CONWY parkrun welcomed back numerous familiar faces for a second successive week as the popular 5k returned to near-normal again following several problematic weeks due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The event was also boosted by an increased attendance of 234 runners on a cold Saturday morning, but this time it was run on a bone-hard course instead of the usual puddle-filled route, and included many first-timers and travelling tourists in addition to the usual group of elite athletes.

North Wales Road Runner Josh Keogh was one such returnee and celebrated his first victory at Conwy, together with a superb new course personal best, and an age category win.

He was nearly a minute ahead of the second-placed youngster Alfie Shiland, who easily who won his JM11-14 category in 18.17, and previous parkrun winner Simon Cole (GOG Triathlon), third in 18.35.

Josh, though, led from start to finish, and eventually guided home a team of 14 North Wales Road Runners Club members who also recorded four runners in the top-ten, and claimed four age category wins, six second-placed wins, and one third-placing.

Josh ran home in 17 minutes and 36 seconds, knocking 20 seconds off his previous best time, on this course, and won his SM30-34 age cat.

Steve Bozier was another man in fine form, and he too claimed an excellent new personal best in eighth place in 19.33, and second behind Josh in the same age category.

Steve Mason was just 13 seconds adrift in ninth place in 19.46 and claimed second spot in his MV45-49 category, while Stuart Culverhouse finished 10th and won his MV50-54 category again in 20.04.

Veteran Sean Butler was 29th and the winner of his MV60-64 category in 22.36, with youngster Joe Culverhouse finishing second in his JM11-14 category in 23.21, and Gethin Wyn Jones enjoyed a good run in 23.35 and 44th overall to claim third spot in his MV35.39 category.

Don Hale finished second again in his master vet MV65-69 age group and was 68th overall in 24.50, with Mia Morris 112th and second in her JW15-17 category in 28.04.

In addition, Sue Smith continued her incredible record of near successive weekly personal best improvements with another great effort in 119th place overall, and she also won her VW55-59 category in 28.29.

Meanwhile, Dave Spofforth and his son Ben enjoyed another parkrun outing together, with the junior runner claiming second place in his JM10 category, with both sharing the same time of 29.55.

Mike Smith finished in 176th place in 33.05, and Rachel Morris this week opted to run with her mother Hilda Limacher in 186th position in 34.19.

The event also marked three generations of Rachel’s family at parkrun.

The link to the provisional results at Conwy parkrun can be found in full: www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults.