Don Hale Blog

  *Some of the NWRRC members (*above) pictured  at the start of the 10k race. Hundreds of runners celebrated a return of the popular Twin Piers 10k race...with medals for the Road Runners. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk The revised Arthur Bebbington Twin Piers 10k race returned to huge acclaim last Saturday following an absence of several years due to the extensive renovation and flood protection works to the promenade at Rhos on Sea and Colwyn Bay. Nearly four-hundred elite, and mixed ability athletes, many from far afield, celebrated the reinstatement of this popular challenging event from Llandudno Pier to Porth Eirias, and despite   the  rather dismal  and damp weather, enjoyed a new course, which this time included a closed section of the latest one-way road layout just below Cayley promenade.  Well organised by  Russell Godwin  and his support team from  Colwyn Bay AC , the race also formed part o

*Pictured above  - popular charity fundraiser and event promoter John Hatton. John Hatton's great support for local charity events. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Charity organiser, promoter and popular NWRRC official  John Hattton,  who has been involved with the organisation of two major fundraising events recently for local deserving causes, confirmed this week that £4.5k was raised on Sunday at the  Mental Elf 5k fun-run , and that a further £14k was raised at the recent  Conwy Dark Run  in October for  Ty Gobaith , which utilised the Conwy parkrun course from the RSPB centre. John praised the generous public support for both events, and from numerous volunteers and marshals, and  confirmed: “ The  Mental Elf 5k fun run  was a fantastic event, twice around the Eirias Park track in Colwyn Bay, then down to, and along the prom to the Toad, where turn-around Bob was there.  “I helped   Mind   charity to organise it, and we ma

  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com Mental Elf Festive 5k Fun Run – Sunday 26th November at 12-noon.   Come and join in the fun and take part in a special Festive Fun Run to help raise funds for Conwy Mind. Organisers have arranged for a 5k Fun Run from  Stadiwn CSM  (Eirias Park), at Colwyn Bay, on Sunday 26th November 2023, starting at 12-noon.    *Tickets are now available starting from £10. Please register in advance. Please see the website:  conwymindmentalelf.co.uk    

*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 members of the NWRRC team at Eirias Park (l-r) Gwennan Charlton, Tessa Bushnell, Mike Hayton, Kay Hatton, Helen Hannam and Nicola Wylie. Two podium places for the Road Runners at rare NW cross-country fixture...plus 3rd place cat win for Kelly at Heaton Park half-marathon. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery. The Road Runners claimed two excellent podium places at the North Wales cross-country league meeting at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay, last Saturday, despite a very muddy and challenging course. 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. The event probably attracted a few more local club runners than expected due to Conwy parkrun being cancelled due to heavy frost just a few hours before. NWRRC entered eleven members and  Josh Keogh  was the pick of the team in the Senior Men’s race, finishing 5th overall out of 122 quali