Birthday boy Ifan Lloyd celebrates another milestone with gold at the World Marathon Champs in Bucharest.

By Don Hale



*Pictured above - Ifan Lloyd won his age cat at the World Marathon champs

Birthday boy Ifan Lloyd celebrates another milestone with gold at the World Marathon Champs in Bucharest.

Report by David Gibson

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk

 

The 2024 World Master Athletics Marathon Championships were held as part of the 2024 Bucharest Marathon event held on 13th October 2024.

 

The date of the prestigious event was also shared with the 65th birthday of Swansea Harrier and Welsh Master Ifan Lloyd. 

He was able to celebrate this milestone by creating another - becoming the M65 World Master Athletics Marathon Champion by winning his new age category with scintillating time of 2 hours 49 minutes and 19 seconds. In addition. and subject to ratification, this puts Ifan top of the M65 Abbott WMM MTT Age Group World Rankings.



*Ifan Lloyd (*above), on the podium after winning his age cat.

Afterward the race Ifan said: "Competed the World Masters Marathon championships in Bucharest, Romania this morning. Great city, course, and organisation. 

“A bit hot and sunny for me but thrilled to win individual gold in the men’s 65 to 69 age category in a time of 2h 49m 14s. If ratified this will be a new British record which has stood since 1992. 

“I was also a member of the three-man GB team that took gold in the same age category. Of interest, I completed my first marathon in the inaugural London marathon in 1981 at the age of 21 finishing in a time of 2h 49 but several seconds slower than today. Little did I think at the time I would be running the same time when I was over three times older!"

 

And Welsh Master athlete David Gibson added: “Huge congratulations to Ifan for an outstanding world beating performance."
Don Hale is a former award winning investigative journalist and now a best-selling author who has created a very popular blog post linked to numerous social media sites. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025.

Comments

Post a Comment

Most recent posts

The tough Nick Beer 10k race proved a great success once more with good numbers and a fast pace...

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above and lower - runners at the start of the Nick Beer 10k race as they depart Llandudno promenade ( *Photos by Don Hale ). The tough Nick Beer 10k race proved a great success once more with good numbers and a fast pace... Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 The annual Nick Beer 10k race proved a hit once more with a massive 967 athletes completing a tough course from outside Venue Cymru and around the Great Orme before returning to Llandudno’s spectacular promenade, where spectators gave each entrant a warm welcome on a rather cool and breezy day. Visiting athlete  Hamish Morton  (Cambridge & Coleridge AC) was the first finisher overall in just 34 minutes and 55 seconds, and he was the 1st MSen, but he was one of four elite runners who ran away from the main pack and they all dipped under the magic 36-minute mark.  *Menai T&F athlete Steffan Sayer (*above) finished second in the Nick Beer 10k. Steffan Sayer  (Menai T&F) was the r...
Read more

Quality athletes and fast times at the new Padarn 5k race.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - the start of the new Padarn 5k race last Wednesday night (photo courtesy of SportpicturesCymru). Quality athletes and fast times at the new Padarn 5k race Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   There was a good turn-out of mainly elite and club runners at the brand new Padarn Sbrint 5k dash in midweek, where the first eight finishers all dipped under seventeen minutes, and Meirionnydd RC claimed the first four places. Owen Roberts  was the overall winner following a great performance in just 15 minutes and 37 seconds, on this flat and fast course alongside Llyn Padarn at Llanberis, but he faced a stern challenge from club rival  Daniel Kashi  in 15.44, and colleagues  Ben Harding  (16.15) and  Lloyd Williams  (16.19) also battled for top placings. Some other notable local results included  Aled Hughes  (GOG Triathlon) in 8th place in 16.59 and  Harry Driscoll  (Meirionnydd RC)...
Read more

North Wales parkrun results and reports round-up

By Don Hale
Image
*The start of the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun (*above) last Saturday. North Wales parkrun results and reports round-up Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Michael (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog welshmastersathletics.co.uk   There were good numbers again at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday morning where a number of talented athletes dashed around this fast and flat promenade course to record some excellent finishing times. JM15-17 debutant  Daniel Lindsey  was the first finisher overall with a great performance in just seventeen minutes dead, and he was one of four runners who all dipped under the eighteen-minute mark, with the first eleven finishers all beating twenty-minutes! This event however, was not just speed and plaudits should be given to the dedicated team of volunteers, tail walkers, and general walkers who regularly devote their time each week for the benefit of others, and enjoy attending every week. Tom Elland ...
Read more

Gold medal and charity winners at the Caernarfon half-marathon championships.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - the NWRRC team at the Caernarfon half-marathon and NW championships. (l-r): Rob Fryer, Stuart Culverhouse, Adam Lemalle, Steve Roberts, Nia Lister, and Kay Hatton. Gold medal and charity winners at the Caernarfon half-marathon championships... report by Don Hale and photos by John Hatton. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog A large field of some 720 quality and mixed ability athletes tackled the undulating Caernarfon half marathon last Sunday with many raising funds for local charities and other worthy causes. This event, well organised by  RunWales,  also included the North Wales half-marathon championships, and consequently attracted some of the top local club runners who competed for medals and glory.   *The first three male and female medal winners at the Caernarfon half marathon are shown above. Tom Roberts  (Meirionnydd RC) was the outstanding race winner in 1.09.25, with  James Nicholls  (Wrexham AAC) second in 1.13.0...
Read more

