Six gold medals for the Road Runners at the Caernarfon 10k championships.

Six gold medals for the Road Runners at the Caernarfon 10k championships.

Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.

 It was another great turnout of talented runners at the midweek Caernarfon 10k race last Wednesday night, which attracted nearly two-hundred entrants for the main race, and the inclusive North Wales championships.

Run on a bright, sunny, and humid evening, and heading out towards the harbour and the magnificent ancient Castle, a large number of elite and top club runners soon battled for glory on this undulating course, with the eventual winner Adam Jones (Eryri Harriers) finishing in 33 minutes 19 seconds, and just 20-seconds ahead of rival Scott Nixon(Cardiff AC) in 33.39, with James Yarwood (Abergele Harriers) in close pursuit, and only another 7-seconds adrift in 33.46.

The Road Runners turned out in force again for this second major NW championship race within a few days, this time with 22 members competing for honours. And quite incredibly, they were able to collect another magnificent haul of 11 prestigious championship medals and recorded several course PBs, with an amazing 6 gold medals, 4 silver and 1 bronze.

On a barmy evening however, it was female members of NWRRC who took the deserved plaudits after winning four podium places in the main race, in addition to claiming four championship gold medals, and subsequent age category wins, plus 1 bronze medal.

 

The men also celebrated with 7 podium places in the main race, and a further 6 championship medals, including 2 gold, and 4 silver medals at another record-breaking awards ceremony.

Steve Forsyth led the team home in 10th place overall and 2nd in his M40 age cat in 36.19, with Jonathan Kettle hot on his heels, and finishing 11th and 2nd M45 cat in 36.25. Richard Eccles displayed some fine form again to win his M55 cat in 16th place in 37.54, and Will Williams was 19th in 38.47.

Iwan Evans came 3rd in his M40 age cat in 39.44 in 22nd place, and Stuart Culverhouse claimed the 2nd spot in his M50 cat with a great effort finishing 27th overall in 41.46. Ben Hudson made a welcome return to the road in 33rd place in 42.45, and the same applied to fellow endurance runner Karl Morris, who finished an excellent 34th in 42.50. Meanwhile, Steve Roberts continued with his consistent form to finish 36th in 43.04, with Gethin Wyn Jones just 12 seconds behind in 38th spot in 43.16.

Sarah Ferguson Hudson led the ladies team home as the 7th female runner and 2nd in her F40 age cat in 44.30, knocking about 2 minutes off her previous PB, and Adam Lamelle enjoyed another great club outing to finish 60th in 46.40, with Nicola Wylie another lady athlete on top of her sport, to win her F50 cat in 48.15 as the 14th female.

Cai Roberts continues to impress, and he finished 67th in 48.50, whilst veteran Rob Fryer was back on song again, and won his M65 cat in 75th spot in 50.25, whilst Kelly-Marie Alford claimed 3rd place in her F35 cat as the 20th female in 51.30.

Kevin Higgins made a late entry but seemed pleased with his 87th place finish in 52.35, and Vicky Taylor seems to go from strength to strength with another amazing run after celebrating her work promotion to claim 1st place in her F45 age cat as the 28th female in 54.50.

Master vet Don Hale however, unfortunately aggravated his knee injury again in the first mile or so and struggled around this challenging course, but still finished 3rd in his new M70 age cat in 56.50. Susan and Mike Smith both put in determined efforts, with Sue coming home as the 51st female in 1.02.23, and Mike in 107th place in 1.11.38, whilst Rachel Morris knocked some more time off her previous 10k PB, to finish in-between the Smith duo as the 55th female in 1.07.48.

The North Wales 10k Championship results: *The NWRRC male team results: M40. Steve Forsyth 2nd place (Silver): M45. Jonathan Kettle 2nd place (Silver): M50. Stuart Culverhouse 2nd place (Silver): M55. Richard Eccles 1st place (Gold): M65. Rob Fryer 1st place (Gold): M70. Don Hale 2nd place (Silver):

*The NWRRC female team results: F35. Kelly-Marie Alford 1st place (Gold): F40. Sarah-Ferguson Hudson 1st place (Gold): F45. Vicky Taylor 1st (Gold): F50. Nicola Wylie 1st place (Gold): F55: Sue Smith 3rd place (Bronze):

*These are the provisional results from RunWales for the Caernarfon 10k race:

https://www.runwales.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Caernarfon-10k-2022.pdf