Don Hale Blog

PARKRUN UK LATEST NEWS: Welsh 5k and junior parkruns expected to return on August 21st UPDATE: Parkruns could finally be returning to Wales on Saturday August 21st.  *SEE NEW/REVISED STATEMENT FROM Parkrun UK ON AUG 6TH: Parkrun UK’s head of event delivery, Helen Hood, published a statement today about the expected return to parkrun in Wales and Scotland early next month.  Over five-hundred events returned last weekend in England and organisers in Wales and Scotland are now preparing for the 1k junior parkrun to recommence on the same date as the full 5k distance runs.   Scotland and Wales updates   Ms Hood admitted today: ‘Following recent announcements from the Scottish and Welsh governments, we are working towards returning 5k events in both Scotland and Wales from Saturday August 14th. ‘We are in contact with landowners to confirm permission for events restarting on this date and will continue to work closely with ambassadors and event teams in order to do our very best to make it

Llyr just missed chequered flag victory at Bedford Autodrome 16-mile race Report by Don Hale   Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts practically burned some rubber as he roared into action and claimed a deserved podium place at the Bedford Autodrome 16-mile race on Sunday, finishing in second place overall, but he just missed out on the chequered flag by a matter of seconds. The North Wales athlete was flying the flag for Wales in this tough English based endurance event, which was part of a special Grand Prix series of varied distance races held on a closed, traffic-free circuit road, which followed a brand-new course designed by former F1 racing driver Jonathan Palmer. Llyr had to complete five challenging laps of the Bedford Autodrome circuit run over a smooth tarmac surface and eventually finished in 2nd place overall in 1 hour 40 minutes 43 seconds, and also won his M45 age category.  *Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts just missed out a gold medal by seconds. He was pleased with his performance but was obv

*Martin Green leads the chasing pack at the Helena Tipping 10k race. Heat and humidity took its toll on North Wales athletes at Helena Tipping 10k   Report by Don Hale   There was a strong turn-out of North Wales Road Runners despite the heavy heat and humidity for the re-scheduled Helena Tipping 10k race at Wrexham on Sunday with ten members competing amongst 927 finishers. This well organised event attracted a strong field of elite athletes and club runners for one of the first few major races to be allowed in Wales due to Covid-19 restrictions, and  Matt Clowes , who was last week’s  Nick Beer  10k winner in  Llandudno , was again the victor, this time dipping under 30-minutes in this flat and fast race on a new course. Martin Green  made an excellent start but like several club colleagues, he suffered in the clammy heat and humidity, and eventually had to settle for a highly respectable 23 rd  position, but he also claimed 2nd  place in his M45 age cat award with an impressive time

* Some of the GOG runners at  the  Nick Beer race on Llandudno promenade Age Cat honours for GOG Triathlon Club at a very hot Nick Beer 10k race Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Steve Jeffery.   The GOG Triathlon Club entered a large contingent of quality athletes in the very hot and hilly Nick Beer 10k race last Sunday morning, which was one of the very first major events held in Wales this year since the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns. This popular race starting from Llandudno Promenade, and then out and back, including a tough climb around the Great Orme, always offers runners a stern challenge, but this year, the re-scheduled race - due to previous restrictions - provided an even harder test with very high temperatures and limited shade for the 400-plus finishers. The event also included a prestigious Inter-County race with some of the top runners from North Wales, Staffordshire, Shropshire, and Cheshire taking part. North Wales eventually won the men’s race, with the ladies having

  *( Pictured above ) The North Wales team at the Inter-County match in Llandudno last Sunday at the Nick Beer 10k race, against Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire. Back row:   Louis Lermite , Bryn Woodall,  Ricky Challinor ,  Ted Flynn ,  Scott Nixon  and  Martin Green   with team manager   Paul Brooks . Front row:   Jen Adams ,  Claire Wyn-Jones ,  Tracy Rogers ,  Rachel Shipley ,  Carla Green  and Amie Bagnall. Inter-Counties victory for North Wales team at Nick Beer 10k race Report by Don Hale   A team of twelve top athletes from North Wales took part in a scintillating Inter-Counties competition against rivals from Cheshire, Staffordshire, and Shropshire last Sunday, which was held in baking temperatures within the Nick Beer 10k Memorial race. The North Wales team claimed 1st place and were comfortable winners of the men’s race, with the women’s team narrowly beaten into 2nd position following a close-fought encounter. A team of six competed for honours amongst twenty-three ma

