Harry leads Road Runners home at Conwy parkrun…plus other athletes on the run.

Harry leads Road Runners home at Conwy parkrun…plus other athletes on the run.

Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Steve Jeffery.

Harry Driscoll was the first club man home once again for NWRRC at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday, which had depleted numbers due to festive demands, and the aftermath from a succession of storms and challenging conditions.

Despite all the problems and a cool, breezy morning, on a wet and part debris riddled course, the organisers worked hard to ensure that the safety of runners and volunteers was paramount and celebrated with 146 finishers enjoying their weekly 5k dash.

Teenager James Smith (Menai Track and Field) was the 1st finisher and won his SM18-19 age cat with an impressive new PB of 17 minutes 5 seconds, with James Coleman 2nd in 17.54. In addition, popular local runner Nic Brook(Eryri Harriers) was another man in fine form, and he also celebrated a new course PB in 18.04 in 4th place.

Harry Driscoll (*pictured left) led a team of eleven NWRRC members, and he was one of three club runners who each won their respective age categories at Conwy. Harry finished 6th and was 1st in his SM20-24 cat in 18.47, just dipping under the 19-minute barrier for the first time in about two years. Meanwhile, colleagues Rob Fryer and Mike Hayton were the additional worthy winners of their own master vet age categories.

Dave Spofforth finished 14th overall in 20.50, with Richard Scamans 23rd in 22.00, whilst Stuart Culverhouse and his young son Joe turned in another excellent performance running together in 36th and 37th places in 23.31. And Daniel Owens with his guide Anthony Parvin, finished 47th in 24.15.

Rob Fryer had a steady run to win his M65-69 age cat, finishing 63rd overall in 25.55, whilst Mike Hayton enjoying another great recovery run to win his M70-74 age cat in 27.51. Sue Smith claimed yet another course PB in 97th place overall, and 4th spot in her W55-59 cat in 28.53, with her husband Mike Smith coming home in 130th place in 33.56.

However, the run of the day belonged to Rachel Morris who was delighted to finish 116th in 32.10, and 4th in her W40 age cat. Rachel finally completed her fastest parkrun of the year following her return to action following serious injury, and afterwards she commented: ‘I am getting stronger and getting back to where I was before my leg break.’

*This is the link to the provisional Conwy parkrun results:

https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/

Athletes on the run:

North Wales Road Runner Steve Mason took part in the Alderford Lake parkrun last Saturday and finished 5th overall but won his MV45-49 age cat in 21.26. Afterwards he remarked: ‘It was more like a cross country than a parkrun, but it was very friendly, with lots of dogs.’

Jon Evans ran at the Chester parkrun and finished 2nd in his MV55-59 age cat, with a superb PB of 21.36 despite challenging conditions underfoot. He confirmed: ‘Even the “B” course was wet this morning, so we went to B-plus, but pleased with a Cat 2, and a course PB.’

Martin Green 3rd in age cat at Telford 10k.

NWRRC athlete Martin Green enjoyed a good run at the Telford 10k race last Sunday. The NWRRC athlete finished 140th overall out of 1,061 quality runners but claimed an impressive 3rd place in his MV45-49 age cat.