Fast and furious at the Ruthin Evening 5k race - results round-up by Don Hale

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - father and son Stuart  and Joe Culverhouse. Fast and furious at the Ruthin Evening 5k race Report and results by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog It was fast and furious at the Ruthin Evening 5k race in midweek with 151 mixed ability athletes competing for honours. David Brilley  (Buckley RC) was the first finisher overall in just 17 minutes and 11 seconds, but he was challenged all the way by  Lloyd Richmond  (Denbigh Harriers) in 17.43, and  Osian Tulloch  (Deeside AAC) in 17.56.  The ladies race was equally competitive with sisters  Ella and Gwen Hayes  (Deeside AAC) battling for the top two places, with Ella eventually winning out in 19.13, with Gwen second in 19.25, and  Joanne Henderson  (Denbigh Harriers) third in 19.51. *NWRRC   member  Stuart Culverhouse , and his son  Joe Culverhouse  – who this time was competing for his second claim club (Colwyn Bay AAC) –...
Read more

Five Miles From Home, a global rowing challenge including the Bay of Colwyn Sailing Club and Deganwy Rowers

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - The  Bay of Colwyn Sailing Club Rowers and (*below), the Deganwy Rowing Club team Five Miles From Home, a global rowing challenge A special report by Graham Jones featuring the exploits of The Bay of Colwyn Sailing Club Rowers and Deganwy Rowers in a global competition. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Held between 15:00 (BST) 2nd September and 15:00 (BST) 6th September, the  "5 Miles From Home"  rowing event is a global time-trial challenge where participants complete a five-mile distance in their local waters. It is a  unique global challenge connecting the rowing and paddling communities. The event is organized by the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association, with support from the Welsh Sea Rowing and Irish Sea Rowing Associations and as the name suggests, crews have to row exactly 5 miles (8,047 meters or 4.345 nautical miles). Ever-changing conditions experienced along the Conwy coast during the time period meant that cre...
Read more

FAST TIMES AND AGE CATEGORY WINS AT MARSH TRACKS 5K

By Don Hale
Image
*Jonathan Kettle recorded a great new PB at Rhyl FAST TIMES AND AGE CATEGORY WINS AT MARSH TRACKS 5K AT RHYL Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Steve Jeffery.   Six members of North Wales Road Runners travelled to Rhyl last Saturday to compete in the second Welsh Athletics fixture of a series of 5k races on closed road circuits, with two male athletes claiming age category wins, and the four others finishing second in their respective categories. Held on the go-cart and cycling course at the Marsh Tracks, the event gave many athletes their first taste of live race action for about 15-months and provided a fast, flat, but twisting course in warm and humid conditions. * Ben Hudson (pictured above) with Jonathan Kettle (below) Jonathan Kettle  was the pick of the NWRRC team with a new personal best time of 16 minutes 30 seconds for 3rd place and he was 1st M45 cat winner in this high-quality field of top local runners. He was pleased with a great showing, but later admi...
Read more

Entries now open for the British Masters half marathon championships in Dumfries on 20th September 2026.

By Don Hale
Image
Entries now open for the British Masters half marathon championships in Dumfries on 20th September 2026. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog www.welshmastersathletis.co.uk By the time you read this there will only be less than two weeks left to enter the British Masters Half Marathon Championships in Dumfries on the 20th  September. The course is on scenic undulating roads with little traffic. Promoted by a true running club the Dumfries Half Marathon charges a very realistic entry fee which is rare in this day and age.   The race limits its entry numbers which means the Championships are well catered for, however I advise entering now before the Half is declared full. Just follow these links:  https://www.eventsupnorth.co.uk/event/2076 And once entered register your entry on open track via the link below: https://bmaf.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2026/GBR/bmaf-hm/   As your Road Race Secretary, I want to support grass roots running clubs and I know Dum...
Read more

Spectacular 5k fundraising race on the prom for the RNLI.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above and below - the fast start of the spectacular 5k fundraising race on the prom at Llandudno for the RNLI. Spectacular 5k fundraising race on the prom for the RNLI. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Caitlin Faye and others. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 It was a spectacular morning on Llandudno promenade last Sunday as bright warm sunshine greeted over 300 athletes and their supporters to an amazing 5k fundraising race for the town’s essential RNLI group Well organised by race director  John Hatton  and backed by a large and enthusiastic team of hard-working volunteers and marshals, this event attracted a wealth of elite, club and social runners, who recorded some very fast times in near perfect conditions; and this event also included some very popular junior races for children and their parents. John later confirmed:  “I have been working with  Catherine Tudor-Jones , who is the Community Manager. She was so thrilled the event went so well. Originally, th...
Read more

North Wales schoolboy Charlie Sheen to run 75-miles along the prom for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital Charity.

By Don Hale
Image
*Charlie Sheen (*above), pictured during  one of his first runs on the prom. North Wales schoolboy Charlie Sheen to run 75-miles along the prom for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital Charity. Introduction by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Rhos-on-Sea mum Rebecca Sheen is immensely proud of her schoolboy son Charlie who has decided to run the equivalent of almost three London Marathons over a period of just four-weeks, to help raise essential funds for the Liverpool based Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, where his sister has previously attended and received treatment.  Charlie’s parents, family and friends, are obviously very supportive of his efforts, and have created a special JustGiving charity appeal page to receive any donations and have confirmed the details on social media.  * And next Saturday, Charlie is hoping to be accompanied  on his run by world champion boxer Natasha Jonas.  Rebecca added: " We are finishing Charlie's run next Sunday, we...
Read more