Don Hale Blog

Cup Final victory for Kinmel  Bay FC. Cookson Cup Final Saturday 27th April Kinmel Bay Vs Llandudno Junction at Central Park, the home of Denbigh Town.  Kinmel Bay made history on Saturday by winning their first ever Cookson Cup in a thrilling 1-0 victory.  Photos by Barry Griffiths. Barry Griffiths from Kinmel  Bay FC has forwarded a match report from his club colleague  Leon, and he confirmed the progress and delight of his club as they lifted the trophy : "In my humble view insight into the massive efforts made by all in the team, coaches, and managers, in aspiring to these standards."   The day started well for Kinmel Bay with a well-prepared team breakfast hosted by The Kinmel & Kinspa where all the players and management met up.  During breakfast Andy and Leon went through the starting line up before we all travelled in convoy over to Denbigh Town's Ground, all our preparations were complete ahead of this eagerly anticipated game.  Nerves had set in at this poin

  Builth & District Running Club are presenting –  An Evening with Adharanand  Finnon ...supporting the Bracken Trust Charity! Please join us for a fascinating talk from leading running author, podcast creator, writer, and runner  Adharanand Finn on Friday 24th May.   Come and listen to his experiences, his journey, and his running life at the Jubilee Hall, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells (LD2 3TF).  The author of RUNNING WITH THE KENYANS.   Doors open at 6.30pm, talk to start at 7pm. Food, bar, and live music on site. For full information on Adharanand -   https://www.adharanandfinn.com/ *Everybody welcome - please bring your friends.  https://www.entrycentral.com/adharanandfinn?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR01g2v8ehvOmJro4PToOOpswNkMhFsQ_UY3V3lQ05M_mflW0F-PT46YTW4_aem_Aady1DN9WYEPRLTv_Qalpdk71GFtC9qHP6WihzuSqkLS8ywqUs3b5g7QJbSLO7_vzCjeAtKV_R87zLP3fG3_vfA9

*The NWRRC team at the Goldrush trail races (above l-r): Tony Price Jones, Will Williams, Stuart Culverhouse, Jonathan Kettle, Steve Poupart, Adam Lemalle, Dave Jones, Philip Moss and Vicky Taylor. Road Runners dug deep to win podium places at the tough Goldrush Trail races...plus other race results. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Ten North Wales Road Runners (NWRRC) had to dig deep last weekend to complete the tough Goldrush 8.5-mile trail and/or the Goldrush Canicross race last Saturday afternoon at Coed y Brenin to win five prestigious podium placings! This popular, and well organised event attracted a wealth of experienced competitors from far afield, with entries generally sold out many months in advance.  Race officials claimed that it includes  some of the best trails and singletrack that Coed y Brenin has to offer, and the event also incorporated one of the best Canicross (runners racing with their dog) races on the calend

*Will Evans (*above), was the first NWRRC member back at Conwy. Fast times at Conwy parkrun despite hard, dry, and bumpy conditions...plus reports from runners at Nova parkrun. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was hard, dry, and very bumpy, at Conwy parkrun last Saturday as some 239 mixed ability entrants from varied parts of the UK recorded new personal best times (PBs), over this picturesque but challenging 5k course. North Wales Road Runners  entered ten members, with  Will Evans  finishing 4th, and he won his VM40 age cat in 20.01, but he was only three-seconds ahead of his talented young club colleague  Harry Driscoll,  following a lively final dash. Harry though claimed the second spot in his SM20-24 age seemed satisfied with 5th place overall. *Harry Driscoll (*above left), with Jami Tharme, and Joe Culverhouse. Jamie Tharme  was 3rd in his VM45 cat in 32nd place in 22.33, with promising youngster  Joe Culverhouse  34th, a

Funeral arrangements for the former Swansea Harrier and WMAA secretary Jonathan Kersting... Message from Mel James at Welsh Masters Athletics.   I have received the sad news of the passing of a previous WMAA secretary   Jonathan Kersting , on April 12th. Jon was secretary around the millennium time, alongside the great John Collins and Ken Bray.   He competed for  Swansea Harriers  and WMAA within the B&I Cross Country International and many other masters events. I received this info from Ken Bray's daughter Yvonne, (Bullen) It was Jon's wife that informed her. I will attempt to find out more info, ASAP.  These are the  details of Jon Kersting's funeral arrangements. The funeral will take place on Wednesday 8th May.   The Service is at St Mary's Church, Burry Port. SA16 0SL at 12.30pm. Followed by Cremation at Llanelli Crematorium, Penprys Rd. SA14 8BX.  Friends and Family are cordially invited to meet after the funeral at Ashburnham Golf Club, Burry Port. SA16 0HN.

Kinmel Bay (3) Vs CPD Cerrigydrudion (2) at Y Morfa leisure centre 20/04/24. Match report 20 April 2024, by team manager Alex Craig, and photos by Barry Griffiths. Today was Kinmel Bay’s final league game of the season in what can only be described as a mixed bag season winning 12 drawing 4 and losing 8.  Kinmel Bay’s management team of Leon Field Andy Thomas and Alex Craig set out their goals at the start of the season and have fell just short of what was predicted; however, a cup final win next week will leave the club in a great position going into next season.  Today's game was always going to be hard for the Bay starting with a minutes silence for our GK Ash Lavender Uncle, we were also missing a number of regular players out due to different reasons.  We started with a mix of first team players and Reserve players, but don't take anything away from the lads who stepped up they did not disappoint one bit today. We went into the game with just 13 players available.   We got

*North Wales Road runner Mal Preece (*above) at the London Marathon. Mixed emotions but a great experience for athletes at the London Marathon...plus other results and updates... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Seven North Wales Road Runners competed in the televised London Marathon last Sunday amongst a mass participation of some 50,000 runners, who raised tens of thousands of pounds for various worthy charities, with many athletes recalling mixed emotions and personal best times! Mal Preece  was the first NWRRC member home with an excellent time of 3 hours and 20 minutes, and he celebrated following a great new PB time. Afterwards he confirmed:  “Very pleased with a new six-minute PB. I ran my first marathon back in 2011 at Chester, and to date I’ve knocked 20 minutes off that time. Looking to chip away my latest PB again next year with GFA time. My goal was to get my qualifying time for Berlin next year, which I achieved. ” *Pic