Regional Half Marathon Championships Within the Caernarfon Race, 10.9.2023

Regional Half Marathon Championships Within the Caernarfon Race, 10.9.2023

On a very warm and muggy morning and on a day when the threatened rain didn’t appear, the Regional half marathon championships were held in historic Caernarfon with the race starting in the shadow of the iconic castle. A field of over 400 runners took to the start line with a large crowd cheering them on as they made their way out of the town square, and onto the looping and challenging course.

The men’s race was led almost from start to finish in a highly impressive performance by Martin Green (NWRRC), who recorded a fine 74:35, taking both the championship title and winning the open race. Green, who is in the final year of the M45-49 category, is currently in the middle of a four-week marathon training schedule as he prepares to represent Wales in the Masters International within the Chester race in October. He is having a fine year with a 2:30:43 at the London marathon (April) – which earned him a bronze in the Welsh championships – a 1:48:49 in the Rhayader 30km (March) and a 16:06 5km in Kingsley (August). Behind Green, Llyr Gruffydd (Eryri) finished second in the open race and took Regional first M35 with 76:20, and current N. Wales 10km champion Scott Nixon – who was full of a cold – was third in the open race and took Regional first senior man in 76:33.

The women’s race went very much the same way as the men’s had, with Abergele’s Rachel Shipley taking an early lead and gradually extending it, to the extent that she finished over four minutes ahead of the runner-up, in a fine 86:15. She also won the open race and was first Regional senior woman. She too is having a good year, with several runs for the Regional team this year and having won the annual Race the Highland train 5km in 17:42 last July. Behind her came Anna Drinkwater (Eryri) who took silver senior woman in 91.07 and Emma Alofs (Cybi) who took bronze senior in 91.12.

Full Results

Men: SM: 1. Nixon; 2. Ifan Jones (Cybi) 87.43; 3. Jack Buckley (Gog Tri) 114.48; M35: 1.  Gruffydd (Eryri) 76.20; 3. James Yarwood (Wrexham) 76.58; 3. Ryan Roberts (Cybi) 77.40. M40: 1. Jonathan Tyler (Betsi) 83.31; 2. Warren Renkel (Run Free) 85.07; 3. Drew Gray (Deestriders) 85.23. M45: 1. Green; 2. Jonathan Kettle (NWRRC) 78.26; 3. Robert Mansell (Cybi) 79.18. M50: 1. Stuart Culverhouse (NWRRC) 98.07; 2. Paul Lyth (Deestriders) 109.32; 3. David Jones (NWRRC) 111.04. M55: 1. Nick Houghton (Cybi) 91.12; 2. Rhys ap Elwyn (Eryri) 103.18; 3. Richie Williams (Cybi) 105.58. M60: 1. Gwyn Williams (Clwb Run Wales) 152.08. M65: 1. Gordon Jones (Prestatyn) 85.14. M70: Mark Mason (NWRRC) 149.34.

Women: SF: 1. Shipley; 2. Drinkwater; 3. Alofs. F35: 1. Siwan Elenid (Meirionnydd) 1001.0; 2. Jess McKinley (Deestriders) 107.32; 3. Nicola Griffiths (Hebog) 156.47. F40: 1. Helen Morgan (Eryri) 106.22. F45: 1. Sarah Hudson (NWRRC) 100.50; 2. Sarah Johnson (Deestriders) 140.04. F50: 1. Sarah Brooks (Abergele) 116.34; 2. Alison Gow (Clwb Run Wales) 119.23; 3. Hannah Griffith (NWRRC) 125.29. F55: 1. Cheryl Frost (NWRRC) 109.11; 2. Fiona Robinson (Deestriders) 182.02. F60: 1. Kay Hatton (NWRRC) 111.43. F65: Tricia Hirst (Maldwyn) 121.12.

Our thanks to Chris Yorke and his staff at runwales.com for all their assistance in this event.

Paul Brooks