THE annual Easter 5k Dash on Llandudno promenade last Saturday (April 8) attracted a massive, quality field of top runners, with many raising thousands of pounds for charities.

Blessed by bright, warm sunshine, several hundred athletes created a fast and furious encounter watched by huge crowds of supporters and tourists on the prom, who generated a tremendous and unique atmosphere from start to finish.

Dion Griffith (Menai T&F) was the eventual winner of this popular race, but it was a battle to the finish with several keen rivals, who made him fight all the way for honours.

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Abergele Harriers represented at Llandudno Easter 5k race

Dion eventually took the plaudits and won his senior men age cat with an incredible chip time of just 15 minutes and 46 seconds.

Gemma Moore (Eryri Harriers) was the first female athlete home finishing in 25th place overall in 18.50 and she also won her F35 age cat.

Olivia Ashton competed with Gemma all the way and she finished just four seconds adrift, but won her senior female cat, with Amy McKechnie the third female finisher in 19.42, and the first F40 age cat winner.

North Wales Road Runners Club (NWRRC) celebrated success with a huge turn-out of some 24 athletes who collected 11 podium places, including four age category victories.

Martin Green was the pick of the team finishing sixth, and winning his MV45 cat in 16.26, with newcomer Alastair Canaway running well in 12th place in 17.01, and Will Williams recovered from injury to finish 14th and the first MV50 age cat winner in 18.10.

Steve Gardner retained his top form and claimed first place in his MV60 age cat finishing in 20th place in 18.42, with Iwan Evans 24th overall, and third in his MV45 cat in 18.50, and Harry Driscoll was 29th in 19.06.

In addition, Mal Preece was 47th in 20.42, and Jamie Tharme finished 50th in 20.49.

Steve Poupart seems to have regained his form and finished 54th in 21.06, and another runner back in form was Steve Roberts 76th in 22.38.

Three top female club veterans battled it out for glory with Kay Hatton 81st overall, and the second FV60 athlete in 23.12, with Nicola Wylie 83rd and first F55 winner in 23.22, closely followed by Cheryl Frost 85th in 23.42, and second in the same age cat.

Tony Gibson had a good run in his new MV65 cat finishing 98th in 24.23, with Hannah Griffith 115th in 25.13.

Master veteran Mark Mason was 124th, and he was second in his MV70 cat in 25.40, and he was just ahead despite his chip time from Rob Fryer 125th in 25.35, and Karen Butler was 126th in 25.48 and third in her FV60 age cat, with veteran Len Jackson 128th in 25.54.

Helen Hannam benefitted from her recent marathon training to finish well in 141st place in 26.21, and she claimed the third spot in her FV45 cat.

Master vet Mike Hayton continued his good form to finish 152nd and third in his MV70 cat in 26.58, with fellow master vet Don Hale running his first race in more than seven months, finishing in 168th place in 27.54.

Meanwhile, teenager Mia Morris made a positive return to racing with a solid run, finishing 208th in 30.29, and her mum, Rachel, had a steady run in 217th place in 31.24.

Bumper entry at Conwy’s Easter parkrun

Conwy Parkrun had a bumper number of entrants again for their annual Easter Saturday event with 342 mixed ability athletes tackling the challenging 5k course.

The first three male finishers were all tourists, with both Hamish Fletcher-Cooney, the first man home, and Gordon Stanford, the second placed finisher, both making their debuts at Conwy, whilst the third placed finisher Conor Donaghy (Sale Harriers) claimed a new course PB.

Hamish was the first SM30 cat winner in 17 minutes and 29 seconds, with Gordon finishing in 17.56, and winning his MV35 cat in 17.56, and Conor was second in the same age cat as Gordon in 18.01.

Emily Hanlon was the first female runner home in 15th place overall in 20.30, and she won her SW20 cat in 20.30, with debutants, Alison Soye 35th overall, and won her SW30 cat, in 22.14, whilst teenager Freya Evans was the third female in 39th place overall in 22.27, and won her SW18 age cat.

NWRRC had only two entrants due to the fixture clash with the prom dash and Tony Price-Jones was the first club man home 81st place in 25.11, and John O’Shea finished in 143rd place in 28.11, and claimed the third spot in his MV65 age cat.