Don Hale Blog

*A close finish for Jonathan Kettle (*above) at Conwy parkrun. Jonathan Kettle took the plaudits after a close finish at Conwy parkrun...plus other race results. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Road Runner Jonathan Kettle was the first runner home at Conwy parkrun last Saturday, but he was made to battle all the way around this challenging 5k course by rival Matthew Baker, who finished just 9-seconds behind Jonathan. The NWRRC athlete recorded a good time 17 minutes 36 seconds to win his MV45 cat, with Matthew 2nd overall in 17.45, and he won his MV35 cat, with  Aled Hughes  claiming the 3rd spot in 18.18, and he too won his MV35 cat. After the event, Jonathan confirmed : “ It was a close run until the bridge when I thought I would push the effort a bit, and he couldn’t hang on, so I just cruised home off the bridge. All good fun when it’s a bit of a battle.” Lisa Davies  was the fi...

*A group photograph of all the supporters who turned out to remember their friend and colleague John Dalzell on Llandudno Promenade last Wednesday night. Good turn-out on the prom in midweek for a 5k tribute run in memory of John Dalzell. Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   About sixty people attended a special tribute and social 5k run/walk on Llandudno Promenade last Wednesday night in memory of a popular North Wales Road Runner John Dalzell, who tragically lost his life last month. John was a well-known ultra-distance athlete and a regular parkrunner at Conwy, who always had time for people, and often gave loads of encouragement to fellow runners, before, during, and after any events.  This special commemorative 5k was arranged by club colleagues and close friends of John, in  Jonathan Kettle  and  Tony Price Jones , and attracted plenty of supporters from numerous clubs and organisations that he w...

This was the Roll of Honour confirming all the gold, silver and bronze medals won at the time of writing by Team GB members at the Masters T&F Championships in Pescara. Well done to all the competitors, the team manager, and all the support crew. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Gold COPSON Angela 10000m W75 
 Gold REAY Jeanette 10000m W65 
 Gold BONNETT Emily 400m Hs H76 W35 
 Gold FRISBY Susan 300m Hs H68.6 W60 
 Gold HORDER Jane 300m Hs H68.6 W65 
 Gold POWELL Caroline 100m W65 
 Gold STEWART Kathleen 100m W80 
 Gold FRASER Dorothy 100m W85 
 Gold MILLS Hayley 100m W35 
 Gold WILLIAMS Evaun Shot Put Kg 2.000 W85 
 Gold RUTTER Niabari Shot Put Kg 4.000 W35 
 Gold WILLIAMS Paula Shot Put Kg 3.000 W50 
 Gold BRITANE Laurensa Javelin Throw Gr 600 W35 
 Gold WILLIAMS Evaun Javelin Throw Gr 400 W85 
 Gold TOWART Darren 400m Hs H91 M45 
 Gold EDWARDS Neal 400m Hs H84 M50 
 Gold FEECHAN Colin 10000m M65 
 Gold THOM Dave 10000m M60 
 Gold PETERS Step...

What a tremendous season for Juliet Sidney, the Pocket Rocket, and a  medal winning sprinter with Welsh Masters Athletics and Team GB. *Juliet Sidney (*above) has enjoyed a remarkably successful season.   I have added Juliet Sidney's Facebook remarks to show her remarkable consistency at several major international and home championships in recent times, together with her diary notes:   This week, the talented athlete - know as the Pocket Rocket, concluded: “That's a wrap. Two weeks off before I start to train for 2024. It's been a much better year than 2022.”  Juliet’s personal roll of honour: - Madeira 60m Masters Ladies champion.  British 60m w55 champion. British 200m w55 champion.  Welsh 100m w55 champion.  Welsh 200m w55 champion.  British 100m w55 champion.  British 200m w55 champion.  European w55 100m 7th place finalist. European w55 200m 7th place finalist.  European w55 4 x 100m team bronze medal.  Juliet’s plans for...

Conwy Dark Run 2023 – 28th October 2023 at 6:30pm.   It’s time to glow crazy and take in the delights of the Conwy Charity Dark Run, which returns for a second year on Saturday 28th October and will fundraise for Hope House and Ty Gobaith  children's  cancer  charities. You can run, jog, or walk, and join with friends, take your family, or do it solo - the choice is yours! We can’t wait to see everyone waving their glow sticks in support of seriously ill local children.  The event follows the Conwy Parkrun course - but in the dark! It starts and finishes at the RSPB Centre near Llandudno Junction and travels along the Cob towards a Conwy Castle which will be lit up in all its glory.  It then continues along the cycle path towards Deganwy before returning to the RSPB Centre.  Complete 5K amidst music, cheering spectators and finish your Dark Run to pick up your unique glow-in-the-dark medal and extra special goody bag. There i...

*Jon Evans proudly shows his marathon medal from the Berlin Marathon. Great run by Jon Evans at the Berlin Marathon. Report by Don Hale.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   North Wales Road Runner Jon Evans enjoyed a great run in the popular Berlin Marathon in Germany last Sunday and said he was pleased with both his time and his pacing splits during this prestigious event. This was Jon’s fifth Berlin race, and this time he welcomed good weather conditions and used this marathon as the ideal preparation for the forthcoming Chester marathon.  *Jon Evans is pictured above at the  famous  Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. The veteran endurance athlete completed this interesting but undulating course in just 4 hours and 5 minutes, and he praised the support of his fitness coaches for this performance following a period of heavy training. After the race, as he stood next to the famous Brandenburg Gate, Jon confirmed: “The weather was excell...

*Will Williams (*above) had a good parkrun and finished 2nd overall Road Runners claim six age category wins at another puddle-filled Conwy parkrun... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Over two hundred mixed ability athletes took part in last Saturday’s Conwy parkrun with many participants travelling from far and wide to enjoy this puddle-filled but picturesque 5k course. North Wales Road  Runners  entered fourteen members and collected six age category victories in addition to three second places and three third, with many enjoying much improved times despite the very wet conditions underfoot.  Will Williams  was the pick of the team finishing 2nd overall with another good run in 18 minutes and 37 seconds to win his MV50 cat. He was followed by  Will Evans  7th with a new PB of 20.13, and won his MV40 age cat, whilst  Stuart Culverhouse  remained hot on his h...