Don Hale Blog

*John Dalzell *(above) put in a tremendous effort during his ultra challenge and not only recorded a great new PB time but he was also the 1st Welsh runner. John Dalzell completed 53-mile Highland Fling Ultra Race for the Welsh Air Ambulance charity appeal. Report by Don Hale.   North Wales Road Runner John Dalzell was celebrating last weekend after completing a gruelling 53-mile international challenge race, including an amazing new PB, whilst also helping to raise vital funds for the Welsh Air Ambulance appeal. *The Welsh air Ambulance team in action (*above). The experienced endurance athlete was the 1st Welshman to finish amongst a top-quality international field of 450 starters – with only 315 finishers – during the Highland Fling Ultra Marathon in Scotland. John was 116th overall and completed this extremely tough course, with 7,187 ft of elevation, in just 11 hours 47 minutes and 52 seconds, knocking a massive 37 minutes of his previous best time.  *John Dalzell (*above) recorde

*Martin Green (*above) pictured at a previous race. Great result for Martin Green at Wrexham Elite Marathon. Report by Don Hale. Martin Green confirmed his pedigree once again as a top marathon runner and a keen competitor with another tremendous performance at the Wrexham Elite Marathon last Sunday. The NWRRC member finished the tough 7-lap course in a great time of 2 hours 31 minutes and 19 seconds in a race that attracted numerous elite athletes who were all capable of running a Sub 3-hour marathon on a new world accredited fast course along closed roads. The provisional results confirm that Martin finished 15th out of 167 finishers, and he came 2nd in his MV45 age cat. The overall marathon was won by Hugh Armstrong (Ballina AC) who set a new Welsh all comers record of 2.14.02. Afterwards Martin said: “These marathons don’t get any easier, at half-way in 74:00, then got slower……pleased to finish, no complaints, onto the next one!” *This is the link to the  provisional  results: http

*Steve Mason (*above) was the first NWRRC member at Conwy. Fun in the sun for Conwy parkrunners. Report by Don Hale.   Conwy parkrunners were greeted by bright, warm sunshine, and a light breeze, as they tackled the spectacular out and back 5k course along the river estuary last Saturday morning. The event attracted over two-hundred finishers with the first twelve runners all dipping under the magic twenty-minute barrier. And runners of all ages and abilities from across the UK were again well represented, including club members from as far afield as York, Forest of Dean, Salford, Accrington, Telford, Wigan, and Bingley, amongst others, with one runner even travelling over from New Zealand! Teenager  James Smith  (Menai T&F) was the first runner back in a fast time of 17 minutes and 39 seconds, and he also won his SM18-19 age cat, with  Guy Roberts  (Mossley Hill AC) 2nd overall, and 1st in his VM35-39 cat in 18.09, whilst well-known local athlete  Chris Yorke  finished 3rd, but wo

*Martin Green (*above in white vest) leads the pack at a previous Pier to Pier race. MESSAGE FROM ORGANISER OF PIER TO PIER 10K RACE - EVENT POSTPONED TILL NEXT JANUARY 2023. It is with regret we will have to postpone this year’s race. We have tried numerous different weekends and simply just cannot co-ordinate First Aid and transport with so many events back in the calendar following the lifting of Covid -19 restrictions. This time of year is worsened with the promenade being so busy at Llandudno, Rhos and Colwyn Bay it has been made even more difficult as we approach the summer period. For those that have entered we will postpone the race to January 2023 and entries will automatically be deferred. The date will either be the 14th  or 21st  January 2023 and will confirm as soon as the tide information has been revealed. If you wish to receive a full refund please click  here  before April  30th 2022, after this we will transfer any entries to the 2023 event. Thank you for your patienc

* North Wales Road Runners at the start of the Llandudno Easter 5k Dash. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Kevin Slattery and Steve Jeffery.   North Wales Road Runners had two athletes in the top three placings, in addition to winning both the male and female team prizes and claimed five age category wins at the popular Easter 5k Dash on Llandudno prom last Saturday. Martin Green  led home a large club entry of some twenty-eight athletes for this revived race which has not been held since 2019 due to Covid-19 restrictions and postponements. The overall race was won by  Scott Nixon  (Cardiff AC) in 16 minutes 23 seconds, with Martin just 12-seconds adrift in 2nd place, despite a gallant effort, and  Mark Jessett  finished 3rd in 16.48, and he deserves extra credit after competing at the Conwy parkrun earlier that morning where he was the top club finisher in 18.50. *Pictured (*above left) Martin Green, and (*above right) Will Williams with Harry Driscoll at the start of the Easter 5k Dash o

*Mark Jessett (*above) was the first NWRRC runner back at the Conwy Parkrun. Bumper holiday entry at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos Steve Jeffrey.   Nearly 300 entrants of all ages and abilities were welcomed to an unusually sun-drenched Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning for the traditional bumper holiday event. With many local club athletes including NWRRC runners busy preparing for the later Easter 5k Dash on the prom, the top placings went to visitors  Craig Derbyshire  M30,   in 1st place in 17 minutes 35 seconds, with  Oliver Bernstein  M30, (Chorlton Runners) 2nd in 17.51, and junior athlete  Sam Gunning  JM15-17, finishing 3rd in 17.58. Only three Road Runners took part in the warm 5k challenge this week with  Mark Jessett  finishing 6th overall and 2nd in his MV35 age cat in 18.50, with  Steve Mason  27th and 4th in his MV 45-49 cat in 22.16, and  Dave Spofforth 172nd in 29.38.  *Steve Mason (*above) with another fine run at Conwy last Saturday. Dave however ran wi

*Cheryl Frost (*above left) with NWRRC club colleague Kay Hatton and a Cybi fundraising official at the Treborth track last Saturday. Special 24-hour track challenge success by Cybi Striders for Ukraine appeal: latest news £3,320 raised by 4,537 laps. Report by Don Hale.   Dozens of local runners of all ages and abilities took part in a special 24-hour track ‘Run for Ukraine’ fundraising appeal, organised by Cybi Striders last weekend. Staged on the Treborth 400-metre athletic track, near Bangor, event organisers welcomed  anyone and everyone to take part, with entrants invited to run as many, or as few laps as possible for a donation, and as part of a unique challenge, which began at 9 am on Saturday morning and continued until the same time on Sunday. A club official confirmed:  “We are a small Anglesey based running club who like so many have been appalled to see the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine unfold. This 24-hour run is our way of showing support and raising much needed funds f

* Some of the many young benefactors (*pictured above) of Steve Forsyth's Gambian kit appeal. Steve's kit appeal for Gambia proves a huge success. Report by Don Hale.   Steve Forysth’s appeal for any unwanted running shoes and kit has proved a huge success with the first batch of donations delivered to underprivileged young sportsmen and women last week. The North Wales Road Runner also helped organise the delivery of several carloads and boxes of kit to the Gambian Police Athletic Team who began an urgent distribution to youngsters in readiness for a series of races in their country. *NWRRC athlete Steve Forsyth (*above left) with colleagues Don Hale and Will Williams as they helped collect unwanted trainers and sports kit for Gambia at Conwy parkrun. Steve was also able to send back these  exclusive  photographs from different groups who were absolutely thrilled to receive this kit from hundreds of North Wales supporters which included running clubs at Llandudno, Prestatyn, D