Road News

The 4th race in the Borders Road Running League 2016/17 Season takes place at Connahs Quay this Sunday 22nd January. Start 11am from: Coleg Cambria, Kelsterton Road, Connahs Quay CH5 4BR.

A short but tough 4.4mile race route. Full Details and race map can be found at: http://www.bordersleague.org.uk/fixtures/

The previous day; Saturday 21st January is the annual Twin Piers 10k race at 1pm from Llandudno Pier to nearly Colwyn Bay Pier!! Due to construction work being carried out on the promenade, the race route will be a bit different than in previous year’s as per this link: http://www.colwynbayathletics.org.uk//news.php

Last weekend at the Essar Four Villages Half Marathon at Helsby on Sunday 15th January, Paul Wathan finished 20th in a time of 1:19:00 while Gemma Morgans finished 324th – 1:36:10. There were 1588 finishers.

In the final Conwy Parkrun of 2016 on Saturday 31st December, who else but Paul Wathan won yet again in a time of 17:28. It was his 23rd win in the event.

Rob Samuel recorded a seasons best time of 30:35 when finishing 9th in the Ribble Valley 10k on Tuesday 27th December at Clitheroe in cold, dry and calm conditions. It was Rob’s best time for the distance since 2012 when he ran his PB time of 30:21 at the same event. Richard Roberts also ran a seasons best 10k time of 32:26 finishing 34th overall, two seconds quicker than his Telford 10k time earlier in the month while Arwel Lewis finished 255th in a time of 40:47.

There were 1,077 finishers.

Full race results at:

In the 100th running of the Conwy Parkrun on Saturday 24th December in very windy conditions, it was fitting that Paul Wathan a day after his Birthday would win the event once again for the 22nd time and that was despite wearing a full Santa outfit, beard and all in a time of 18:04 ahead of Run Wales’s Chris Yorke (NWRRC) 18:31. Paul’s partner Gemma Morgans finished 26th overall and 2nd female in a time of 21:19.

There were 296 finishers.

The Penrhyn Parkrun was cancelled due to a not so friendly Barbara!!

The Telford 10k on Sunday 11th December lived up to its billing as one of the fastest 10k’s in the UK with 18 senior men finishing in under 30 minutes! Only three seconds separated the top four in a very exciting finish with Josh Grace (Aldershot) 29:21 holding off Tom Lancashire (Bolton) 29:22, Jake Selley (Shaftesbury) 29:23 & The first Welsh finisher Ieuan Thomas (Cardiff) 29:24. Welsh athlete Elinor Kirk (Swansea) was comfortably the first female finisher in a PB time of 32:35. The first Eryri finisher in 41st position representing North Wales was Russell Bentley in a seasons best time of 31:08 followed by: 82nd Richard Roberts 32:28. 116th & also representing North Wales, Paul Wathan 33:53. 48th Female representing NW, Elliw Haf 42:44 while Gemma Morgans also competed for North Wales. Full Race results:

The previous day; Paul Wathan recorded his 20th Conwy Parkrun win in a time of 17:10 which is some achievement from 28 runs in the event & includes 6 runners-up positions!

ERYRI’S STROLL IN THE PARK

6 Eryri Harriers travelled to Birkenhead Park to compete in the 5.5 mile, 4 lap Borders Road Running league race of the 2016/17 season on Sunday 4th December. On a not so cold & sunny day, over 350 runners enjoyed a run in the park Eryri were led home by Derek Weaver in 107th place followed by: 115th Arwel Lewis. 187th Ashley Wager. 256th, and on her Borders League debut, Catrin Donnelly with her mother Alison 319th & 346th Roy Jardine.

The race was won by Phil Robertson (Wirral) 2nd Gareth Williams (Deestriders) and 3rd Ryan Roberts (Cybi) Full race results can be found at: http://www.bordersleague.org.uk/results/

Talking about runs in the Park! In the latest Penrhyn Parkrun on Saturday 3rd December, Huw Owen and Dog finished 2nd in a new PB time of 17:05 behind Tom Roberts (Meirionydd) 16:47 with Jim Bacon 4th – 18:25 & 16th  (1st female)Elliw Haf 21:28. There were 156 finishers.

Further down the coast at the Conwy parkrun, Paul Wathan just missed out by a second on another event win in a time of 17:02 behind Michael Corrales (NWRRC) 17:01 with Paul Jones 3rd – 18:44. There were 179 finishers.

The following day, Sunday 4th December, Paul Wathan finished 18th in the Run The Wilmslow 10k with a time of 33:59 with Gemma Morgans 17th female in a time of 42:42. There were 1239 finishers.

Paul Wathan had to be content with runners-up spot in the Vale of Clwyd Half Marathon on Sunday 27th November in a time of 77:27 behind race winner Stephen Page (Kenilworth Runners) 76:09 which was just short of Paul’s course record time of 75:57. Paul had also competed in the XC race at Bangor the previous day! Paul’s partner Gemma Morgans finished 28th and 3rd Female in a time of 1:43:50 while Steffan Evans finished 19th in a time of 1:38:30.

There were 80 finishers.