Welsh Inter-Region 10km Championships 2023

While other disciplines have had an unbroken record of Inter-Regional championships being held annually, it has been seven years since the road version of the championships has taken place. So it was a welcome return for the event on Sunday 23^rd July, even more so as the North hosted the new world-class course at the Helena Tipping race in Wrexham. With a total of 20 athletes permitted for each Region, (6 senior men, 6 senior women, 4 master men and 4 master women), the opportunity to represent one’s Region was one that many athletes had not been privy to for that long period.

The morning of the race saw clouds that threatened rain which never appeared until much later in the day and a fairly comfortable temperature for the runners.

Senior Men: Gold.

With an overnight withdrawal through family illness and Luke Northall (Wrexham) pulling up at the two mark with a recurrence of an injury, it was left to the remaining 4 athletes to cover those absences. First to finish for the North was Rob Samuel (Eryri), who was also first to finish in the I.R. match. Rob has had a horrendous history of injuries since his three successive victories in the Eryri marathon (2011/2/3), but following successful surgery and a much-reduced programme of racing, looks to be finding his best form again. With a 30:51 from Newtown last May, he was close to that with 31:08. Connor Rogers (Wrexham), who made a dramatic debut for the Region in June winning the Stone 10km Inter County match, was second in a new P.B. of 32:12. Ricky Challinor (Buckley) is another athlete rediscovering his form and has a 31:43 from Trafford earlier this year, and he finished third in 32:56; he was given the same time as the East’s Justin Crocker, but just eased ahead on the line. Our fourth finisher was team captain Ryan Davis (Wrexham) -, who has been concentrating on longer distance events this year, including a 2:28:35 at the London Marathon – finished in fifth with another East runner, Jonathan Like, also recording the same time.

Result: 1. North 1+2+3+5=11; 2. East 4+6+7+8= 25

Senior Women: Gold

Even with a full complement of six runners, this was always going to be a competitive race against East and so it proved with the first seven finishing sub-40minutes. East’s Donna Morris won the event, but our youngest team member Martha Owen (Deeside), who had a superb debut for the North in last December’s Telford 10km where she ran 37:33, was second in a fine 37:31. Captain Amie Smith (Cheshire Dragons), who struggled with her breathing, was third in 39:33. Jennifer Rambaldi (Buckley), has become, like Amie, an in important part of the team and has featured in most of our Inter County matches over the last few years; she finished fourth in 39:19. Gemma Moore (Eryri) was running her first 10km on the roads this year and finished fifth in 39:32. Our non-scorers were Rachel Shipley (Abergele) in eighth with 40:00, and Lucie Truett – who was having her first competitive race since the birth of her first child – was tenth in 43:31.

Result: 1 North. 2+3+4+5=14; 2. East 1+6+7+8= 22.

Master Men: Gold

Chris Callaghan (Buckley), who produced one of the best performances of the day, was one of the happiest men on the day, leading the team home and in first place in a new p.b. of 32:59. Our next two men finished under 34 minutes, led home by Martin Green (NWRRC) in second with 33:26, followed by Daniel Weston (Wrexham) in third with 33:29. Steven Hayes (Deeside) was fifth in 34:27.

Result: 1. North 1+2+3+5=11; 2. East 4+8+9=21; 3. West 6+7+10= 23

Master Women: Silver

East dominated this race, but Jane Doughton (Buckley) was the clear winner recording a fine 40:57. Debutant Claire Purdie (Wrexham), who came into the team at very short notice, responded by finishing fifth in a new p.b. of 42:36. Helen Davies (Wrecsam Tri) is now an F55, but her form has not dipped over the years and her return to the team saw her finish in sixth with 43:22. Christine Cammillare (Deestriders) has been running longer distances this year, including an ultra and she finished seventh in 46:12.

Paul Brooks

Photos are courtesy of  Daniel Purdie Photography.