Reynolds braves weather to win 200th parkrun
ANDREW Mark Reynolds had the honour last Saturday of winning the 200th Porthcawl 5k Parkrun, writes Tony Poole.
The Neath Harriers competitor had previously won the event on two occasions – last October and September 2015.
Despite cold and wet conditions on the Wales Coastal Path, 298 runners nevertheless faced the starter.
His winning time was 17mins 14secs and he finished 35 seconds in front of Kate Roberts (Bridgend), who was 25 seconds outside her personal best time of 17:24.
Christopher Jenkins (Porthcawl Runners) took third spot; clocking 18:23 while Stephen Davies (Cwm Ogwr Running Club) was right on cue with 18:52.
Stephen David Jenkins (Bridgend) came fifth, registering 19:09, and he was followed home by two members of the Brackla Harriers club – Ian Ogilvie 19:15 and Edward Evans in a personal best 19:24.
Three unattached runners were next to finish, and completing the top-10 chart was Jordan Groves 19:27, Simon Bowen 19:39 and Jack Evans 19:46.
Other sub-20 minute times came from Jeffrey Thomas (Bridgend), Tom Rhoden (unattached), Christopher Pratt (Cwm Ogwr Running Club) and John Hall (Bridgend).
Second female to finish in 21:47 and 35th overall was Deborah Goule (Porthcawl Runners) from Angela F Morris (unattached) 42nd overall in 22:17
It left the annual points competition for men with Wilf Edwards (Porthcawl Runners) still leading the way.
He has got 3,535 points against his name, and is followed by Dave Bennett (Porthcawl Runners) 3,313 along with Adrian Phillips (unattached) 3,297. In the corresponding event for ladies, Deborah Goule (Porthcawl Runners) remains out in front with 4,047 points from Joanne Edwards (Cornelly Striders) 4,009 and Jane Ogilvie (Brackla Harriers) 3,888.
Reflecting on the 200 Porthcawl Parkruns, it’s attracted 4,889 different competitors with 313 clubs represented.
Completed runs since it was launched on April 6, 2013 amount to 36,784 covering 183,920km while 6,800 personal best times have been logged.
Meanwhile, wintry conditions last Sunday greeted just 59 youngsters who contested the 73rd Bridgend Junior Parkrun in Newbridge Fields.
Despite wet conditions, Jack O’Brien (Bridgend) raced home in 8mins 44secs to finish 16 seconds in front of Dylan Jones.
Third-placed Matthew Bridges registered a personal best time of 9:04 with a trio of Bridgend runners next to complete the 2k course – Joshua Morgan 9:07, Iwan Froley 9:20 and Mia Allen 9:25.
Tomas Clarke was seventh to finish in 9:32, and he was followed home by Iestyn Lambert 9:47, Katie Jeannette in a personal best 9:59, Mia Amerein 10:06, Niamh O’Brien 10:17 and Jacob Lloyd Feiven (Cornelly Striders) in a personal best 10:20.
There were eight other personal bests, and they came from Olivia Davies, Fraser Higginson, Faith Lambert, Charlotte Jones, Lucy Clarke, Grace Lambert, Lucas Povey and Emmanuel Aghro-Kima.