Don Hale Blog

*Some members of the hardworking team of volunteers (*above) at a bitterly cold and windswept Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday with RD Dougie Graham in the blue vest. Freezing cold gale force winds proved a challenge for parkrunners...and for the hardy volunteers and marshals. Report by Don Hale. Conwy photos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com   It was a very stormy and rather windswept morning across much of North Wales last Saturday as many hundreds of parkrunners battled gale-force and blustery headwinds during their challenging 5k workouts. At  the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun , it proved a particularly tough battle along the seafront to Colwyn Bay and back from Rhos for over 2k on the outward leg, against freezing temperatures, and a swirling, gusty wind, plus a sandy course, but it was pleasing to note that so many plaudits were deservedly given en-route and afterwards, to the hard-working team of RD’s, marshals and volunteers. Despite all the handicaps, a...

*Pictured above - Karen Butler from NWRRC crosses the finish line to win her F65 age cat at the Twin Piers race last Saturday. North Wales Regional 10k champs - Roll of honour – Twin Piers 10k - plus full NW results and race summary on links. A huge well done to all the age category winners from last week’s Twin Piers 10k Regional Championship race from Llandudno Pier to Colwyn Bay. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael Finnie and John Hatton. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   *Josh Mottram (*above left), who won the MU20 award, and (*left) Kevin Slattery with his M70 trophy at the Arthur Bebbington -Twin Piers 10k race. Male champions: U20M: Josh Mottram Colwyn Bay AC 39.59 Sen Men: Owen Roberts 31.59 M35: Ben Harding (Meirionnydd RC) 32.59. M40: Dean Thomas (Maldwyn) 35.45 M45: Graeme Tunstall (GOG Triathlon) 38.43 M50: Dafydd Gwynn (Eryri Harriers) 37.46 M55: Anthony Davies (Eryri Harriers) 41.49 M60: Paul Garstang (GOG Triathlon) 42.07 M65: Arwel Lewis (Eryri Harriers) 47.19 M70:...

*Pictured above – some of the NWRRC team at the start of the Twin Piers race.   Fast times from the gun at the Twin Piers 10k and North Wales championship race... Report by Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Over 300 quality athletes competed in the annual Arthur Bebbington Twin Piers 10k race last Saturday afternoon, which covered a scenic route between Llandudno to Colwyn Bay piers. Entrants came from a vast range of nationwide running clubs and social runners, with the event well organised by  Colwyn Bay AC , and it also formed part of the  North Wales Regional 10k championships. Meirionnydd RC  claimed a unique hat-trick in the 10k with three of their team taking the first three finishing places overall.  Owen Roberts  was the runaway winner of the race in a fast gun time of 31 minutes and 59 seconds, with  Ben Harding  second, and a minute adrift in 32,59, whilst  Gwion Roberts  took the third spot, and he was almost a mi...

Rhos on Sea 5k Your Way Move Against Cancer parkrun on Saturday 27th December. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 Tomorrow (Saturday 27/12) is a very special  Y Promenâd parkrun, Llandrillo-yn-Rhos  — our monthly  Rhos-on-Sea: 5k Your Way, Move Against Cancer  meet-up, and the reason this parkrun began here. Please do join us to help raise awareness of 5K Your Way Move Against Cancer, a welcoming community for anyone affected by cancer who would like to enjoy the fresh air, move at their own pace, and connect with like-minded people.  Meet at 8:45am by the 5KYW flag as shown in the picture.  *Everyone is welcome. * *Read about the Christmas Day parkrun. Don Hale Blog: Massive Christmas Day attendances at Rhos and Nova... https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025/12/massive-christmas-day-attendances-at.html?spref=tw

*Festive parkrunners at Rhos await the start of the Christmas Day event. Massive Christmas Day attendances at Rhos and Nova parkruns... donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 Report by Don Hale. Photos at Rhos by Danielle Peevor, Dougie Graham and others.   It was another fantastic event and a new attendance record at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun, held for the first time on Christmas Day, with over 600 finishers on a bitterly cold but bright morning, and it was similar at the Nova parkrun with over 300 entrants! Elite athletes, and club members from near and far, together with local runners and walkers – and many in festive attire – created a warm and friendly atmosphere despite the freezing temperatures. Adam Jones  was the first finisher overall in a very fast PB time of just 16 minutes and 2 seconds, and he was just one second down on the course record set the previous week by  Connor Rogers  (Wrexham AAC).        Emily Hanlon  however (GOG Triat...

*Pictured above - Run Directors Richard Peevor and Dougie Graham at Rhos. Festive demands and the weather kept numbers down at NW parkruns... Report by Don Hale. Rhos parkrun photos courtesy of Pat Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   It was a cool, damp morning at most of the local parkruns last Saturday, with numbers down at the majority of them, probably due to festive demands and the problematic weather conditions, with some flooding on numerous 5k courses. Conwy may have suffered the most, with entrants down for the third week on the trot, and only 80 determined athletes – including 24 visitors – who completed the swampy riverside route at the RSPB, whilst Nant y Pandy’s event was cancelled altogether! The new  Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun  still remains a novelty but entrants were down from last week’s launch of 501 to 345, and the stats were very interesting with 240 first timers, and nearly half of the previous week’s entrants recorded new PB’s this week! *S...