NEARLY 100 top male and female competitors, aged from 11 to 80 years, took part in the North Wales Regional Indoor Track and Field championships on Saturday (January 20)

Held at the Deeside Stadium, Connah’s Quay, three North Wales Road Runners Club (NWRRC), members smashed records, set new PBs, and won prestigious age category medals.

Super-vet Dave Gardner competed in the male masters shot-put competition and repeated his amazing victory from last month’s Open competition to win his MV80 age cat with a new PB throw of 7.04, which was a vast improvement from his previous throw of 6.36.

Master vet Don Hale and veteran Michael Finnie ran in the 60m Male Masters final dash, and both athletes won their respective age categories, recorded new PB times, set new Welsh Masters records, and claimed top medals.

Michael in particular, enjoyed another tremendous sprint run of just 10.97 seconds and confirmed his rapid improvement at these indoor track events, with another new PB, and age track record, and he also won his MV65 age cat, but unfortunately had to settle for a silver medal overall, as the competition only offered 10-year age bands based on his MV60-69.

Don Hale, meanwhile, won a gold medal for winning his MV70 age cat in the MV70-79 band, with a new and improved age cat PB of 12.33 seconds, to retain his top national ranking, and set a new track record in his masters age group.

Both veteran track athletes have now set new records at these championships in their respective age categories, over this same distance, for successive races.

Mud, wind, and rain at a very muddy cross-country race at Dolgellau

A trio of Road Runners braved the strong blustery winds, rain, and heavy mud at Dolgellau this weekend during the latest fixture within the Grand Prix Express, North Wales XC league.

Will Williams ran well in the senior men’s race and finished well in 38th place overall amongst 125 starters, and he was third in his MV50 age cat in 36 minutes and 19 seconds.

Meanwhile, NWRRC ladies Cheryl Frost and Kay Hatton competed in the senior women’s race with Cheryl running home in 65th place in 28.35, and she was sixth in her W55 age cat, whilst Kay finished 74th in 29.22, and she was fourth in her W60 age cat.

Fast finishers at Conwy parkrun despite the blustery conditions

It was wild, windy, and very wet underfoot at Conwy parkrun last Saturday for nearly 200 mixed ability entrants who braved the cold and the challenging 5k course to record some superb times despite the unpredictable conditions.

NWRRC’s Jonathan Kettle was the first man home in just 17 minutes and 49 seconds, to win his VM45 age cat.

But he was made to fight all the way following a determined run by Harty Woodford, who finished just one place, and 11 seconds behind in 18.01, to win his SM30 cat.

A large contingent from NWRRC returned from other duties this week and they entered twelve athletes who claimed two age victories, one second placing, and one third, with Jonathan Kettle finishing as the first runner overall.

Steve Roberts enjoyed an excellent run in 28th place in 22.54, and he won his VM55 cat in 22.54, with Josh Keogh in hot pursuit finishing 30th in 23.14, and Tony Price-Jones gave Josh a hard chase and finished just one place and one second behind and claimed the 3rd spot in his VM40 age cat.

Karl Morris continued his improvement at shorter distance runs with another strong performance in 37th place in 23.55, and Jamie Tharme was 48th in 24.43.

Sion Thomas enjoyed a steady run finishing 59th in 25.33.

Kelly Marie Alford made a rare, second-ever parkrun appearance, but claimed a new PB by over 30-seconds in 25.51, finishing 61st overall, and 2nd in her VW40 cat.

And Gethin Wyn Jones continued his comeback with another positive run in 78th place in 27.22, with Ceri Jones 83rd in 27.35, whist veteran John O’Shea was 107th in 29.15, and Rachel Morris finished well in 142nd place in 33.48.

Other results:

*Bala: Road running and endurance couple Ben and Sarah Hudson made their debuts in the Pont y Bala parkrun last Saturday with both athletes recording excellent times and top-ten finishing positions.

Ben was 5th and claimed the 2nd spot in his VM45 age cat in 22.05, whilst Sarah was the 1st female finisher in 6th place overall, and she won her VW45 cat in 23.17.

After her run, Sarah said: “Great fun course and super friendly. We will be back.”

*Glasgow: Steve Mason took part in the Queen’s Park parkrun at the weekend and finished second in his VM45 age cat on his course debut in 22.22.

He later confirmed: “It’s a city centre one, quite hilly, and very friendly.”