Don Hale Blog

Fancy a challenge to kick start 2024? https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com Why not sign up to the   Conwy Mind   Seal Splash, a cold water dip fundraising event that we are delighted to be sponsoring!  Looking after our mental health is incredibly important to Tom Owen and Son and therefore Kelly and Tris will be getting involved!  Special thanks to  Parisellas Ice Cream Parlour  for offering 50% off a hot drink for participants and  SMASHED JCT  for donating a prize for the best dressed! With proven health benefits you will not only be improving the lives of others by helping raise vital funds but also improving your own wellbeing!  *It's only £5 to sign up and if you fundraise £50 or more you will get your own crocheted Seren the Seal! Sign up here:  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/.../conwy-mind-seal-splash... *ALSO: Read the fascinating story about the development of Tom Owen and Son, from my previous blog report from November 2023.   Don Hale Blog: Tom Owen and Son is a highly succes

*Pictured (l-r): Kelly Marie Alford, Sarah  Ferguson Hudson, Nicola Wylie, and Nia Lister at the NWRRC presentation evening last Saturday night. Glittering awards for NW Road Runners at the club's annual presentation night. Report by Don Hale.   There was a good turn-out of North Wales Road Runners and guests at the annual prize presentation and dinner held at Maesdu Golf Club last Saturday night. And following a good meal and some entertainment provided by Dani, there was a glittering display of silverware on offer for members old and new as the MC and club chairman  Kevin Slattery , enthusiastically read out all the eagerly awaited results, which included: -  Club handicap race winners  (female), Helen Hannam, and (male) winner Steve Roberts.  (Male),   Group   C  – 3rd Rob Fryer, runner-up Cai Roberts, and winner – Mark Mason.  Group B  – 3rd Kevin Higgins, runner-up Sion Thomas, and winner Ben Hudson.  Group A  – 3rd Jonathan Kettle, runner-up Iwan Evans, and winner Martin Gree

  *Brothers John Jones (Eryri) and Dave Jones (NWRRC) are pictured above with Paul Quentin (Abergele) at Conwy parkrun as they paid tribute to Steve Jeffery. Tributes paid to the late photographer Steve Jeffery by trio from different athletic clubs. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Three runners from different local athletic clubs paid their own personal tribute to the former athlete and photographer Steve Jeffery. They included brothers John and David Jones, together with Paul Quentin. The trio initially intended to run at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday to celebrate Paul’s 100th parkrun, but they also wanted honour the memory of a beloved friend and a former colleague, who Dave said: “Had been sadly taken from the running community this week.” Paul won his age group during an emotional run, but confirmed, that although he is no longer a member of  Abergele Harriers , he was a member when Steve Jeffery founded the club, and ran wit

*NWRRC member Jonathan Kettle takes the top-spot on the podium following his excellent victory at the Pervolia half-marathon In  Cyprus. North Wales Road Runner Jonathan Kettle wins the Pervolia half-marathon in Cyprus. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk North Wales Road Runner Jonathan Kettle claimed an incredible victory at the Pervolia half-marathon in Cyprus last Sunday with a superb performance in a fast time of 1 hour 16 minutes and 28 seconds. This was the veteran athlete's first-ever international win, and he also won his respective VM45 age category, and topped the podium at this prestigious sun-drenched event. Afterwards, Jonathan, who is also a much respected athletics coach, was obviously thrilled by his efforts, and especially with the win, and confirmed: “I did the 27th international race – the Pervolia half-marathon in Cyprus - and won it! I finished first, and this was the only position I wanted today! This was my fi

*Pictured above - the late photographer Steve Jeffery and his dog Bonnie. Tributes paid to popular photographer Steve Jeffery at Conwy parkrun... Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Steve Jeffery’s archive. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   There were mixed emotions at Conwy parkrun last Saturday as nearly 300 mixed ability social and club runners paid tribute, including a minutes spontaneous applause, to the popular and well-known photographer Steve Jeffery, who tragically lost his life last Wednesday. Steve was a founding member of  North Wales Road Runners , and a former member of the  Abergele Harriers  club, and he was a regular supporter at Conwy, and at numerous other local parkruns, plus a variety of events throughout the region. There was a notable feeling of shock and sadness amongst the packed ranks as parkrun officials  John Hatton , and  Bethan Wyn Roberts , confirmed the sudden and unexpected loss of Steve, who usually attended events w

Veteran W50 runner wanted for 800m race in Welsh Masters T&F Inter-area championships race. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Attention all veteran female athletes - do you want to run and represent Welsh Masters Athletics as a W50 800m athlete? WMAL team manager Eleri Jones is urgently looking for someone to join her squad for the forthcoming Inter-area T&F championships. This week she asked:   “Is it possible to put a shout out on the Welsh Masters page for a W50 800m runner please? We’ve had a couple of people who aren’t available and running out of options? "We have a vacancy in the team for a W50 800m runner, whilst the men’s team is heading towards announcement of a provisional team. Thanks." Eleri can be contacted via email:  eleri9uk@yahoo.com Brett Davis can be contacted via email:   brett-davis1@sky.com

*Pictured above - The Indoor stadium and track at Cardiff Met University. Welsh Masters Athletics roll of honour and list of champions from the Non Thomas Indoor championships. Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   There were some excellent results and some fast times recorded at the Welsh Masters Athletics 2024 Indoor track events, held at the Indoor Stadium at Cardiff Metropolitan University last Sunday, which formed part of the Non Thomas meeting. These included the 60m, 200m and 300m events, and  Brett Davies , a director from Welsh Masters Athletics Ltd, has confirmed the roll of honour, and champions list of WMAL champion members. He added:  “The full results from the meeting are now available online via this link, and/or (via Cardiff Met /Welsh Athletics/Opentrack) and they will also be on the Power of 10 site very soon.”   *This is the current link to the provisional results: https://wales.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2024/GBR/nonthoma

Will Williams tackled the gruelling cross country course at Dolgellau. Mud, wind, and rain at a very muddy cross-country race at Dolgellau... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Lesley Goodson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Three Road Runners braved the strong blustery winds, rain, and heavy mud at Dolgellau this weekend during the latest fixture within the Grand Prix Express, North Wales XC league. Will Williams  ran well in the  Senior Men’s race  and finished well in 38th place overall amongst 125 starters, and he was 3rd in his MV50 age cat in 36 minutes and 19 seconds. Will later said: “ I really love cross-country. Always a great atmosphere.” The race was won by  Matthew Collins  (Oswestry Olympians) in 30.11 and he won his SM age cat.  Janos Vranek (Aberystwyth University) was 2nd in 30.22, with  Rhodri Owen  (Meirionnydd) 3rd in 31.11.  Emyr Davies  competed in the over 65’s race and won his M80 age cat in 29.25, finishing 15th overall, with  Roge

*Four veteran age category winners celebrated their victories at the NW Regional Indoor championship on Saturday, (l-r) Michael Finnie (NWRRC), the MV65 winner; Martin Weetman (Cannock & Staffs AC), the MV60 winner; Joe Horner (Menai T&F), the MV55 winner; and Don Hale (NWRRC), the MV70 winner. Road Running trio smashed records, set new PB times, and won prestigious medals at the North Wales Indoor champs. Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Nearly one-hundred top male and female competitors, aged from 11-80 years of age, took part in the North Wales Regional Indoor Track & Field championships last Saturday, held at the Deeside Stadium, Connah’s Quay, where three North Wales Road Runners (NWRRC), smashed records, set new PB times, and won prestigious age category medals. These particular championships attracted a mixture of junior, senior, and veteran track & field athletes from clubs around the region, with gold, silver