British Masters International Cross-Country races in Belfast.

By Don Hale don hale blog

The British Masters International Cross-Country races in Belfast.

Report by Ifan Lloyd.


https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk

 

The British Masters cross country international is my most cherished cross-country event of the year. Always an honour to represent my country and wear the red of Wales. 

And a very special day it was in Belfast last Saturday to take first place and gold in the men 65-69 age category. It’s taken 25 years since my first race in this event back in 1999 to win an individual gold medal. 

I had always aspired but never quite achieved. It was also special to compete against such great athletes in my race. It doesn’t get easier as you progress up the age categories! 



    

*Pictured above and right, Welsh Master Ifan Lloyd with his medal and shown tackling a large hill at the Belfast cross country races.


A special shout out to my team-mates from Wales: Gordon Jones, Dave Watson, and  John Foster. We so narrowly missing out on a team bronze. 

It was a poignant moment at the evening function to be awarded the Dic Evans Trophy for the best performance by a male athlete from Wales. 

Thank you to our inspirational team manager Bernie Jones for organising, encouraging and supporting us."

 

https://fb.watch/vXbRPgPe4I/












 

Comments

Post a Comment

Your comments are welcomed on all posts

Most popular posts

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

By Don Hale don hale blog
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

ENTRIES ON THE DAY ONLY NOW: Llandudno Lions Boxing Day Sea Dip.

By Don Hale don hale blog
Image
The Lions Club of Llandudno's Boxing Day Sea Dip... No online but you can enter on the day. Report by John Chambers. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com **URGENT UPDATE: Online entries for this year's Boxing Day Dip have NOW CLOSED, but you can still enter on the day, but please arrive early as it looks to be a record year for entries. Last year, 200 Dippers took to the water and raised thousands for many good causes. We hope to match that number of Dippers again. You can pre-register for the Dip by following the link below and filling out the form. We will then email you with the preregister form, Dip rules and sponsorship forms. You can raise money for the Lions Club of Llandudno or you can raise money for your favourite charity. https://forms.office.com/r/kL1KgnYgAw However, you can register on the day from 10am. The Dip takes place at 11:30am promptly so get registered early. This is a Dip not a swim so each Dipper will get a certificate for there efforts but there are priz...
Read more

ENTRIES OPEN FOR 2025 DEGANWY DASH & ROHAN'S RUN.

By Don Hale don hale blog
Image
*The start of the 2024 Deganwy Dash with Jonathan Kettle and the leaders. ENTRIES NOW OPEN FOR THE 2025 DEGANWY DASH & ROHAN'S CHARITY RUN... FRIDAY 30th May 2025 START TIME 7PM.  https://secure.onreg.com/onreg2/front/step1.php?id=6781 *Pictured above - Deganwy Dash race organisers John Hatton and Carla Green John and Carla’s Deganwy Dash voted the ‘Best Sporting Event of the Year 2024,’ and raised thousands for Children's Cancer Charities... Don Hale Blog: John and Carla’s Deganwy Dash voted the ‘Best Spor... https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2024/11/john-and-carlas-deganwy-dash-voted-best.html?spref=tw Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk FRIDAY 30th May 2025 START TIME 19:00  https://secure.onreg.com/onreg2/front/step1.php?id=6781 RACE LICENCE APPLIED FOR:  RACE HQ DEGANWY PROMENADE - Race Number collection from 5:00pm ENTRY FEE £15 AFFILIATED £17 NON AFFILIATED  ALL PROCEEDS GO TO CANCER CHARITIES....
Read more

Hot pace despite a bitterly cold morning at Conwy parkrun...plus New Year's Day results.

By Don Hale don hale blog
Image
*Pictured above - Steve Mason - who was the first NWRRC member home. Hot pace despite a bitterly cold morning at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com It was a very cold start for the first Conwy parkrun of 2025 as 247 mixed ability athletes tackled the puddle-filled, but picturesque 5k course, from the RSPB Nature Reserve last Saturday morning. Despite the freezing temperatures,  Iain Burgess  set a very hot pace as the 1st finisher in just 18 minutes and 36 seconds to win his VM35 age cat, and he was some 36-seconds ahead of his nearest rival, VM40  Richard Wilyman (GOG Triathlon), in 19.08, with SM25  Aaron Jones  3rd in 19.49. Llio Owen  was the 1st female finisher with a new PB of 21.23, and she won her SW20 age cat (13th overall), with VW40 athlete  Vicky Cole  (GOG Triathlon), 2nd (19th overall) with a fine run in 22.05, and VW35  Emma Stanley  claimed the 3rd place, (21st overall) in 22.15. North Wal...
Read more

Keen competition at Conwy parkrun despite the challenging conditions.

