NORTH Wales Road Runners Club (NWRRC) claimed 11 North Wales Championship medals last Sunday morning (February 25) at the Rhyl 10-mile race, including five gold, three silver, and three bronze.

In a late switch to a new venue at Abergele for the Rhyl race due to extensive renovation and flood protection workings further down the promenade, this race attracted an excellent entry of 271 club and social runners, who enjoyed a cold but sunny run along a flat and fast course.

This particular event also included an associated and inclusive five-mile race, involving a further 183 finishers, which was run at the same time, with both races well organised by RunWales, and well supported by a generous number of volunteers and marshals.

NWRRC had 15 members in the Rhyl 10-mile race, and three other members in the Rhyl five-mile race, with both events run together.

In the five-mile event, Mal Preece was the first club runner home in 35.12 in 15th place, and he won his age cat, and master veteran Don Hale recorded his best five-mile time since 2019 and claimed a new course record in 54th place in 41.50, finishing third in his M70 age cat.

Veteran Len Jackson was back to race action again with a positive run in 84th place in 46.10, and he too finished third in his M65 cat.

In the 10-mile race, Jonathan Kettle led the team home in third place overall in 57.10, and second in his M45 cat, with Steve Mason 11th, and the third M45 in 1.03.25, with Iwan Evans 15th in 1.04.18.

Stuart Culverhouse was third in his M50 cat in 27th place in 1.08.29.

Ben Hudson also ran well, and he was 36th in 1.11.36, followed by his wife Sarah Ferguson Hudson, (57th), who was also on fire again, as the 11th female finisher in 1.15.56, and third in her F45 age cat, with a new course PB.

Steve Roberts continued his recent impressive form to finish 61st overall, and he was third in 1.16.43, with veteran Cheryl Frost (71st), and the 15th female finisher in 1.18.20, and she also won her F55 age cat, with colleague Kay Hatton hot on her heels in 1.19.17, and she too won her F60 cat (75th).

It was also encouraging to see Nicola Wylie back in business after a short break last year to finish second in her F55 cat (94th), and the 22nd female in 1.22.48.

Meanwhile, Sarah Jones was pleased with another good display, and claimed a new PB finishing as the 25th female (101st), in 1.23.08, with Daniel Hennell 114th, with a similar new PB in 1.24.51.

Helen Hannam returned to form, and this time she was the 58th female (173rd), in 1.34.53.

And her colleague, Nia Lister, also continues to improve as the 88th female (231st) in 1.46.36, whilst Rachel Morris added some more miles to her marathon build-up, finishing as the 111th female finisher (259th) in 2.00.10.

Many NWRRC members also won medals in the North Wales 10-mile championships: Gold: F45 Sarah Ferguson Hudson, F55 Cheryl Frost, F60 Kay Hatton, M45 Steve Mason, and M50 Stuart Culverhouse. Silver: F55 Nicola Wylie, F40 Rachel Morris, and M55 Steve Roberts. Bronze: M45 Iwan Evans, F21-34 Sarah Jones, and F35 Nia Lister.

Other results:

*Liverpool: Kevin Higgins won his M60 age cat following a good performance in the 10k race at Croxteth Park, Liverpool, last Sunday.

On a very muddy course, Kevin finished 65th overall from an entry of nearly 200 runners and he recorded a good time of 54.13.

*Clumber Park: Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts finished third and won his respective age cat at the Clumber Park parkrun last Saturday with a great time of 18.39.

*Kelsterton: Will Williams and Jamie Tharme made their debuts in the latest Borders League race at Kelsterton last weekend, whilst competing for their second claim club Cybi Striders.

Will ran the 7k course in 26.34, with Jamie finishing in 30.53.