A TOTAL of five members of North Wales Road Runners Club (NWRRC) have been selected to represent Wales at the Road Running Festival in Tenby on July 3 against top athletes from the Home Nations.

The final team selection was announced following scrutiny from the selectors who initially welcomed applications from running clubs and individuals based on recent or potential performances on varied distances.

Race organisers at Tenby have invited teams from the Home Nations of the UK to participate, with up to eight runners permitted in each of the four 10-year age bands, based on the day of the competition.

Events include 5k, 10k and half-marathon races.

The NWRRC members selected are: Richard Eccles M55-64 (5k), and Cheryl Frost W55-64 (5k); with Carla Green W45-54 (10k); and Martin Green M45-54 (half-marathon), accompanied by Kay Hatton W55-64 (half-marathon).

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Llyr qualifies for 2023 Euro Duathlon championships and Gethin becomes a legend following an amazing triathlon challenge

Llyr Ap Geraint Roberts finished 13th out of 138 competitors in the gruelling Slateman Duathlon in North Wales over the weekend and secured an automatic entry qualification for his age group in the Euro 2023 championships.

He later admitted: “The toughest duathlon ever. The bike had a 4k climb up Nant Peris Pass and the second run was brutal, severe inclines and a slated shale surface!”

And Gethin Wyn Jones became a legend after competing in the Slateman Legend Triathlon Swim, Run and Bike challenge.

He completed a 93.29k cycle race with 1,420m elevation, in three hours 44 minutes, and a 22.46k run with 770m of elevation in two hours 42 minutes, and he also swam 1.9m in 42.30 making an incredible total triathlon time of 7.22.04.

Afterwards Gethin said: “So happy to have completed my first ever triathlon and for it to be the Legend too. Really happy with my time on such a tough race!”

Road Runners strike gold at super-fast 5k championships

It was an incredible evening of super-fast running at Llanrug last Wednesday (June 8) for the North Wales 5k Road Championships, where 130 elite and top club runners competed for prestigious honours.

The eventual race winner was Ryan Davis (Wrexham AC) in just 15 minutes and 37 seconds, with Adam Jones (Eryri Harriers) just snatching second place in 16.13, and he was only four seconds ahead of Tomos Roberts (Meirionnydd RC) in 16.17.

The first 28 runners all dipped under 20 minutes, and the first eight under 17 minutes, with a matter of seconds separating athletes in the top-ten placings.

Against this background, many NWRRC members celebrated a record-breaking night of glory, winning a total of seventeen NW championship medals, including five gold, six silver and six bronze.

The 22 club entrants all ran their socks off against top-quality opposition with many also claiming new course PBs over a challenging but scenic route that included a long and sharp hill climb.

Josh Keogh led the Road Runners’ team home in sixth place overall out of 130 finishers in 16.39 but bizarrely he didn’t win a medal as he was fifth in his MSen age category.

But Steve Forsyth, who was just 16 seconds adrift of Josh in seventh place, triggered the gold rush by winning his M40 age cat in 16.55.

Mark Jessett and Jonathan Kettle both claimed silver medals in 15th and 16th places respectively, with Mark finishing second in his M35 cat in 17.38, and Jonathan second in his M45 cat in 17.44.

Richard Eccles also confirmed his excellent form to claim gold in his M55 cat in 17.58 in 16th place.

Will Williams won a bronze medal in his M45 cat in 20th place in 18.58, and he was just ahead of Iwan Evans in 22nd place in 19.08, with Iwan winning bronze in his M40 cat.

Stuart Culverhouse was another bronze medal winner in his M50 cat in 32nd place in 20.21, with Jon Evans hot on his heels in 34th spot, to claim silver in his M55 cat in 20.32.

Dave Spofforth ran well in 38th place in 20.42, as did Gethin Wyn Jones 40th overall in 20.50, yet both runners narrowly missed out on medals.

Meanwhile, Steve Roberts and Sean Butler collected bronze medals in their age cats, with Steve 43rd in 21.29, and 3rd in his M55 cat, whilst Sean finished 50th overall and he was also 3rd in his M60 cat in 22.01.

Cheryl Frost, despite her surname, was on fire at Llanrug, and she struck gold after comfortably winning her F55 age cat in 65th place in 23.10, with club colleague Kay Hatton also enjoying another outstanding performance to win a silver medal in the same age cat as Cheryl in 23.29 in 71st place.

Two relative newcomers to the club both returned home with medals.

Nicola Wylie was a very worthy gold medal winner after finishing first in her F50 cat and 74th overall in 23.33, with Karen Butler deservedly collecting a silver medal for finishing second in her F60 cat in 90th spot in 24.42.

