Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - the picturesque 5k course at Conwy parkrun which was voted runner-up in the global online survey a few years ago. Special anniversary celebrations at Conwy parkrun was featured on ITV Wales. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was a good turnout again last Saturday at Conwy parkrun as nearly three-hundred entrants celebrated the 20th anniversary of this amazing global community activity, with ITV Wales also filming this week’s activities! Organisers at this particular venue began their own journey a few years later, but this popular event has continued to flourish, with the weekly run from the RSPB Nature Reserve attracting over 200,000 finishers in total since the start, as this week they too celebrated their own 420th parkrun. And about three years ago, Conwy's unique event was also voted by the general public as 'runner-up' in the world's best parkruns during an online survey! These combined anni

North Wales Cross Country League 2024/25: Latest updates with fixtures and opportunity to run in the Welsh Inter-regional XC champs... Report and photos courtesy of Bernie Jones, NW XCL secretary. LAST CALL: The first North Wales Cross Country League fixture starts at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay, tomorrow (Saturday 5th October), with junior races starting at 10-30am (Under 15 Boys) and the Senior races starting as usual at 1pm. We are still outstanding team lists from a small number of clubs and the first fixture is on Saturday. Please give us a chance to prepare your numbers in advance.  PLEASE can the following clubs, if they intend competing this year, provide their team sheets to me asap: Deeside AC - juniors & seniors Menai T&F - juniors & seniors Cybi - seniors Prestatyn RC - juniors? & seniors West Cheshire - juniors & seniors Wrekin - seniors   *For ease I've attached the link to the team sheets below:   JUNIORS https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?

*Pictured above - Swansea Harrier and Welsh Master Ian Bowles. Swansea Harrier Ian Bowles now claims eight Welsh Masters records for numerous throwing activities.. Some top throwing updates and statistics from Chris Pruski, the records co-ordinator at Welsh Masters Athletics Ltd. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Master veteran Ian Bowles from Swansea Harriers has bettered his own M80 Shot Putt record on three occasions this season. Chris Pruski highlights his remarkable results in track and field.   *8.21m in Sweden at the World Masters Championships in Bjorlanda 25th August 2024 *8.42m at the BMAF Championships in Derby, 26th July 2024   *8.44m at The Final Fling in Wrexham, 29th September 2024. In Sweden he also broke his own Hammer Record, with a throw of 27.96m on 25 th  August this year.   *Ian Bowles also holds WMAL records at Hammer [M75 and 80], Discus [M75 and 80], Shot [M75 and 80], Weight [M75} and Javelin [M75].   That’s 8 WMAL records. Well

NWCFA Intermediate Challenge Cup 24/25.  KBFC (1) v Penmaenmawr Phoenix FC (3). Report and action photographs by Barry Griffiths. The first defeat for Bay since losing to the Junction in March with Pen running a similar winning trend it was close fought match.  The first half saw fast action but no score with the 4 goals produced in the last 20 minutes of the second half. Pen’s Harley Crossfield in the 74th minute opened the score; 6 minutes later Dan Williams shot a penalty for Pen and 6 minutes later Alex Brownhill assisted by Kyle Cooper brought Phoenix to a 3:0 lead. Cameron Berry came on in the 90th minute to assist Connor Morris to score 4 minutes later.   

*Rhian Roxburgh (*above), dominated from the start of the women's race. Llandudno Triathlon: 2024 RACE REPORT Triathlon Season Concludes on a high at the 2024 Llandudno Triathlon & Duathlon... Special report by Emma McIntyre at Always Aim High Events. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com https://alwaysaimhighevents.com/events/llandudno-triathlon-duathlon-2025/race-reports/2024-race-report   The 2024 Llandudno Triathlon & Duathlon wrapped up the season with near-perfect conditions, despite earlier forecasts of high winds. Athletes and spectators were greeted by a calm sea and a stunning pink sunrise, setting the stage for an exciting day of competition. Though there was a slight chill in the air due to the late-season timing, the weather was otherwise ideal as athletes prepared for their races. The event attracted a range of competitors, including those vying for qualification in the British Triathlon European Championships and participants in the Welsh Triathlon Super Series Fi

*Pictured above -  Llyr ApGeraint Roberts - finished 3rd in the Duathlon Latest race results including the Llandudno Triathlon, Berlin and Loch Ness marathons, and other parkrun results... Llyr finished third in the tough Llandudno Duathlon Report by Don Hale   Road Runner Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts finished 3rd in the Llandudno Duathlon on Sunday following a tremendous performance over a very tough and challenging course, which included both a 5k and 10k run, interspersed by four bike laps around the Great Orme. Llyr’s impressive split times were: 18 mins and 13 secs for the 5k run. 1 hr 10 mins for the bike and 37 mins and 50secs for the final 10km run! After the event he confirmed:  “I came third in the Duathlon. Really chuffed, as it was a standard distance, which is basically two times the distance that I do in the sprint! So, I’ll take that in my first attempt at this event! Lots of support around the course from NWRRC members, and Carla Green on the Orme was immense!” *The Tri-Harde

*Pictured above - Mark Davies made a dramatic and emotional return to running at Conwy following his partial recovery from serious injury. An emotional return to running at Conwy for international  mountain racer Mark Davies following a life-changing hit and run accident...plus results and parkrun summary... Exclusive report by Don Hale. Photos by John  Hatton and Bill Scriven. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was an emotional moment at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning as about three-hundred athletes, volunteers, and marshalls welcomed a surprise and a quite remarkable return to action by Mark Davies, an award-winning international fell and mountain race runner, who miraculously survived a life-changing hit and run accident in January last year. Mark, who won a special achievement award just two months before this horrific incident, following his previous success at the Swiss Peaks 360 Mountain Race, has spent a considerable amount of time during