*Martin Green in the colours of North Wales finished 7th overall. Hot and hilly for runners in Nick Beer 10k race Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Steve Jeffery. Athletes from across the country descended on Llandudno last Sunday morning and battled soaring temperatures to compete in the re-scheduled Nick Beer Memorial 10k race, which had to be delayed for several months due to covid-19 restrictions. This ever-popular challenge, which started on Llandudno promenade, before climbing steeply around the scenic Great Orme and back, attracted over 400 runners of varied ages and abilities. The event also included a large contingent of elite athletes, and several teams for a combined Inter-County race. And in addition, there was also a highly successful 1k fun-run for children in aid of St David’s Hospice, which attracted over 70 entrants. With the club busy hosting and organising this spectacular race, most club members were involved in some way with marshalling or supervisory duties, ther

NWRRC athletes braved the heat at Aldi Chester 10k - and hosepipe came to the rescue of all runners...   Report by Don Hale   Several North Wales athletes turned out at the Aldi Chester 10k road race last Sunday despite a heat wave, and social distancing restrictions, within a massive turnout of nearly 3,000 runners. Newcomer  Jamie Tharme  was the first club man home in 50 minutes 51 seconds in 430th place from 1,633 male runners. He was followed by  Cai Roberts  in 55.49 in 676th place, with local soccer referee  Charlie Owen , a highly creditable 1,225th in 77.34. *Charlie  and Mandy Owen sizzled at the Chester 10k *Vicky Taylor had another good run at Chester in the heat Kelly-Marie Alford  led the ladies back home with another good run as 137th female out of 1,165 finishers in 55.06. And  Vicky Taylor  was another runner in fine form and following on from last week’s fell race, finishing as 239th female in 58.54, with  Mandy Owen  301st female in 60.49. Afterwards, Kelly confirmed

Sarah and friends complete 100 kms ultra-distance cancer charity run along Britain's oldest path Report by Don Hale.   Sarah Fergie Hudson and two of her close friends completed a demanding 100 kms ultra-distance run last weekend as part of their charity fundraising campaign for cancer research. The North Wales Road Runner completed the challenging “Race to the Stones” endurance event, which incorporated a fascinating route along Britain’s oldest path, and taking in numerous outstanding national landmarks. This popular event allowed experienced entrants to run, jog or walk their chosen route, and offered numerous options, including completing the full 100 kms course, a 50 kms alternative, and/or with weekender camping facilities. Event organisers invited entrants to conquer 100 kms (62.13 miles) along the Ridgeway, an historical trail that navigates Wayland’s Smithy, the famous Uffington White Horse, and Barbury Castle, before finally reaching the iconic Avebury Stone Circle. The u

*A plucky performance from Vicky Taylor at the Tal y Fan fell race Age category placing for Vicky Taylor in Tal y Fan fell race Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Steve Jeffery and Jonathan Kettle   Three NWRRC members took part in the gruelling Ras Tal y Fan fell race at Rowen last Saturday in very hot and humid conditions, with plucky Vicky Taylor snatching 2nd place in her respective age category. Said to be one of the toughest runs on the local North Wales fell racing circuit, the race is staged over varied terrain with nearly 800m of ascent and offered a stern challenge to all competitors over an 8-mile plus course.  The first two miles are said to be the most difficult, and host organisers, Club Rhedwyr Eyri Harriers, stated that entrants needed be able to navigate their way around the course, as although marshalls are at the checkpoints, and at the various gates and stiles around the course, the route is unmarked, and prior fell running experience is recommended. This year, with