Don Hale Blog

Six of the best for GOG Triathlon members at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale.   Six GOG Triathlon members claimed podium places at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday with two first place age category wins, two second, and two third placings. Steven Owen  (*pictured right) finished 12th and he was the first club man home in in 21 minutes and 11 seconds. He was followed by  Simon Cole  in 16th place in 22.00, with  Gary Jones  26th in 23.11, and  Jack Buckley  ran well and claimed a new course PB in 34th place in 23.40. Super veteran athlete  Liz Evans  continued her excellent form to win her VW70 age cat in 71st place in 26.00, and  Nicola Tomlinson  finished in 113th place in 28.47, and another top super vet  Ann d’Albuquerque  finished just behind Nicola in 28.49, to claim the 2nd spot in her VW70 cat in 114th place. *Simon Cole (*above left) with veteran Liz Evans. Amanda Collins  enjoyed a good run in 139th place with a PB of 30.54 and she was 3rd in her VW55 cat.  Wayne Roberts  als

Lizzie Irvine (*above) was the first GOG athlete back at Conwy parkrun. GOG’s on form at a bright and busy Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery.    It was another bright, sunny, but cold Saturday morning at Conwy parkrun last weekend as 239 entrants from all parts of the UK enjoyed the splendours of this attractive but challenging 5k course. This event included a very fast-paced dash by two young and promising athletes who dominated the parkrun from start to finish with  Tomos Land  the 1st runner home in just 17 minutes and 18 seconds, closely followed by rival  John Davies  (Eryri Harriers) in 2nd place, who was just twenty-seconds behind, despite a new PB of 17.38, with  Ian Slattery  3rd in 18.58. The 1st Lady was  Tara Truman  (Stroud) in 20.38, with  Alice Johnston  (Les Croupiers) 2nd in 20.44 and  Anna Smith  (Hedge End) 3rd in 20.50. GOG Triathlon  entered nine members and claimed five podium places including two 1st place finishes in their respectiv

*GOG athlete Jose Eduardo Vega Perez (*above) was the first club runner back at Conwy parkrun. Snooker champion Ronnie O’Sullivan at Conwy parkrun as GOG’s claimed four age cat wins. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve  JEFFERY.   Nine GOG members took part in the Conwy parkrun last Saturday and recorded four excellent age category wins on a dry but windy event that also welcomed snooker star Ronnie O’Sullivan. Numbers were boosted by many tourist entrants during the half-term weekend with the run attracting 233 mixed ability runners from various parts of the UK, including  Ronnie (*pictured below)  who had been performing at Venue Cymru in the Welsh Open championships. Jose Eduardo Vega Perez  was the first club man home and finished 1st in his MV35 age cat in 19.38. He was followed by  Lizzie Irvine  who also won her VW35 cat in 23.56 in 47th place overall, with  Andrea Cody  claiming the 2nd spot in the same cat as Lizzie finishing 59th in 25.05. Nicola Tomlinson  was 86th and 3rd i

*Elizabeth Evans (*above) claimed 1st place in her VW70 age cat at Oswestry. GOG’s ran well at final cross-country fixture. Report by Don Hale. There was a good turnout of club runners for the final cross-country fixture of the season at the Marches School, Oswestry last Saturday in the  David Alun Williams,  North Wales Senior CC League, sponsored by Grand Prix. There were some excellent performances by  GOG Triathlon  and  North Wales Road Runners  and in particular by  Elizabeth Evans  who claimed the 1st place in the WV70 race, with  Ann D’Alburquerque  2nd, and Ann’s husband John finished 4th in the O65 race.  *(Pictured above left), Ann  D’Alburquerque with Elizabeth Evans. *GOG Triathlon: Senior Women:  70th  Elizabeth Evans  27.04 and 1st W70, 74th  Vicky Darby-Brown  27.24 and 9th WV40, and 82nd  Ann D’Alburquerque  28.31 and 2nd WV70.  Male Masters:  20th  John D’Alburquerque  30.51 and 4th MV75.  *NOTE:   Ann D’Alburquerque  also collected the overall prize as the 1st WV70

*Dan Willings (*pictured above) was the first GOG member home. Ten GOG Triathlon members competed at the North Wales Cross-Country league meeting at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay, last Saturday despite a very muddy and challenging course, where once again, veteran athlete Ann d’Alburquerque was the star of the team winning her veteran age category. It’s the first time since October 2010 that this senior league fixture has been staged at this venue, and the tough course certainly brought back many mixed memories for experienced athletes, and the event probably attracted a few more local club runners than expected due to the Conwy parkrun being cancelled just a few hours before due to a heavy frost. *Ann d'Alburquerque (*above) won her FV70 age cat at Eirias Park. Ann soon showed many of her rivals a clean pair of heels despite very challenging conditions and ran home an easy winner of her FV70 age cat in just 46 minutes and 12 seconds in 92nd place overall, and  Helen MacArthur  also cla