NORTH Wales Road Runners Club (NWRRC) celebrated some great individual performances and won nine regional medals at the Holyhead Breakwater five-mile race yesterday (July 30).

The NWRRC team entered 15 athletes and recorded five podium places in the main race, including one age category win, three second, and one third.

They also claimed nine prestigious North Wales medals, including five gold, in the associated regional championships, run in conjunction with this event.

This popular annual race again attracted many quality club runners, and despite the challenging conditions many still achieved some remarkable results and some excellent PB times.

Veteran athlete Steve Gardner was the first NWRRC member home in 26th place, and he was second in his MV60 age cat in the main race but struck gold in the NW championships in 32.46.

Iwan Evans was just six seconds adrift of Steve in 27th place in 32.52 but won a silver medal in the NW champs, and Jamie Tharme finished 41st in 35.07, and collected a deserved bronze championship medal.

Sion Thomas was 47th in 35.48, with Sarah Ferguson Hudson 51st, and the fifth female athlete with a new PB of 36.18.

She finished second in her FV40 age cat in the main race but won a gold medal in the NW champs.

Steve Roberts was 62nd in 37.15, and Cheryl Frost had another great run finishing in 69th place as the 10th female athlete, and she additionally won the FV50 age cat prize in the main race, and the FV55 age cat title in the NW event to win a gold medal in 38.23.

Kay Hatton was the second-placed FV60 runner overall in 39.22, in 77th place, and she also won a silver medal in the NW race.

Kelly Marie Alford finished 82nd overall in 40.32, and she was another gold medal winner after finishing first in her FV35 age cat in the NW champs; with Cai Roberts sharing the same time as Kelly, and just one place behind her.

And veteran Rob Fryer won a NW bronze medal in 102nd place in his MV65 cat in 43.57, whilst master veteran Mark Mason struck gold in his MV70 age cat in the NW race, and he was third in the same age cat in the main race in 45.06.

Vicky Taylor finished well in 116th place in 48.04, with Kevin Higgins 117th, and just two-seconds behind Vicky in 48.06, with Rachel Morris 122nd in 50.11.

Bright and breezy for double the numbers at Conwy parkrun

Saturday (July 29)’s Conwy parkrun, was in stark contrast to the previous week’s rather soggy 5k course with continual rain.

These much-improved conditions proved quite an attraction, with almost double the previous attendance.

And it was another promising teenage athlete, James Smith (Menai T&F) who stole the show with another impressive performance as the first male runner home in just 17 minutes and 24 seconds to win his SM18-19 age category.

Quite remarkably, this was his sixth victory at Conwy.

NWRRC entered 11 runners and collected eight podium placings, including five age category wins, one second, and two third placings.

Josh Keogh and Will Williams hit top form and earned plaudits for two stunning performances against quality opposition, with Josh finishing fourth in 18.14, and won his SM30 cat, with Will sixth, and he also won his MV50 cat in 18.31.

Jon Doe recorded another course PB of 19.31 and he also claimed second place in his MV45 cat in 12th place overall, and Steve Mason finished 20th and he was the third MV45 in 21.13.

Carla Green was back in action again after several months, and she enjoyed a steady outing in 58th place and won her VW50 age cat in 24.28.

Lesley Goodson was another welcome returnee, and she won her VW55 cat in 25.08 in 73rd place, and veteran Rob Fryer was back to his best again in 25.38, and finished third in his MV65 age cat.

Master vet Don Hale won his MV70 cat in 117th place in 27.42, with veteran John O’Shea 130th in 28.19.

Meanwhile, Rachel Morris ran well and finished 187th in 32.01, and Richard Scamans jogged around the course with a young family member and was 203rd in 32.54.

Ian Slattery – the son of NWRRC chairman Kevin – made a flying holiday visit, and finished 14th overall in 19.48, and third in his MV35 age cat.

In addition, Kay Hatton commemorated her 150th volunteering event at Conwy.

Other parkrun results:

Prestatyn: Jon Evans won his MV55 age cat on his debut at the Nova Prestatyn parkrun last Saturday, finishing 15th overall in 21.23.

France: Helen Hannam took part in a virtual parkrun at Fenioux in France last Saturday after arriving overseas at the start of her holiday.

She ran an approved 5k course in 34.10.