Don Hale Blog

Over 250 runners Raced the Highland Train over a fast 5k downhill course from Dinas to Caernarfon... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk *Pictured (l-r): Mandy Preece (Porth Eirias Runners) with Mal Preece (NWRRC), and (*right) Hannah Griffith, Gwen Charlton and Vicky Taylor, all shown at the Race the Train event at Caernarfon.   A pleasant 5k dash on a humid summer evening proved just the ticket for over 250 mixed ability athletes last Wednesday night as they opted to Race the Train from Dinas railway station back to the terminus at Caernarfon. This was the 24th annual event featuring this exciting race which involved taking a train load of runners and their supporters out from Caernarfon station to the first stop at Dinas on the 7.30pm special express, with entrants then disembarking in readiness for a quick run back to town in a determined effort to beat the mighty Highland loco and train back! This is always a very popular race, and

*Pictured above - Steve  Gardner (*left) with his father Dave at Yate. Father and son Steve and Dave Gardner struck gold at the WMAL track & field champs at Yate... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Father and son athletes Steve and Dave Gardner struck gold at the Welsh Masters track & field championships at Yate last weekend, with Dave winning a gold medal in the 1500m race, whilst his dad Dave, proudly won two gold medals in the shot put and javelin events. Steve Gardner had a superb run in the 1500m track race recording a new PB time of 5 minutes and 9 seconds, to take the gold medal in his MV60 age cat, and beating his previous winning time from last year of 5.13. And to add to his success,  he has received notification this week from Bernie Jones , the Welsh Masters team manager, that he has been selected to represent Wales in the mid Cheshire 5k on 23rd August.  Meanwhile Dave Gardner has probably smashed two Welsh Mast

*Pictured above - super vet Sandy Johnston set a new record. Super vet Sandy Johnston set a new record at the Helena Tipping 10k at Wrexham. Report by Don Hale https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   *Pictured above - some of the NWRRC team at the Helena Tipping 10k race. It was a good turn-out at the Helena Tipping 10k race at Wrexham last Sunday with fifteen North Wales Road Runners in action, and they claimed four prestigious podium places Super veteran  Sandy Johnston  was perhaps the pick of the pack this week after winning his MV75 age cat with another outstanding display and a remarkable chip time of just 46 minutes and 18 seconds, finishing in 226th place out of nearly 700 entrants.  And Sandy’s time also set a new North Wales Regional record, taking 14-seconds off Emyr Davies’ previous best of 46.32, set in Caernarfon in 2019. Young  Harry Driscoll  actually led the team home in 78th place in 37.32, with  Carla Green  next in 142nd spot overall in 40

*Pictured above - Mountain runner Charlotte Rose Wilton Jones. Podium place for Charlotte at the International Snowdon Mountain Race...and Kevin gallops around Aintree 10k. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   North Wales Road Runner Charlotte Rose Wilton Jones competed in the gruelling Castell Howell International Mountain Race last Saturday, which included a challenging route up and down Mt Snowdon. *Charlotte is shown above and with her medal. This popular event attracted a host of experienced and highly talented mountain runners from around the UK and Europe for one of the top sporting events on the Welsh calendar, which this year celebrated its 49th year. Charlotte was one of nearly five-hundred finishers, and she performed extremely well despite the inclement weather, and completed her arduous 10-mile circuit of this famous Welsh  mountain in just 1 hour 47 mins and 45 seconds and claimed a prestigious podium place after finishing

*Charlie Sheen (*centre) pictured above with runners, friends, family and supporters at Rhos on Sea after completing his amazing 75-mile charity run. CHARLIE SHEEN RUNS 75 MILES AND RAISES OVER £4,000 FOR ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL CHARITY...   Intro by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com Rebecca Sheen is the proud mum of 11-year old Charlie Sheen who today (Sunday) completed his incredible 75-mile run for Alder Hey Children's Hospital Charity in Liverpool. Charlie completed the final 5-mile leg of his amazing fundraising campaign by running from Llandudno Pier to the Coast Cafe at Rhos on Sea. He was joined along the way by loads of fellow runners and met by a huge crowd of supporters when he finallyfinished. This is what Rebecca said tonight: - Where do I start, Charlie I am so proud of what you have achieved, raising money by running 75 miles for Alder Hey Children's Hospital. You have raised just over £4000! Your selflessness, dedication and motivation has bee

