Don Hale Blog

GOG runners competed at the Whitford cross country fixture and at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   Several GOG Triathlon members took part in the North Wales cross-country league fixture at Whitford, and in the Conwy parkrun last Saturday. Six male athletes recorded good results in the senior men’s race and three ladies also excelled in the senior women’s event. Daniel Willings (*left)   was the first GOG home in the male race finishing 57th in 31.22, with  Andy Jones  85th in 33.34 . Steven Owen  was 117th in 36.03, and  Neil Vicars-Harris  finished just eight seconds adrift of his colleague in 118th place in 36.11.  Simon Blain  also enjoyed a good run in 128th place, with  Chris Bennett  134th in 39.22. Stephanie Conway  was the first female GOG athlete home in the senior Ladies race, finishing in 81st place in 27.15, and it was a close contest for veteran runners  Elizabeth Evans  and  Ann d’Alburquerque  in the F70’s age cat, with Elizabeth eventually

Welsh fell runner Mark Davies wins ‘Special Achievement’ award for tackling the daunting Swiss Peaks 360 mountain race…   Introduction by Don Hale. Photos by Mark Davies.   North Wales Road Runners were successful in three separate categories at the Sport Conwy awards night on (25/11/22) including endurance athlete Mark Davies who won the ‘Special Achievement’ award for his incredible performance in the Swiss 360 mountain ultra-running race. Earlier this year I asked Mark if he would recall the highlights from his epic challenge. Mark now provides an exclusive, unique, and very personal account of his incredible challenge, and it is understood that he was the first Welshman and UK based finisher in this race. I entered this race ten-months ago as I needed a massive challenge, the distance (236 miles), elevation (83,000ft), so the difficulty of the course ticked all the boxes.  I'm now lying in my bed however, with legs like an elephant, and wondering what had just happened, and how

*The NWRRC team (*above) at Whitford. Fast and furious cross country fixture at Whitford. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. Four members from NWRRC took part in the latest North Wales cross-country fixture at Whitford last Saturday.   Martin Green  was the first club man home in this fast and furious senior men's encounter, and he finished in 22nd place in 28.51.  Stuart Culverhouse  was 84th in 33.31, with  John Dalzell  101st in 34.39, and  Michael (Pat) Finnie  ran home in 43.18. *Martin Green (*above left) with Stuart Culverhouse, and (*below) John Dalzell (left) with Pat Finnie, who were all pictured, at the North Wales cross-country fixture at Whitford last Saturday. Photos by Steve Jeffery. *Draft Results are now available on the North Wales website via the following link:  https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx... OTHER RACE RESULTS: *Wilmslow Festive 10k:  Two NWRRC athletes competed at the Wilmslow 10k race last Sunday and both recorded new PBs with  Wil

*The award winning NWRRC team at the Sport Conwy awards (l-r) Mark Davies, Carla Green, John  Hatton, Kay Hatton and Ian Turner. Hat-trick of top sporting prizes for the Road Runners at Sport  Conwy awards... Report by Don Hale.   North Wales Road Runners collected three prestigious awards at the Sport Conwy prize giving ceremony held last Friday night at Venue Cymru. This popular annual event attracted a bumper turn-out from sponsors, supporters, sporting individuals, and organisations to recognise and honour Conwy’s most talented sports people.  The event included music by Billy Bibby, an initial address by Aaron Wynne from Conwy County Council, with an introduction by MC Matt Ward, followed by a speech from Cheryl Foster, a Welsh football referee and former player with Liverpool in the WSL. Awards were later handed to the winners of each of the twelve varied sporting categories listed, which generally included three nominees, with special video clips used to highlight the talents of

*Steve Mason enjoyed another good run at the Conwy parkrun for 4th place overall. Seven age cat wins at Conwy parkrun for the Road Runners...plus other race results from  Wilmslow 10k and Betws trail races. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   The Road Runners enjoyed another good day at Conwy parkrun last Saturday and celebrated with an amazing seven age category victories. Josh Keogh  repeated his fine win from last week with another solid performance to run home in 1st place yet again in 17 minutes 37 seconds, to additionally win his SM30 age cat, with tourist athlete  Jack Chubb  (Watford Joggers) taking the 2nd spot in 18.14, and teenager  Oscar Evans  (Vegan Runners) finishing 3rd in 18.30. Ten NWRRC members took part and collected eight podium places including seven age cat wins.  Steve Mason  gave the top three runners a good chase however, but eventually he had to settle for 4th place overall in 18.45 but won his MV45 cat. Carla Green  (*pictured left) finished in 14

*Paul Garstang was one of many GOG runners at the half-marathon. Good day out for GOG members at Conwy half-marathon. Reports by Simon Roxburgh and Don Hale.   GOG Triathlon club enjoyed a good day out at the Conwy half-marathon with twenty-two athletes involved and claimed several PB times and a deserved age cat podium place . Dan Wellings  was the first GOG runner back finishing 31st overall with an impressive PB of 1:24:58 and he finished 5th in his age group . Other results included:   Mark Davies  1:29:04 ;  Paul Garstang  1:32:57 and 3rd in his age  cat;  Chris Beardmore 1:36:31;  Andy Jones  1:37:28;  Rob Price  1:38:31, and a great new PB by 4 mins!   Steven Owen  1:39:33;   Chris Morris 1:39:45 ;  Paul Algieri  1:41:47 ;  Tom Simpson  1:43:28 ;  Lizzie Irvine  was the first female GOG home with 1:45:59 ; Nicola Tomlinson  1:54:01 ;  Phil Tracey  1:56:11 ;  Paul Martin  1:57:47 ;  Tony Phelan  2:04:26 ;  Scott Garner  2:04:26 ; Tom Bancroft  2:05:53 ;  Paula Stevens  2:07:27 ; 

Some medal winning ladies at Monmouth (l-r) Jayne Lindley (Buckley), Kay Hatton and Cheryl Frost (NWRRC), Emma Collins (Denbigh), Margaret Ludden (Buckley), and Gemma Moore (Eryri). Above photo by Bernie Jones. WELSH INTER REGIONAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS - MONMOUTH 19/11/22. Report by Bernie Jones. Additional photos by Adam Brightman. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com A great day for North Wales runners at Monmouth last Saturday, with some stunning results across all ages , and well done to all athletes, parents, coaches, and team managers, who contributed to such a good event …writes Bernie Jones. After the first two 'school' races in which North Wales athletes performed very well, the Women's senior and masters’ race was first up. It was great to see Martha Owen, Deeside, take on the pace early on but it was Gemma Moore, Eryri Harriers, fresh from winning a bronze team medal at the British Masters Cross Country International, who led the team home in 6th place and 3r

*Some of the NWRRC team (*above) at the start of the Conwy half-marathon. Bumper fundraising boost for charity at Conwy half-marathon and some great results from the Road Runners... Report by Don Hale.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Conwy half-marathon attracted a bumper starting field of nearly 1,000 mixed ability runners last Sunday for a very challenging encounter from Conwy Castle and around the Great Orme and back. Elite athletes joined with top club members and social runners to help raise thousands of pounds for local charities, and it was interesting to note that people travelled from all parts of the UK again just to take part in this popular and spectacularly scenic race. The event was won by  Dave Barratt  (Salford Harriers) in a fast time of just 1 hour 10 minutes and 41 seconds, with  Adam Jones  (Eryri Harriers) 2nd in 1.13.09, and  Michael Young  (West Cheshire) taking 3rd place in 1.14.17.  For the ladies,  Anna Bracegirdle  (Salford Harriers) ensured it was a rac