By Don Hale don hale blog
Image
*Pictured above - a splashing start for the leaders at last Saturday's Conwy parkrun. Keen competition at Conwy parkrun despite the challenging conditions... Report by Don Hale. Photos by John Hatton. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Numbers were down at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning due to the Christmas shopping rush, combined with some very challenging weather conditions. And at the risk of sounding like a broken record, the riverside course was flooded again and resembled a cross between a swamp and a tough 5k cross-country course, yet it still created a great festive atmosphere, with many of the near two-hundred mixed ability entrants wearing their traditional fancy dress outfits. Despite a strong blustery wind and drizzly rain there were still some good times recorded and the first athlete back was  Morgan Kendall  (Meirionnydd RC), dressed in his famous Banana-man kit once more, and he faced a keen battle with rival  Cai ...
Read more

Three WMAL members set four new indoor track records.

By Don Hale don hale blog
Image
Three WMAL members set four new indoor track records. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Chris Pruski, the records co-ordinator for Welsh Masters Athletics Ltd (WMAL), has just handed out four new Welsh Masters’ record certificates to three exceptional athletes after their times were noted and later verified. They include Cardiff AC W35 athlete  Samantha Gamble  who achieved two separate records in the 60m and 400m events, in addition to M35 athlete  Michael Dickens  (Telford AC), who created a new record in the 60m, and M55 athlete  Geoff Brimble  (Newport Harriers), who also claimed a new record for the 3000m. Samantha’s  WMAL records were set at the Indoor 200m race on 25/2/24 at Lee Valley of 27.55i, and for the 400m at Nuneaton of 60.89 seconds on 31/7/22. Michael Dickens  set his 60m indoor record in Torun, Poland, on 27/3/23, with a time of 7.23 seconds, whilst  Geoff Brimble ...
Read more

Gold medals for father and son Dave and Steve Gardner at the Indoor Championships.

By Don Hale don hale blog
Image
*Steve Gardner (*above left), with his dad Dave. Gold medals for father and son Dave and Steve Gardner at the Indoor Championships. Report by Don Hale https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Road Runner and super-vet Dave Gardner struck gold at the North Wales Indoor Championships at Coleg Cambria, Deeside, last Sunday by winning his M85 age category in the shot-put competition. Dave also improved on his previous PB and winning performance from last year when he competed in the M80 cat with a superb throw of 7.26m, which is also expected to be a national record. He later obtained a deserved podium place and collected a prestigious gold medal for his sterling efforts. Meanwhile, Dave’s son  Steve Gardner , also collected a gold medal in the Welsh Masters Indoor Championships at Cardiff on Sunday in his 800m track event with an excellent winning time of 2 minutes 20.89 seconds. *Gold medal winners Dave Gardner (*above left), with Steve Gardner.
Read more

Five podium places and two gold medals for the Road Runners in XC champs at Treborth, Bangor.

By Don Hale don hale blog
Image
*Pictured above - five members of the NWRRC team at the XC champs at Bangor (l-r), Michael Finnie, Cheryl Frost, Kay Hatton, Gwen Charlton, and Karen Butler; and (*below), four NWRRC team members who competed in the Men's Senior Race (*l-r), Will  Williams, Iwan Evans, Stuart Culverhouse, and Steve Gardner.   Five podium places and two gold medals for the Road Runners in XC champs at Treborth, Bangor. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Nine members from the North Wales Road Running Club competed in different races during the NW Cross Country Championships at Treborth Track, Bangor, last Saturday, and claimed five podium places, including two age category wins. In the senior/master women’s race,  Karen Butler  won a deserved gold medal after finishing 1st in her W65 age cat following a great run in 39th place in 37 minutes and 30 seconds. The NWRRC team packed well with veteran  Cheryl Frost  on form again in...
Read more

Good turn-out at Conwy parkrun for the last event of the year...plus other results.

By Don Hale don hale blog
Image
*Steve Gardner (*above), finished well at Conwy and won his age cat. Good turn-out at Conwy parkrun for the last event of year...plus other results. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   There was a good turn-out of over three-hundred mixed ability entrants at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning for the final event of 2024, with many club and social athletes travelling from far afield. Thankfully, the weather was near perfect, which was in stark contrast to the previous week, and it remained a good festive atmosphere as runners looked forward to the New Year celebrations. North Wales Road Runners  entered thirteen members and recorded four age category victories and two new course PBs. Gold medal winning track athlete  Steve Gardner , fresh from his success in the Welsh Masters indoor 3000m championships, made a rare parkrun appearance and led the team home in 8th place overall with a new PB of 19 minutes and 11 seconds, to win his VM60 cat. Steve was clo...
Read more