Report by Don Hale
https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com
North Wales Road Runner Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts travelled to Australia in readiness to represent Wales in the weekend World Sprint Duathlon Championships.
The talented Great Britain and Welsh international runner was selected to represent his country in this major competition, which attracted about 50 of the top duathlon athletes from around the world.
This Sprint Duathlon championship race includes a 5k run, followed by a 20k bike ride, and then another 2.5k dash. This year it was being staged at Townsville, a coastal city in North-East Queensland.
In preparation for his forthcoming challenge, Llyr visited Cairns last Saturday in tropical North Queensland – said to be the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef – where he took part in the Cairns Esplanade parkrun.
He finished 8th overall out of 344 entrants in a good time of 18 minutes and 45 seconds during his 5k course debut and claimed 2nd place in his VM50-54 age category.
After the parkrun, Llyr confirmed: “It’s near the end of the Australian winter but it was very
warm and humid.
“I was quite content with my time considering no sleep, and aeroplane food.”
He added that his trip ‘was great,’ and said he had also enjoyed some scuba diving and even managed to take his own bike on the plane to Australia, packed in a special box.
Llyr has enjoyed success in several previous duathlon competitions across the UK, including winning the recent Southport Sprint Duathlon in May, which included two 5k runs, interspersed with a 20k bike ride.
That victory was particularly pleasing for the dedicated PE teacher and rugby referee, who had only decided to attend that race at the last minute following a period of ill health.
Exciting sun-drenched night of competition at NWRRC annual relay
Report by Don Hale
It proved to be another interesting and exciting annual club relay competition for members of the North Wales Road Running Club last Tuesday night on Llandudno promenade.
Some 30 names were initially drawn out of the hat and placed into 10 relay teams of three, which introduced male, female, and mixed ability runners, who each ran varied leg distances from about 1k plus, to one mile, and two miles, with the final leg involving some of the club’s top racing athletes, who generated a very close and fast finish.
With the ages and abilities shuffled within the teams, the races constantly attracted great competition and enthusiasm from all the entrants, supporters, and spectators, along the full length of the prom from the pier to the paddling pool at the far end, on a warm, sun-drenched evening.
Positions continually changed throughout the races, with Daniel Hennell the first man back on leg 1 to the band stand turn in just 4 minutes and 11 seconds for team 7, with Gethin Wyn Jones running next for team 8 in 4.13, and Helen Hannam on top form to give team 4 a boost in 3rd spot in 4.27.
In leg 2 and following a quick dash to the near the Hydro Hotel, it proved to be another fast and furious encounter with Karl Morris taking the lead for team 7 in 11.09, with Mal Preece 2nd in 11.13 for team 8, and Molly Evans on fire in 3rd spot for team 9 in 11.22.
In the final leg, the more experienced fast pacers took over and it was Jonathan Kettle who eventually led team 1 home for overall victory in 25.59, with Iwan Evans 2nd for team 8 in 26.32, and Will Evans finished 3rd for team 9 in 26.41.
*Prizes were later awarded to the top three winners during the club’s annual summer – sausage and chips – supper at the RAOB Club in Llandudno, and plaudits were later given to the MC and NWRRC chairman Kevin Slattery, the meal organiser and chef Kevin Higgins, and race officials Carla Green, Elizabeth Driscoll, John Hatton, and other club members.
Final leg times and overall results:
(1) Team 1. Winners: Rachel Morris 5.15, Richard Scamans 11.37, Jonathan Kettle 25.59. (2) Team 8. Runners-up: Rob Fryer 4.48, Mal Preece 11.13, Iwan Evans 26.32. (3). Team 9. 3rd place: Gethin Wyn Jones. 4.13, Molly Evans 11.22, Will Evans 26.41. (4). Team 2. Kevin Higgins 4.59, Kevin Slattery 11.33, Benjamin Brummit 27.17. (5). Team 7. Daniel Hennell 4.11, Karl Morris 11.09, Sion Thomas 27.47. (6). Team 3. Helen Hannam 4.27, Karen Butler 12.07, Steve Mason 27.57. (7). Team 10. Gwen Charlton 5.00, Cheryl Frost 12.06, Carla Green 29.05. (8). Team 5. Mark Mason 5.13, Hannah Griffith 13.16, James Jones 29.26. (9). Team 6. Nia Lister 4.38, Kay Hatton 12.05, Dave Jones 29.42. (10). Team 4. John O’Shea 5.16, Don Hale 13.43, and Steve Roberts 30.59.
Hard, dry and bumpy at Conwy Parkrun
Report by Don Hale
It was another packed parkrun at Conwy on August 10 where 377 entrants tackled the challenging but picturesque 5k river trail from the RSPB Nature Reserve on a very dry and bumpy course.
North Wales Road Runners had 15 members involved, and first club man home was the rapidly improving Harry Driscoll, 6th overall in just 19 minutes and 7 seconds, and 2nd in his SM20-24 age category.
Jonathan Kettle ran as a pacer for his club colleague Benjamin Brummitt, who celebrated a new course PB in 10th place in 19.31, and was 2nd SM30 cat, with Jonathan 11th in 19.33 and 1st VM50.
Steve Bozier was a good 30th overall, and 3rd VM45 in 21.42.
Richard Scamans clocked 22.07 in 41st place, with Steve Roberts 43rd and 2nd VM55 cat in 22.11. Jamie Tharme was 67th in 23.34.
Daniel Hennell finished 132nd in 26.28, with master vet Barrie Wells winning his MV70 age cat in 151st place in 27.28, whilst fellow master Mark Mason finished 3rd MV70 in 158th place in 27.45, and vet Len Jackson ran home in 176th place in 28.36.
Nia Lister took 184th place in 28.46, and vet John O’Shea was 197th in 29.26, with Gwen Charlton 207th in 29.48 and Rachel Morris 305th amidst her marathon training in 35.44.
*The first man back at Conwy Parkrun was Ben Carrington (Birmingham R&A/Tri Club) in 17.29, and James Kay (Lichfield RC), finished 2nd with a new course PB in 17.51, with Bryn Woodall (Colwyn Bay AC) 3rd in 18.02. *For the ladies, Melissa Ward-Williams (Cybi Striders) was the 1st female finisher (33rd overall), with a new PB in 21.49, and Jessica Pugh finished 2nd (and 47th overall) in 22.27, whilst Alex Aldous was 3rd in 22.34 (and 48th overall).
Other results
*Preston: Kevin Higgins completed the 11th race of his unique 12-event series in the heat at Preston last Sunday, and afterwards he admitted: “Ran the Preston 10-miler in a really warm 28 degrees. It was a great race, and my time was 1 hr 38 mins 21 secs, with a nice bar at the end which made it well worth it!”
*Llangollen: Stuart Culverhouse and Mike Hayton travelled to the Old Railway Trail Parkrun at Llangollen with Stuart finishing 4th overall on his debut in 20.18, and 4th VM50. Mike won his master vet MV70 in 76th place in 28.56.
*Newborough: Master vet Rob Fryer won his MV70 cat at the Newborough Forest parkrun with a new course PB of 28.00 in 72nd place overall.
*Newent: Ben and Sarah Hudson took part in the Newent Parkrun. Ben finished 6th and won his VW45 in 24.09, with Sarah the 6th female, in 18th place overall in 27.30, and 2nd VW45.
*Cardiff: Hannah Griffith made her course debut with Hari at the Cardiff Parkrun, and she finished 383rd overall and the 95th female athlete in 28.58, amongst 667 entrants.
