Storm Bert was the only winner as various parkruns and local events hit…

Storm Bert was the only winner as various parkruns and local events hit – but Steve, Martin, and Harry beat the weather.

Report by Don Hale.

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk

Storm Bert was the only winner last weekend as heavy rain and gale force winds forced the postponement of numerous sporting events, and in particular some fell and trail races, plus a host of popular parkruns across the area.

Planned parkruns at Nova Prestatyn, Penrhyn Castle, Newborough Forest and Conwy, to name but a few, were all cancelled on either Friday night, or early Saturday morning, on essential health and safety grounds, to help protect both volunteers and many hundreds of participants.

At Penrhyn Castle they announced on Friday afternoon: “Unfortunately owing to the weather forecast we’ve been informed that parkrun is cancelled this Saturday.”

And the same applied at the Nova Prestatyn venue, which is run along the promenade, when they confirmed: “Evening Folks. With Storm Bert joining us in the morning and having watched the forecasts over the last few days, I have taken the decision to cancel tomorrow’s event. With 30mph winds and gusts up to 50mph predicted from the early hours right through the morning and heavy rain, it is not a day to be enjoying our usual fresh sea breeze.”

*Pictured above – Conwy parkrun director Bethan Wyn Roberts, with some of the volunteers.

At Conwy, where the course starts at the low-lying RSPB Nature Reserve and follows a riverside route towards Deganwy and back, run director Bethan Wyn Roberts said on Friday night: “At the moment I cannot make a decision as to whether or not the event will proceed in the morning.

“The weather conditions over the next few hours will dictate the decision, so please check the page before setting out to Conwy in the morning. I am sure you will agree the safety of the volunteers is paramount and that will be the deciding factor for me.”

And just before 7am on Saturday, Bethan sensibly confirmed on their parkrun Facebook page: “Due to the deteriorating weather conditions and the health and safety considerations required for the benefit of all concerned Conwy Parkrun is cancelled this morning.”

*Steve Mason (*pictured right), managed to find a parkrun still on at Merthyr.

*Quite amazingly, one parkrun that did take place and involved a NWRRC member was at Merthyr in South Wales, where Steve Mason was a winner at the Merthyr Leisure Village parkrun on Saturday, after finishing 7th overall on his course debut in a fast time of 21.14 to win his VM50 age cat.