Don Hale Blog

  THE WELSH MASTERS ATHLETICS MEN'S TEAM FOR THE INTER-AREA TRACK AND FIELD EVENTS AT CORBY ON 7TH SEPT 2024.

  *Pictured above - A great action shot shortly after the start of the THH 5k. Tri-Hard Harriers sell-out 5k race produced many PBs... Report by David Gibson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   On Thursday 22nd August saw Swansea club Tri Hard Harriers put on its second annual THH ‘5k on the Bay’ race along the Swansea Bay front between Blackpill and Oystermouth.  The course was very flat and fast, and this year produced numerous personal best times in the sell-out field of 300. Amongst many stella performances there were a few worth noting.   *Mike Roderick  of Tri Hard Harriers came in first with a time of 15:42.  *First female was  Megan Carter-Davies  of Swansea Harriers with a great time of 16:52.   *In the Veteran Female category  Stephanie Gibson  of Tri Hard Harriers was first (and second female overall) with a superb time of 18:00. This was despite Stephanie saying that she hates 5k events!   *In the Veteran Male Category  Daniel Newton  of Swan

Newport Harriers athletes:  Eleri Jones, Juliet Sidney, Louise Kirkby, and Nicky Buckwell at the World Masters Athletics Championships. Some great medal-winning results for Welsh athletes from the World Masters in Sweden.   World Masters Athletics Championships 13th - 25th August, in  Gothenburg , Sweden. Report by Juliet  Sidney .   Juliet Sidney from Welsh Masters Athletics has kindly forwarded a brief summary from some of the medal winning successes by her club at Newport Harriers and from Welsh Masters Athletics members who competed in the Masters World Championships in Sweden during August. She confirmed: “A massive congratulations to our FIVE Master athletes who travelled to Sweden with all FIVE coming away with relay medals. After competing in their individual events previously and doing well they were all chosen for relay legs.  “Eleri Jones was the 1st leg in the W40 4 x 100m team winning silver, and she also broke the British record in the process. Louise Kirby (3rd leg) and

*Pictured above - Steve Gardener at the World Masters champs in Sweden. Steve Gardner smashes 800m Welsh Masters record at World Masters Athletics champs in Sweden. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com North Wales Road Runner, Welsh Master, and Team GB track athlete Steve Gardner smashed his own previous best record time in the 800m event during the World Masters Athletics Championships in Sweden last week with an improved time to set a new Welsh Masters Athletics record. Competing on the track in Bjorlanda, Sweden, on 15th August, for Team GB, the M60 veteran ran home in 2 minutes 22.26 seconds. He was also the 3rd British athlete and the 1st Welshman, finishing 23rd overall based on the times over seven heats. There were 72 starters.  And in the 1500m held over the past few days, he recorded another excellent PB finishing in 5.07.05, in 24th place overall, as the 4th British athlete, and once again he was understood to be the 1st Welshman. There were 57 starters over

North Wales Cross Country League 2024/25: Registration details and notice of change of venues for races: - Report courtesy of Bernie Jones, secretary.   The 2024/25 Cross Country Season is just around the corner. Clubs are asked to register athletes wishing to compete in the League using the forms on the North Wales Cross Country website:   Senior Registration: https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.northwalesxc.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F08%2FSenior-Athlete-Registration-NWCCL-2024-25.xlsx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK   Junior Registration: https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.northwalesxc.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F08%2FJunior-Athlete-Registration-NWCCL-2024-25.xlsx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK   Forms should be e mailed to me: Bernie-jones@sky.com Clubs are also reminded   that league fees (£100 per club for seniors and £50 for juniors) are payable by at the latest before the start of the second fixture. *Payments ca

*Pictured above - Colwyn Bay student Bryn Woodall - set a new record. Bryn Woodall set an incredible new course record at Conwy parkrun...amd set the quickest time in the UK? Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk *UPDATE: It has now been confirmed that American student Bryn Woodall from Colwyn Bay AC in North Wales recorded the quickest parkrun time in the UK last week - which also smashed the course record at Conwy.   Talented Colwyn Bay AC student Bryn Woodall set an incredible new course record of just 14 minutes and 45 seconds on Saturday at Conwy parkrun following an outstanding performance over this challenging 5k riverside route from the RSPB Nature Reserve to Deganwy and back! And it quite bizarrely, it was almost three years to the day since he  smashed the previous parkrun PB record at the same venue on 21st August 2021 of 15.16.   And Bryn, who is on a brief summer break from his studies in America, finished more than two minute

West Wales 10k Championships results and run within the St Clears race. Report courtesy of David Gibson (Tri-Hard Harriers)   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Over one-hundred athletes competed in the West Wales 10k Road Running Championships on Sunday 18th August, which was incorporated this year for the first time into the St Clears 10K road race, and kindly organised by TROTS.   The course included a picturesque route through the town of St Clears and then out and around the local scenic countryside, before finishing outside the Leisure Centre.   Congratulations to everyone who took part and to our age group medallists. It was great to see so many of our regional clubs represented in Carmarthenshire. Thank you also to all the volunteers who made the race happen.   All material courtesy of West Wales Athletics Facebook page at -   https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064087000961 Photos extracted and attached and link to the results provided in

Sunrise Walk of Hope - Sunday 8th Sept. Mind Conwy – Raising awareness around suicide...   All money raised goes to supporting better mental health in Conwy County.   SUNDAY 8th SEPTEMBER 2024 – Registrations 5am, the walk begins at 5.45am. The start and finish is at Colwyn Bay Pier (5.8kms). The cost is £10 per person and the ticket includes a cold drink and pastry.   *The event is sponsored by Cartref Conwy. Please scan for a ticket or contact on the details shown below: https://www.facebook.com/conwymind/about Telephone: 01492-879907: info@conwymind.org.uk

*Pictured above the Bury FC squad in 1968/69 season at Gigg Lane. Fan’s stories required – Going to the Match!   Introduction by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com I was most fortunate to have spent several years working with and playing as a promising young footballer with Bury FC as youngster from the age of about thirteen to my late teens.  I enjoyed every minute playing for the juniors, youth team and reserves, with some mainstream game time and friendlies against top clubs thrown in.  It was a memorable time in my life and a great club and when I was injured, I recall Les Hart being a tower of strength during my rehab. A really good atmosphere and an interesting time in the club's yo-yo years, playing with some fascinating characters.  Memories are so precious and I have just found a nostalgic team photo from the 1968/69 season. I am shown third from the left on the front row.  This is the caption on the back of the photo: Pictured above top - (Back row l-r) Dave Lyon

*Pictured above - some of the NWRRC members at the start of the Caernarfon 10k race - team photo courtesy of Elizabeth Driscoll. Eight podium places for the Road Runners at the Caernarfon 10k. Report by Don Hale. Action photos courtesy of Lesley Goodson. Results collated by Sarah Ferguson Hudson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   North Wales Road Runners entered seventeen members for the Caernarfon 10k race last Sunday and claimed eight podium places including two prestigious age category wins. In warm but very breezy conditions,  Jonathan Kettle  led the team home in 22nd place overall but said his legs felt heavy and it just wasn’t his day.  Jonathan and Carla   Green  also had a dual role, as they were both additionally representing the  North Wales Regional  team. Despite Jonathan’s protestations, he still competed well and ran home in 36 minutes and 9 seconds and finished 2nd in his VM50 age cat.  Iwan Evans  also had a good run and was 34th in 39.41, and 3rd in his VM45 cat, whi