SEVERAL hundred runners ranging from juniors to master veterans took part in the Grand Prix Express, North Wales cross-country championships, held last Saturday afternoon (January 6) at Ysgol Morgan Llywd at Wrexham.

North Wales Road Runners Club (NWRRC) entered nine athletes including five ladies and four men, and they won six prestigious NW championship awards with one gold, one silver, and four bronze medals.

The female athletes competed in the senior/master women’s race with Carla Green bouncing back to form in 29th place overall in 28 minutes and 20 seconds to win a silver medal in her W50 age cat.

And Cheryl Frost put in a very determined display but unfortunately, just missed out on a medal in her W55 age cat despite running well in 35th place in 29.51, whilst Kay Hatton claimed a bronze medal in her W60 cat in 37th place in 30.09.

Karen Butler however, struck gold with a new NW champs medal as the W65 age cat winner after finishing 38th overall, following an outstanding performance in 30.16, and Gwennan Charlton completed another excellent run, finishing 52nd in 37.29, and she won a deserved bronze medal in her W35 age cat.

The four-man NWRRC team competed in the senior/master men’s race with Josh Keogh finishing 7th overall in 31.39, and he was 5th in his SW age cat, with Iwan Evans 32nd in 36.32, and he won a bronze medal in his M45 cat.

Steve Gardner, meanwhile, put in another strong run in 34th place in 36.45 and he too was 3rd for a bronze NW championship medal in his M60 cat. Stuart Culverhouse though, was another club runner who just missed out on a medal in his M50 cat despite a good run in 40th place in 38.34 and he finished 4th in his M50 cat.

Splash and dash course at Conwy parkrun attracts good turnout

Conwy parkrun’s popular splash and dash 5k course attracted a good number of club and social runners from far afield last Saturday for the first event of the New Year.

North Wales Road Runners enjoyed a bumper entry of some 16 runners and the team were led home by Steve Mason in 19.38, and he won his VM45 age cat.

The club later celebrated four age category victories, in addition to two second, and one third place finish.

Will Evans was a close sixth to Steve in 19.51, and he also won his VM40 age cat, with Sion Thomas 15th with a new course PB of 21.37, followed by Dave Jones, who finished 23rd in 22.43.

Adam Lemalle was 28th in 23.27, with veteran Martin Green improving each week in 34th spot in 23.43, and he was 3rd in his VM45 age cat.

And master veteran Barrie Wells won his VM70 age cat in 45th place in 24.40, with fellow master Don Hale returning to parkrun after a period of ill health, to claim the second spot in the same VM70 cat in 25.36 in 57th place.

Youngster Joe Culverhouse ran with his father Stuart and won his JM11-14 age cat with a good run in 58th place in 25.38, with Stuart just one place and one second behind him.

Sarah Jones and Daniel Hennell also ran the course together, with Sarah finishing 91st in 27.09, with Daniel one place and one-second behind.

Helen Hannam had a steady run in 102nd place in 28.00, and Gethin Wyn Jones was 116th in 28.54. Meanwhile, John O’Shea finished in 130th place in 29.43, whist Rachel Morris was 171st in 33.37.

Elsewhere for NWRRC, Hannah Griffith took part in the Roundhay parkrun at Leeds last Saturday and she finished in 206th place in 28.46.