Report by Don Hale

North Wales Road Runner Michael Finnie used a large stick to break up all the icy puddles at Conwy parkrun last Saturday, which eventually allowed the event to start safely on another very cold and frosty morning.

Michael's innovative idea, came as a huge relief to 176 eager and enthusiastic entrants, who feared the worst over this very challenging, muddy, and puddle-filled 5k course. 

And his unique plan, backed by run director Sharon Hughes, confirmed a determination to provide a safe route following last week’s late cancellation due to similar problems.

Nine Road Runners took part in this week’s parkrun, and they were led home by Steve Poupart, who finished 19th overall in 22 minutes and 36 seconds, and he was 3rd in his VM45 age cat.

Youngster Joe Culverhouse and his dad Stuart ran the route together with Joe completing his 100th parkrun, and he finished 4th in his JM11-14 age cat in 23.12, whilst Stuart was just one place, and second behind, and he was 2nd in his VM50 cat.

Daniel Hennell enjoyed another good run despite a slight knee problem, and he finished 34th in 24.01, whilst master vet Don Hale celebrated his best parkrun time since last November, to win his MV70 age cat in 51st place in 25.27.

Three other club vets also celebrated good performances in their respective VM65 age cats, with Rob Fryer improving each week in 62nd place in 26.22, and he was 3rd in his cat, with Len Jackson making a rare parkrun appearance, and finishing 90th in 28.08, whilst John O’Shea was 112th in 30.30.

Steve Mason was a tail walker again with his lively dog Coco in 171st place in 49.30, and he claimed that Glyn Wise from TV’s Big Brother 7 finished 5th.

*The first male finisher was Sam Liddell VM35 in 19.35; with Paul Hulland VM45, 2nd on his debut in 19.45; and Billy Thomas (GOG Triathlon) SM25 was 3rd with a new course PB in 19.54.

*The first female finisher was Anna Drinkwater (Eryri Harriers), who was 4th overall in 20.01; with promising youngster Rosie Parsley 21st overall, the 2nd female finisher, and the winner of her JW11-14 age cat in 22.53, with Josie Morgan 3rd, and 45th overall in 24.52.

*Praise was given to the run director Sharon Hughes and to all the volunteers and marshals and particularly on such a cold morning.

Other race results: *Cheshire: Three NWRRC members hit the track running last Sunday at the Oulton Park 10k and 5k races with all of them winning their respective age categories. Kevin Higgins won his M60 cat in the 10k race after finishing 63rd in 51.59 with his best time for about two years, and Tony Gibson was just one place behind in 52.15, and he also won his M65 age cat. Meanwhile, Steve Gardner also won his M60 cat in the 5k race with a good performance in 7th place in 19.19.

*Manchester: Will Williams and Jamie Tharme travelled to south Manchester last weekend to compete in the very fast and elite-packed Trafford 10k race, which attracted over 1,500 top athletes. Will finished in 417th place overall in 37.02, with Jamie 757th in 43.53.

*Dolgarrog: NWRRC members Charlotte Rose Wilton Jones and Nicola Wylie competed in the gruelling Pipe Dream 7k fell race last Saturday at Dolgarrog, which celebrated its 20th anniversary. Charlotte finished 60th overall in 59.07, and Nicola was 72nd in 63.53, and she also claimed second place in her F50 age cat. Charlotte later admitted: “This was very hard, especially going up the pipe-line steps. It was absolutely brutal!”

*Other parkrun results: *Ruthin: Carla Green was the second female finisher at the Ruthin Memorial Playing Fields parkrun, on Saturday, but she won her VW50 age cat in 20.54 finishing in 5th place overall.

*Llangollen: Karl and Rachel Morris went on tour to the Old Railway Trail parkrun at Llangollen last Saturday after their run at Oswestry was cancelled. They both performed well with Karl finishing 12th overall out of 96 entrants, and he was 2nd in his VM40 age cat in 22.37, whilst Rachel celebrated her first 3rd placed parkrun finish in her VW40 age cat, and she was 87th in 37.17.

*Erddig: Ben and Sarah Hudson also hit the road running, and they made their debuts at the Erddig Hall parkrun, near Wrexham, with Ben finishing 17th in 22.40, and he was 2nd in his VM45 cat, with Sarah 27th overall, the 5th female finisher in 24.22, and she won her VW45 age cat.

*Prestatyn: Nia Lister was another parkrun tour debutant, and she finished 2nd in her VW35 age cat at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn, finishing 47th overall in 28.29.