*Steve Bozier (*above) was the first NWRRC finisher at Conwy parkrun Steady performances in dry conditions at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Nearly 300 mixed ability athletes took part in another welcome dry event at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning from the RSPB Nature Reserve, with many entrants taking it steady in preparation for other events the following day. North Wales Road Runners  had fifteen runners in action and  Steve Bozier  led the team home with a good performance in 11th place in 21.34, and he was 3rd in his VM45 age cat, whilst  Adam Lemalle  continued his fine form finishing 19th in 21.58, and he was 2nd in his VM40 cat. Steve Roberts  was 3rd in his VM55 cat in 31st place overall with an excellent performance in 23.03, and  Mal Preece returned to parkrun finishing 62nd in 24.48. Newcomer   Juana Hunter   was pleased with her club debut at Conwy with a new course PB of 25.13 and she finished 3rd

*Welsh Master veteran Alan Davies (*above), at the Ammanford 10k DG Credit Stuart Ladd - South Wales Guardian Top Two UK M70s at the Ammanford 10k. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk The 2024 Ammanford 10k road race was run in ideal conditions of a light breeze and sunshine last Sunday morning.  The Carmarthenshire race is run on undulating open roads between Ammanford and Landybie with a generally steady uphill first half followed by a short sharp hill and then generally downhill to the finish. The current two top men on the Run Britain V70 National ladder - who are both from Swansea - were taking part and put in solid performances.  *Pictured above - Welsh Master veteran David Gibson at the Ammanford 10k DG Credit Stuart Ladd - South Wales Guardian. Top Two UK M70s at the Ammanford 10k Once again Swansea Harrier Alan Davies gave a masterclass to finish in 18th place with an excellent time of 38:47 with Tri Hard Harrier David Gibson following in 34th 

Veterans at the Paul Popham Swansea Bay 5k Summer Series. Report and photos by David Gibson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk The Paul Popham Swansea Bay 5k Summer series consists of three Wednesday evening events in May, June and July of each year and proves to be popular with south Wales runners of all ages.  The Swansea Prom ‘there and back’ course starts at the Secret Bar and Kitchen near St Helens Rugby ground and heads towards the marina before turning back. The route can be breezy’ which makes judging pace a bit tricky but then it is the same for everyone. Once again this year, VM70 Swansea Harrier Alan Davies produced three strong performances to receive the series veteran third place trophy despite being 71 years old! The veteran podium places were:- VETERAN FEMALE WINNERS 1st Place          Katie Williams           3M Gorseinon Road Runners 2nd Place          Sarah Christensen    Swansea Harriers 3rd Place          Sarah Cross   VETERAN MALE W

  EXCITING AND INFORMATIVE NEW WARTIME BOOK. The Jersey Boys and Liberation! Some compelling wartime memories from three remarkable men...by Don Hale. New paperback book. Available on Amazon:   https://amzn.to/4bUstzc The Jersey Boys and Liberation!   Some compelling wartime memories from three remarkable men...£7.99 in paperback or £3.50 as an ebook on Amazon. By Don Hale .  Paperback edition :  https://amzn.to/4bUstzc Kindle ebook version : https://amzn.to/4cTO2kG This is the true story of two remarkable Jersey Boys, and an eventual Liberator, who were all teenagers at the start of World War Two, but soon became embroiled in a variety of dramatic events following the Occupation of Jersey in the Channel Islands by German Forces during 1940-45. Joe  Miére  (* pictured above ), was a constant thorn in the side of the Nazi invaders and became a political prisoner and resistance leader who was often arrested, jailed, and beaten, for demonstrations, and for anti-German acts of violence, an