Hannah Griffith, though, seemed surprised to win a bronze medal in her F45 cat in 94th place in 25.06, despite another determined run, and Kelly-Marie Alford added the icing to her cake enterprise to win silver after finishing 98th in her W35 cat.

But her partner Cai Roberts just missed out on a gong despite a good performance and running with Kelly in 98/99th places in 25.25.

Master veteran Rob Fryer was another worthy gold medal winner following his gritty recovery run and seemingly back to form after a long absence.

Rob won his M65 age cat 100th place overall in 25.27, and Vicky Taylor also enjoyed her outing to finish in 107th place in 27.04.

North Wales roll of honour: GOLD: F50 Nicola Wylie; F55 Cheryl Frost: M40 Steve Forsyth; M55 Richard Eccles; and M65 Rob Fryer. SILVER: F35 Kelly-Marie Alford; F55 Kay Hatton; F60 Karen Butler; M35 Mark Jessett; M45 Jonathan Kettle; M55 Jon Evans. BRONZE: F45 Hannah Griffith; M40 Iwan Evans; M45 Will Williams; M50 Stuart Culverhouse; M55 Steve Roberts; and M60 Sean Butler.

Elsewhere, Steve Forsyth and Will Williams celebrated first and third places respectively at the Ruthin parkrun last weekend.

This was Steve’s second win in successive weeks at Ruthin and he was only one second down on last week’s stunning victory finishing in 17.08 and winning his MV40 age cat, whilst club colleague Will Williams enjoyed another positive performance to finish third overall in 18.44, and he too won his MV45 age cat.

Snowdonia: Karl Morris hit the heights again during midweek and recorded another solid performance at the Tal y Mignedd fell race.

Based within the Snowdonia National Park, Karl completed the challenging 6k plus course, including 548m of elevation, in just 49 minutes and finished 29th overall, and sixth in his respective age category.

Port Sunlight: Three NWRRC club runners tackled the Port Sunlight Festival of Running 5k on Sunday (June 12), with Mark Jessett claiming sixth place overall in 17.17 and sixth in his MOpen age cat, with Kelly-Marie Alford and Cai Roberts running together in 134/135th places in 25.53, with Kelly also finishing fourth in her F35 age category.

Chris Yorke (Prestatyn) also competed in the 5k event and finished seventh in 17.37, and he also won his M50 category.

Kelly and Cai later competed in the 10k race and finished together in 53.41.

Stoke and Blackpool: Helen Hannam visited her mother Carol last week in the Midlands and the pair ran together in the Race4Life 5k fundraising event in Stoke.

Helen said she was so proud of her mum for taking part and they completed their efforts in 52.01.

And on Saturday, Helen Hannam also took part in the Blackpool parkrun in Stanley Park finishing the 5k challenge in 28.09.

*Rhyl: Mandy Owen ran in the Race4Life and completed the 5k course in 25.02.

Josh Keogh claims narrow victory at Conwy parkrun

There was a good turnout of both club runners and visitors to Conwy parkrun last Saturday where NWRRC athlete Josh Keogh claimed another narrow victory despite a brave challenge from Colwyn Bay teenager Bryn Woodall.

Josh faced a cat and mouse challenge throughout the 5k dash from his exceptional rival and just managed to win the event by two seconds following a sprint finish.

He was one of 13 club colleagues and two juniors with the team also winning five age cat awards.

Josh recorded a time of 17 minutes and 14 seconds and won his SM30-34 age cat, with Bryn also winning his own SM18-19 cat in 17.16, followed by another promising young athlete, Harri Jackson (Manchester Metropolitan University AC) in 17.50.

Fellow Road Runner Chris Davies enjoyed another good showing to finish 11th in 19.54 and he was second in his MV35 cat, with Stuart Culverhouse continuing his current form to win his MV50 cat in 20.14.

Carla Green also ran well again to claim the first female spot and she was 15th overall and won her FV50 cat in 20.48.

Cheryl Frost was another athlete on top form, and she easily won her FV55 cat as the fifth female runner and finished 35th overall in 23.09.

Young Joe Culverhouse additionally won his JM11-14 cat in 55th place in 24.02, and veteran Rob Fryer continued his rapid improvement following injury to finish second in his MV65 cat and 74th overall in 25.26, and he was just ahead of Tony Gibson, who enjoyed a great recovery run in 75th place in 25.36.

Master vet Don Hale was still struggling to recover from recent injury setbacks but claimed 3rd place in his MV65 cat, finishing 81st overall in 26.44.

Meanwhile, Dave Spofforth ran with his young son Ben in 104th place, with Ben claiming third spot in his JM10 cat in 28.40.

And Sue Smith finished 120th overall in 30.13, and she was followed by Rachel Morris in 143rd place in 32.53, whilst Sue’s husband Mike Smith was 147th in 32.53, with Steve Mason 189th as the final tail walker.