered a free bonus place to runners who had previously entered at least two RunWales events this year.

Both races used what was meant to be a very fast, flat, and scenic course long the cycle tracks from Conwy Bridge to Deganwy Quay and back, but the adverse weather conditions made the races far more of a challenge than expected.

The 5k race attracted twenty-one runners, and it was won by James Yarwood (Abergele Harriers) in 16.39, with Will Williams from NWRRC claiming a deserved 2nd place overall, and 1st in his MV45 age cat in 18.02, with new club colleague Steve Gardner finishing 3rd, and 1st in his MV60 cat in 19.55.

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Jamie Tharme seemed to have recovered quickly from injury and claimed 6th place overall and 2nd in his MV45 cat in 20.46, whilst Mandy Owen ran with her friend Sarah Tuck. Mandy finished 18th in 28.29, and Sarah finished just ahead of her in 27.49.

The 10k race, which was won by Rob Grantham (Wirral AC) in 35.52, welcomed seventy-nine athletes over the same shared and saturated course as the 5k entrants in similar horrific conditions.

Stuart Culverhouse led a team of four NWRRC members home and finished in 11th place and 2nd in his MV50 age cat in 39.51. Nicola Wylie was 40th overall and the 6th female runner in 49.20, and she also claimed 2nd spot in her W50 cat.

Helen Hannam battled the elements to finish in 62nd place in 55.18, and Susan Smith was 2nd in her F55 age car, and in 74th place overall in 1.01.59. After the 10k race Helen Hannam said: “Loyalty 10k. Thank you to Run Wales. That was horrible, rain, mud, puddles, but the great support and marshalling made it much more bearable, thank you!”