Don Hale Blog

*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 ...

*North Wales Road Runners are pictured (*above) just before the start of the festive handicap race on the promenade at Rhos on Sea. Christmas cracker at the NWRRC handicap race. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Twenty-four members of NWRRC took part in the annual Christmas club handicap race, which this year was staged from the Rhos on Sea clock tower to the renovated far end of the promenade and back over a 4.5-mile course. Well organised with times recorded and verified by  Carla Green  and  Elizabeth Driscoll , with support from other members, the handicap rules this time included each runner having to hand in their watches and mobile phones, and the need to predict their finishing times, so that no one knew their exact pace, or whether their estimated times were likely to be accurate, until they actually reached the finish line. The top three female winners , who were the closest to their times included the winner –  Kay Hatto...

Report and results round-up from the Richard Burton 10k. Details from David Gibson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   The Richard Burton 10k run in early November in the Afan Valley near Port Talbot is a bit of a cult event with a special valley flavour but attracting top club runners from throughout South Wales.  The race is one of the oldest of its type having started in 1982 as a fun run in remembrance of three lads who died in a car crash whilst travelling from Cwmafan to Swansea. In 1983 Richard Burton CBE was asked if he would allow the race to be named after him, which he agreed to. The atmosphere and local support are just two aspects that make it a great event. The circular course has some serious climbing early on compensated by an exhilarating downhill return from Pontrhydyfen to the finish in Cwmafan. Two unique aspects are the Welsh Slate coasters instead of medals along with a Welsh cake for all finishers.   The category firs...

North Wales Cross Country League back at  Aberystwyth after 30 years! ' David Alun Williams ' North Wales Cross Country League at Aberystwyth - 30th November 2024. Report courtesy of Bernie Jones.     https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk The third North Wales Cross Country League will take place on the Aberystwyth University Playing Fields, SY23 3TL.  Please park where directed by the car park marshalls. The car park is directly opposite the course. The course is predominantly playing fields, although there is a technical area in the woods with a few bumps and twists! It is likely that the course will take spikes or studs and if dry you might even get away with road shoes! It is 30 years since the league last visited Aberystwyth, but the town was a regular host in the 1970's and 1980's. Colin Jones, Eryri and Lyn Maddison, Colwyn Bay were the winners. A copy of the course is displayed below. Individuals bringing club gazebos will be a...

North Wales Cross Country Championships 2025. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Entries are now open for the North Wales Cross Country Championships, which will take place at Treborth Track, Bangor on SATURDAY 4th JANUARY 2025.    NORTH WALES CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS 2025 (Supported by Grand Prix Express). Report courtesy of Bernie Jones. At   Treborth Track, Bangor LL57 2RQ On   Saturday 4th January 2025. 11-00am:   Under 11 Girls - Approx. 1 Mile  11-20am:  U13 Girls/U11 Boys - Approx. 1.5 Miles  11-45am:  U15 Girls/U13 Boys - Approx. 2 Miles 12.15pm:  U17 Women/U15 Boys - Approx. 3 Miles 1.00pm:  U20/Senior/Master Women/U17 Men/65+ Men  Approx 3.5 Miles 2.00pm:  U20/Senior/Master Men - Approx. 5.25 Miles Ages as of 1st September 2024 (Masters, as on the day) All athletes  must  represent first claim club or school, wear club/school vest and have North Wales qualification....

  Conwy Half Marathon - last few entries remain... Race organiser Chris Yorke from RunWales has confirmed that only a last few entries remain for the end of season Conwy Half-Marathon set for Sunday  17th November 2024. So hurry now if you want to take part in this exciting event. https://www.runwales.com/e/conwy-half-marathon-8639 https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Date:  17th November 2024. Start Time:  9:30am.   Run like you've never run before at the iconic, fast Conwy half marathon in  the capital of North Wales. Voted in the top 5 most scenic Half Marathons in the UK by Readers of Runners World.”  This GREAT Half Marathon now in its 14th year is a classic race on the calendar.” Has a start & finish near the quayside in front of the 700+ year old  Conwy Castle. 2018 Saw over 3,000 runners take part, many PB’s were achieved. The route runs along the road adjacent to th...

*Pictured above - Stuart Culverhouse was the first NWRRC member home. Great new course PB for Mark Davies as he continues to build, back his fitness at the waterlogged Conwy parkrun...plus other results. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   There were just a handful of Road Runners at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning due to a clash of other fixtures as 240 brave social and club athletes welcomed bright and sunny weather as they tackled the waterlogged 5k riverside course from the RSPB Nature Reserve. And the highlight of the day was to note that NWRRC athlete Mark Davies  (*pictured right),  continues  to build  back his fitness following a devastating accident, with a great new course PB of 34.50, knocking well over a minute from his previous  best. Stuart Culverhouse  dashed through the numerous puddles following the previous night’s downpour, to finish 10th overall in 20 mins 17 seconds and he...

*Pictured above - the North Wales Road Running quartet who performed well at the cross-country fixture at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay, last Saturday; (l-r). Karen Butler, Kay Hatton, Gwen Charlton and Helen Hannam. Successful start to the NW Cross-Country League's first fixture of the season... NW Road Running quartet performed well at the first cross-country fixture of the season at Colwyn Bay, and Karen Butler won her age cat! Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Lesley Goodson and John Hatton. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com It was good to see four North Wales Road Running ladies take part in the first cross-country meeting of the new season at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay, last Saturday. Unfortunately this particular fixture clashed with so many other events during a rather hectic weekend of alternative road races at Chester, Bangor, and Cardiff etc, plus many parkruns, so the club numbers were somewhat restricted due to prior engagements. Nevertheless, the female quartet flew that ...