Report by Don Hale

Due to the Bank Holiday weekend, the numbers of North Wales Road Runners entered at Conwy parkrun were somewhat depleted last Saturday, with many members opting to go on their travels to compete as visitors, at a variety of other parkruns around the UK.

The results however still remained impressive despite a hot day, and mixed weather over the preceding days, which all contributed towards the usual array of challenges over this picturesque out-and-back 5k course, from the RSPB Nature Reserve.

There were just seven NWRRC entrants amongst the near 300-finishers, with Will Williams winning his VM50 age cat following an impressive run in 18 minutes and 22 seconds in 4th place overall, and Steve Mason was also on good form in 9th place, and he won his VM45 cat in 19.35.

Harry Driscoll enjoyed another fine performance to finish 13th in 19.53, and he was 2nd in his SM20 cat. Adam Lemalle finished 3rd in his VM40 cat in 28th place in 21.27, and Tony Price Jones made a rare appearance, but ran well in 23.30, to claim 54th place.

Master veteran Mark Mason won his VM70 cat with a solid run in 137th place in 27.25, and it was good to see vet Len Jackson back at parkrun, and finishing well in 179th place in 29.13, and 4th in his VM65 cat.

*The first finisher overall was Simon Cole (GOG Triathlon) in a very fast time of just 16.48, to win his VM40 cat, with promising youngster Isaac Moran 2nd overall on his debut in 17.40, and he also won his JM15-17 age cat, whilst another GOG Triathlete, Aled Hughes, was just three-seconds adrift during a very close finish to take 3rd place, despite a new PB of 17.43, but he too won his VM35 cat.

The first three female finishers at Conwy were all debutants, with Becca Gibson (14th overall), claiming the top-spot in 20.38, and she also won her VW35 age cat, with Heidi O’Brien (19th), the 2nd female in 21.35, and 1st in her SW30 cat, and Vickie Hallam (33rd), finished 3rd, and won her VW45 cat in 21.40.

*Praise was given to the run director and to all the volunteers and marshalls. This is a link to the provisional results from Conwy parkrun:

https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/

Other parkrun results:

*Prestatyn: A quartet of NWRRC members travelled to the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn where they all gained top three placings in their respective age cats, and all recorded new course PB times! Dave Jones finished 12th in 21.50, and he was 2nd in his VM50 cat, with both he and Richard Scamans running their fastest 5k parkrun times this year, and Richard celebrated 19th place in 22.58, and the 3rd spot in his VM50 cat.

And for the ladies, Elizabeth Driscoll continued her rapid improvement to finish 50th overall and she won her VW55 age cat in 26.04, whilst running with colleague Hannah Griffith, who was just one second and one place behind, and in 2nd place in her VW50 cat.

After his run, Dave Jones confirmed: “A sunny Prestatyn Nova Parkrun and a course PB for me, also my fastest 5K this year. Great conditions out there this morning although it was quite sandy underfoot along the whole promenade.”

*Keswick: Ben and Sarah Ferguson returned to one of their favourite parkruns at the Keswick Railway Path parkrun in the Lake District. Ben finished 56th in 22.05, and Sarah was 70th overall, and won her VW45 age cat in 23.00.

After her parkrun Sarah said: “We tried the Keswick parkrun, great fun and so pretty, and surprisingly flat for the Lake District. Not quite as fast as I wanted but I can definitely still feel the 50-miler in my legs!”

*Wepre: Kay Hatton and Mike Hayton took part in the challenging Wepre parkrun, where Kay was the 4th female finisher, and won her VW60 age cat in 27.26, with master vet Mike, 62nd, and 3rd in his VM70 cat in 32.57. Kay later confirmed: “Mike and I ran at Wepre. A tough 400ft of ascent, but a scenic run through woodland.”

*Bala: Jamie Tharme was a tourist at the Pont y Bala parkrun at Lower Tryweryn and seemed back to his best finishing 14th overall in 21.39, and 2nd in his VM45 cat.

*Penrhyn: Master vet and club tourist Sandy Johnston, ran at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun and won his VM70 age cat after finishing well in 41st place in 23.16.