Big turnout for club at Chester
IT was a busy weekend for the North Wales Road Runners Club with 28 of its members taking part in six different events.
Nineteen club representatives travelled to Chester last Sunday to take part in the full and the metric (26.2km) marathons.
In the full marathon, first to finish from the club was Dean Allison, who recorded a time of three hours 33 minutes and 16 seconds, despite struggling in the last five miles.
Lesley Goodson was paced by Jon Evans, who was taking part in his ninth marathon this year, for a personal best 3–55.41, which qualifies her for a good for age place at the London Marathon.
Sarah Ferguson (4-00.30) and Ben Hudson (4-01.36) both registered PBs, while Len Jackson (4-11.36) was taking part in his final marathon after 35 years of racing.
In the metric marathon, Martin Green finished a fine seventh overall in a time of 1–39.17 and was second in his category, as was his wife Carla (2-00.24) and Kay Hatton (2-13.59).
Dave Gardner won his age section and his time (2-11.16) is the fastest officially recorded time by an over 75 year old for the distance.
Also taking part were Iwan Evans (1-51.00), Steven Roberts (2-04.05), Darren Griss (2-10.39), Glenn Barnett (2-14.19), Tony Price-Jones (2-16.14), Mark Jones (2-20.35), Cheryl AnnFrost (2-21.50), Josie Davies (2-39.39), Mandy Owen (2-46.18) and Mike Hayton (2-49.50) who was third in his category.
In the first round of this season’s North Wales Cross Country League, which was held in Treborth, Gemma Brown finished an excellent eighth in the ladies race.
In the men’s race the duo of John Ford and Martin Green came home first and second respectively in their categories, which gave the club second place in the masters’ team event, just one point behind the winning team.
Also taking part was Gary Williams in his first competitive race since rejoining the club.
Last Sunday, Mark Davies travelled to Rhosgadfan to take part in the challenging Four Lakes 30k race, which he finished ninth overall in a time of two hours and 16 minutes.
Further afield, club chairman Kevin Slattery travelled to Vilafranca near Barcelona to join members of Fondistes Penedes running club in a 12.7k race.
Slattery finished third in his age category and being the only non Spaniard in the field of over 700 runners he was awarded a bottle of local wine.
In the latest Saturday Conwy Parkrun 5k event, Helen Mitchell (29.41) recorded a personal best time.
Also taking part were Jon Evans (21.57), Darren Griss (22.03) Ceri Jones (27.40) and Angharad Lewis (29.02).
Mysterun of Abergele runner Jeremy Bright competed in the Cardiff Half Marathon and crossed the line in one hour and 43 seconds.