Don Hale Blog

*The NWRRC team at the tough Conwy fell race (l-r): Helen Hannam, Nia Lister, Charlotte Rose Wilton Jones, Nicola Wylie and Adam Lemalle. Tough challenge for brave runners at the Conwy Fell Race. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Five North Wales Road Club members braved the tough challenge of the Conwy fell race last Saturday afternoon in cold, misty, and drizzly conditions which tested stamina to the limits. Amidst a quality field of 106 finishers, mainly of experienced fell runners from clubs across the country, they all battled well despite the testing conditions. Adam Lemalle was the first NWRRC man home in 71st place in 71 minutes and 15 seconds, with Charlotte Rose Wilton Jones 2nd in 87th place overall in 85.46. She was closely followed by  Nicola Wylie  in 94th place in 89.45, with  Nia Lister  104th in 123.38, and  Helen Hannam  105th in 130.05. *Nicola Wylie (*above left), with Nia Lister, and (*below), Charlotte Rose Wi

  *Brothers John Jones (Eryri) and Dave Jones (NWRRC) are pictured above with Paul Quentin (Abergele) at Conwy parkrun as they paid tribute to Steve Jeffery. Tributes paid to the late photographer Steve Jeffery by trio from different athletic clubs. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Three runners from different local athletic clubs paid their own personal tribute to the former athlete and photographer Steve Jeffery. They included brothers John and David Jones, together with Paul Quentin. The trio initially intended to run at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday to celebrate Paul’s 100th parkrun, but they also wanted honour the memory of a beloved friend and a former colleague, who Dave said: “Had been sadly taken from the running community this week.” Paul won his age group during an emotional run, but confirmed, that although he is no longer a member of  Abergele Harriers , he was a member when Steve Jeffery founded the club, and ran wit

*Martin Green (*in yellow vest) leads out the runners at Conwy parkrun. Busy parkrun at Conwy as visiting entrants negotiated the puddles...plus other race results at Tooting and Hyde Park. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It proved to be another busy half-term parkrun at Conwy again last Saturday despite many athletes taking part in the Eryri Marathon and other competing fixtures, but the Road Runners managed to turn out ten members and collected three 1st place age category wins, four 2nd places, and one third. Some 239 runners enjoyed the challenge of negotiating this problematic 5k puddle-filled course, which attracted mixed ability entrants from across the UK.  One such athlete was  Seth Kirby  (Steel City Striders RC), who was the first runner back on his course debut in 17 minutes and 48 seconds to additionally win his SM30 cat.  Dave Hughes  claimed the 2nd spot and won his VM35 cat with a PB in 17.5

*The NWRRC ladies team at Bangor (*l-r) Cheryl Frost, Gwennan Charlton and Kay Hatton. Back to the mud and hills for the first cross-country fixture of the season at Treborth, Bangor. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery and Lesley Goodson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Five members of North Wales Road Runners entered the first North Wales Cross-Country League fixture of the season, well-organised by hosts Eryri Harriers at Treborth, near Bangor, last Saturday, and staged over a rather muddy, hilly, and challenging series of varied courses. With different distance routes offered in respect of ages, and male and female races, ranging from juniors to masters, the general feedback was most encouraging with many runners welcoming a positive return to some sort of normality following an enforced period of uncertainty. NWRRC members ran in either the senior women’s race, or the senior men’s event, over approximate distances of 3.5-miles, or 5.5-mil

North Wales Junior Mountain Running championships – Girls and Boys.  Saturday 16th  September 2023.  Registration at the Great Orme Summit café from 9am. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Event organiser Mike Blake has kindly provided  details  about the NW Junior Mountain Running championships on 16th September. Entries are now being taken for the 16th running of this event on the Great Orme Sat 16th September. for ages 6-18 years.  Entry is £3, with trophies for the  1st 3 in all age groups with certificates and free entry for all to the Great Orme Mines, and the event is also open to guest runners.  *Register with all child's details on, northwalesjuniors@gmail.com , or call or message me for further details, Mike Blake. * https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

*Jamie Tharme (*above) was the first Road Runner back at Pentir.   NW Road Running trio tackled the unusual Pentir 4.5k Trail & obstacle race... Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Three NW Road Runners competed in the midweek Ras Hwyl Pentir 4.5k Trail Race and fun run last Wednesday night and enjoyed the experience at this slightly unusual but friendly village event. Described by the organisers as a “fun run on quiet roads and fields from the heart of Pentir,” the race surprisingly attracted 105 finishers, including numerous top club and fell runners, over a short but challenging obstacle course. Jamie Tharme  continued his recovery from injury to finish in 16th place overall in 21 minutes and 1 second, and he was 2nd in his MV40 age cat.  *Ben Hudson (*above left) with his wife Sarah Ferguson Hudson. Endurance athletes  Ben  and  Sarah Ferguson Hudson  also ran well with Ben in 18th place, and just six seconds behind Jamie in 2

*Fundraising athletes and Conwy parkrunners Ian Taylor (*above left) with Josh Mottram, are already on track with their fundraising to 'Race the Train.' Full steam ahead for Josh and Ian as they intend to 'Race the Train' to help raise funds for the Whales Swimming Club...   Special report by Don Hale .   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Conwy parkrunners Ian Taylor and Josh Mottram have been given the green light to 'Race the Train' at Caernarfon next week (Wednesday 19th July), as they take on a most unusual challenge to help raise essential funds for the Whales Swimming Club. This enthusiastic pair are already on the right track to help raise at least £500 for a special club that provides swimming and teaching opportunities for people with additional needs. They are both regular entrants at  Conwy parkrun  most weekends, and now believe they can dash at full steam to try to out-run a mighty Welsh locomotive back to its base!