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...

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...

*Pictured above - Ifan Lloyd won his age cat at the World Marathon champs Birthday boy Ifan Lloyd celebrates another milestone with gold at the World Marathon Champs in Bucharest. Report by David Gibson https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   The 2024 World Master Athletics Marathon Championships were held as part of the 2024 Bucharest Marathon event held on 13th October 2024.   The date of the prestigious event was also shared with the 65th birthday of Swansea Harrier and Welsh Master  Ifan Lloyd .  He was able to celebrate this milestone by creating another - becoming the M65 World Master Athletics Marathon Champion by winning his new age category with scintillating time of 2 hours 49 minutes and 19 seconds.  In addition. and subject to ratification, this puts Ifan top of the M65 Abbott WMM MTT Age Group World Rankings. *Ifan Lloyd (*above), on the podium after winning his age cat. Afterward the race  Ifan said:  ...

*Pictured above - Master veteran  Alan Davies may have set a new world record at the Swansea Bay 10k race. Alan Davies set out to break a new M70 World Record at the Swansea Bay 10k... Report by David Gibson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   The Swansea Bay 10k is a well-loved event that has been going nearly as long as the London Marathon, and the 2024 set of races held on Sunday 15th September was the 43rd edition. Unlike last year which was wet, the weather this year was good for running with only a bit of a south westerly breeze working against the runners on the outward leg. Whilst the 10k race is the headline element of the day, there are also other races encouraging all members of families to take part. These are a 1k for youngsters seven and under; a 1k for 8 to 11-year-olds, a 3k for older children, and a 10k wheelchair race, which was won by Owain Terrell of Disability Sports Wales in a time of 31:05. The main 10k race saw ...

West Wales 10k Championships results and run within the St Clears race. Report courtesy of David Gibson (Tri-Hard Harriers)   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Over one-hundred athletes competed in the West Wales 10k Road Running Championships on Sunday 18th August, which was incorporated this year for the first time into the St Clears 10K road race, and kindly organised by TROTS.   The course included a picturesque route through the town of St Clears and then out and around the local scenic countryside, before finishing outside the Leisure Centre.   Congratulations to everyone who took part and to our age group medallists. It was great to see so many of our regional clubs represented in Carmarthenshire. Thank you also to all the volunteers who made the race happen.   All material courtesy of West Wales Athletics Facebook page at -   https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064087000961 Photos extracted and attached and li...

*Welsh Master veteran Alan Davies (*above), at the Ammanford 10k DG Credit Stuart Ladd - South Wales Guardian Top Two UK M70s at the Ammanford 10k. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk The 2024 Ammanford 10k road race was run in ideal conditions of a light breeze and sunshine last Sunday morning.  The Carmarthenshire race is run on undulating open roads between Ammanford and Landybie with a generally steady uphill first half followed by a short sharp hill and then generally downhill to the finish. The current two top men on the Run Britain V70 National ladder - who are both from Swansea - were taking part and put in solid performances.  *Pictured above - Welsh Master veteran David Gibson at the Ammanford 10k DG Credit Stuart Ladd - South Wales Guardian. Top Two UK M70s at the Ammanford 10k Once again Swansea Harrier Alan Davies gave a masterclass to finish in 18th place with an excellent time of 38:47 with Tri Hard Harrier David Gibson foll...

Veterans at the Paul Popham Swansea Bay 5k Summer Series. Report and photos by David Gibson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk The Paul Popham Swansea Bay 5k Summer series consists of three Wednesday evening events in May, June and July of each year and proves to be popular with south Wales runners of all ages.  The Swansea Prom ‘there and back’ course starts at the Secret Bar and Kitchen near St Helens Rugby ground and heads towards the marina before turning back. The route can be breezy’ which makes judging pace a bit tricky but then it is the same for everyone. Once again this year, VM70 Swansea Harrier Alan Davies produced three strong performances to receive the series veteran third place trophy despite being 71 years old! The veteran podium places were:- VETERAN FEMALE WINNERS 1st Place          Katie Williams           3M Gorseinon Road Run...

*Pictured above - David Gibson - enjoying a great year setting new PBs. Five PBs this year for Welsh Master David Gibson as he aims for a new 10k record! Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Welsh Master and Tri-Hard Harrier member David Gibson is really on fire this season and set his fifth PB of the year following another outstanding run in the OGI Porthcawl 10k. Master veteran David, who is remarkably modest athlete, now aged 72, received deserved plaudits this week after he recorded an excellent time of just 39 minutes and 54 seconds for his determined 10k efforts at Porthcawl, which is getting very close to another  Welsh Masters Road Race record! After the event, David said:  “ This was hard work but very pleased to get sub 40 mins. Faster than everyone over 60 years old despite being 72. Possibly the second fastest UK M70 10k YTD. The course was not flat, and there was quite a breeze, so I had to dig deep for this....

*Welsh Master David Gibson is pictured (*above left) , after the race with his daughter Stephanie, who was the first F40 and fourth overall female. New Welsh Masters PB and record for David Gibson at Swansea half-marathon Two weeks after setting a Welsh M70 Half Marathon record in the Wales Masters v England HM match in Manchester, Welsh Master David Gibson , aged 72, of Tri Hard Harriers ran the Swansea Half Marathon on Sunday with a new PB of 87 minutes and 11 seconds, and setting a new Welsh M70 Half Marathon record (subject to official confirmation).  In addition, it is likely that this is the fastest UK M70 Half Marathon time this year-to-date.   At this event last year, David nearly collapsed at the finish owing to the after effects of Covid, so this year’s result is particularly pleasing.   *Two talented Welsh Masters and record holders (*above left), David Gibson, and (*above right), Dave Gardner from NWRRC, who set a new shot put record. Dave Gardener also set a...

*The above photo including the bench is of the Tri Hard Harriers runners at the opening event, and is courtesy of Mike Roderick. The article author David Gibson is shown in a black top in the centre at the rear. New Welsh parkrun in Swansea Valley Report by David Gibson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk The popularity of parkruns seems unbounded. With the flat and scenic Swansea Bay parkrun now often getting 500 participants, and sometimes going over 600, a new Welsh parkrun in the Swansea Valley is very welcome.    For parkrun tourists, the recent YouTube video about the  Swansea Bay Parkrun  and local sights by Harry Morgan of Jogon is well worth a watch -   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MczE96cE9iQ   On 28th April, the Cycle Route 43, Ystalyfera parkrun ran its first event attracting 210 runners and walkers, including at least four who had run the London Marathon on the previous Sunday. 43 different clubs were repre...

 *Pictured above and below - a delighted David Gibson at the end of his record run. Welsh Master vet David Gibson wins TCS London Marathon age cat and set the fastest time in the UK... https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Just a couple of weeks before his 72nd birthday, Tri Hard Harrier, and Welsh Master - David Gibson won the VM70 category at the TCS London Marathon held on 21st April, beating 198 other category participants.  With a personal best time of 3 hours, 13 minutes, and 31 seconds this is understood to be the fastest male 70-74 time in the UK, and the third fastest in the world this year to date! The 2024 TCS London Marathon was also the 2024 Welsh Road Marathon Championship race.  David had an operation at the beginning of January, and so he missed four weeks of training. Having had his training program cut from 16 weeks to 11, his aims were to finish, enjoy it, and to record a respectable time. Having achieved all that, he w...