Don Hale Blog

NORTH WALES CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE 2023-24 SEASON. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk UPDATE:  NORTH WALES CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE Unfortunately due to issues beyond our control (bookings at Eirias Park) we have had to re-schedule the second North Wales Cross Country League fixture to Saturday 21st October. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. The revised fixture list is as follows: Saturday 14th October – Treborth Track, Bangor  Saturday 21st October – Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay  Saturday 25th November – Shrewsbury (venue to be confirmed) Saturday 20th January – Dolgellau  Saturday 10th February – Marches School, Oswestry. *Starting times:  Junior races at 10-30am. Women/65+men at 1-00pm; men 2-00pm. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The 39th Annual General Meeting of the " David Alun Williams " North Wales Cross Country League, in association with  Grand Prix Express  took place at  Ysgol Clywedog Leisure Centre , Ruthin Road, Wrexham, on Friday 5th May. An

Bernie Jones is pictured (*above centre) with the Cheshire Dragons team. Cheshire Dragons complete the Welsh Castles Relay. Introduction by Don Hale.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk A huge well done to Bernie Jones and his excellent team of athletes from the Cheshire Dragons who completed the challenging Welsh Castles Relay last weekend in blistering heat. Club chairman Bernie, who also celebrated a special wedding anniversary this week, was delighted by their performance, and confirmed: “After two days of intense heat, Cheshire Dragons completed the iconic Welsh Castles Relays in Cardiff. As a small club with a little over 50 members, we managed to get 20 out to complete the legs from Caernarfon Castle all the way down to Cardiff Castle. “Some fantastic performances by all our club members, but a special mention to  Luisa Candioli ,   who not only won leg 8, but broke the women’s course record!! One very proud Club Chairman. Well done the Dragons.”  

*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

GRAND PRIX EXPRESS:  “David Alun Williams”  NORTH WALES CROSS COUNTRY SENIOR LEAGUE.  Special report  courtesy  of Bernie Jones, the secretary/referee from the meeting at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay on Saturday 21st  January 2023.  (*Bernie Jones is pictured below).     A big thank you to Russell Godwin, Crispin Backshall, and to all of the Colwyn Bay marshalls and volunteers who helped set up the course in difficult conditions, and put on a great penultimate  David Alun Williams  North Wales Senior Cross Country League for 2022/23.  Whilst the youngsters were back at Eirias Park last year, it was fantastic to see the senior league back in Eirias Park, and I have a few special memories of my own running on the fantastic course.  Yes, it may have been a slightly different course (and a bit longer than indicated on the course maps!!) but for those with good memories the senior league was last at Eirias Park on  10th October 2010,  but Eirias Park will always be a testing course regardless of

Some medal winning ladies at Monmouth (l-r) Jayne Lindley (Buckley), Kay Hatton and Cheryl Frost (NWRRC), Emma Collins (Denbigh), Margaret Ludden (Buckley), and Gemma Moore (Eryri). Above photo by Bernie Jones. WELSH INTER REGIONAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS - MONMOUTH 19/11/22. Report by Bernie Jones. Additional photos by Adam Brightman. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com A great day for North Wales runners at Monmouth last Saturday, with some stunning results across all ages , and well done to all athletes, parents, coaches, and team managers, who contributed to such a good event …writes Bernie Jones. After the first two 'school' races in which North Wales athletes performed very well, the Women's senior and masters’ race was first up. It was great to see Martha Owen, Deeside, take on the pace early on but it was Gemma Moore, Eryri Harriers, fresh from winning a bronze team medal at the British Masters Cross Country International, who led the team home in 6th place and 3r

Welsh athletes starred at Dublin International cross-country champs. Report by Don Hale.   A large contingent of Welsh athletes travelled to Ireland last Saturday to take part in the 33rd British & Irish Open International Masters Cross-Country Championships which this year was held at Santry, near Dublin. Nearly four hundred elite athletes from five competing nations took part in this spectacular event which attracted entries from male and female club runners aged from 35 to 75 plus. North Wales was well represented with runners from NWRRC, GOG Triathlon, Prestatyn, Eryri Harriers, Wrexham, Buckley, and many other top local clubs involved in a series of very competitive races over varying distances. Road Runners   Martin Green  and his wife  Carla   Green both ran well, yet this dedicated duo appeared slightly disappointed by their results. Martin though finished a highly credible 26th in 30.13 in his M45 race, with Carla 14th in her W50 age cat race in 24.31. *Martin Green (*red

*Richard Eccles is one of three NWRRC athletes selected for the Inter-Counties cross country championships at Monmouth. Reports by Don Hale. North Wales Road Runners now have three athletes selected for the Monmouth cross country championships later this month. Cheryl Frost will now join team-mates Kay Hatton and Richard Eccles for this Welsh Inter-Region challenge on 19th November. *Kay Hatton (*above left) with Cheryl Frost. One of the main event organisers  Bernie Jones  says he intends to send a very strong squad to these championships but says he is still waiting to hear from some other runners at other clubs as to whether they are still available after being selected.  He confirmed this week: “Just a polite reminder for those invited to run for North Wales in the Welsh Inter Regions to get in touch with their team managers asap to let them know whether you are running or not. We are trying to get full teams out, so we want the chance to give reserves an opportunity.” *Bernie Jone

*North Wales Road Runners (*above and l-r) Steve Forsyth, Don Hale, and Will Wiilams with a car boot full of donated sports gear for Gambia at the Conwy Parkrun last Saturday. Steve Forsyth launches appeal for unwanted sports kit for Gambian runners. Report by Don Hale.   NWRRC member Steve Forsyth this week praised the support of local runners as he launched his appeal for any unwanted or spare sports kit for underprivileged young athletes in Gambia, The popular and talented runner, who has recently returned from his homeland overseas after visiting family and friends, is hoping to collect as many items as possible for numerous promising young sportsmen and women in Gambia, who desperately need any surplus trainers, t-shirts, running vests, socks, shorts, gloves, hats, scarves or even any unused gels! Many youngsters are said to be busy training for a variety of local races in Gambia including the forthcoming Banjul marathon events but have limited protective shoes and sports clothing