Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - Four North Wales Road Runners at the Great Orme Fell Race (l-r) Steve Bozier, Nicola Wylie, Helen  Hannam and Karl Morris. Perfect conditions as records smashed at the Great Orme Fell Race... Report by Don Hale.    The annual   Great Orme Fell Race (Y Gogarth) was held last Tuesday evening in superb conditions with dozens of experienced fell, endurance, and club runners enjoying some spectacular views, as they smashed several established records. Staged over as challenging 4.1-mile, (6.6kms) course, with 1,306ft (398m) of elevation, organisers welcomed a perfect evening for racing, with many entrants travelling from far afield just to take part in this ever-popular event, which included both junior and senior races and varied age categories. One of the local event organisers,  Mike Blake  from Eryri Harriers ,  later confirmed: “Perfect running conditions at the Great Orme for Round 12 of the  Joe Brown Shops ’ mid-week fell race series.  “And our thanks to the organi

*Some members of NWRRC at the Snowdonia half-marathon, (l-r) Stuart Culverhouse, Kelly Alford, Sion Thomas, David Jones and Steve Roberts. North Wales Road Runners celebrated a podium place and the odd PB at a very hilly Snowdonia half-marathon...and a great family success! Report by Don Hale. Some photos by Lesley Goodson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com      www.welshmasters.co.uk   The Road Runners entered seven athletes in the gruelling Snowdonia half-marathon race on Sunday, which brought mixed emotions, an age category podium place, and even the odd PB, on a very hilly but picturesque course. This popular event again attracted a host of quality endurance and top road runners from across the UK, who opted to take on this extraordinary challenge, which recorded 659 finishers.  Well organised by  RunWales , the race was eventually won by local athlete  Steffan Sayer  (Menai Track & Field) in 1 hour 23 minutes and 26 seconds, and he finished nearly four minutes ahead of his riva

*North Wales ladies on the town (above l-r) Elizabeth Driscoll, Hannah Griffith, Tessa Bushnell and Gwennan Charlton. Orienteering night shift for club quartet.   Four female members of NWRRC took part in a unique Urban Orienteering event around Llandudno last Thursday night as part of a new and exciting series of races organised by Eryri Harriers. Gwennan Charlton , who was a member of this talented quartet confirmed: “You are given a map and set of checkpoints, then you visit as many of these as possible within a one-hour time limit.  Hannah Griffith, Tessa Bushnell, Elizabeth Driscoll , and me, teamed up, and finished as the second team, a close 10 points off the winning team. The next instalment of the urban orienteering series will be held in Conwy on 23rd of March.”  

*Llinos Davies from GOG Triathlon crosses the finish line at the Snowdonia race. GOG Triathlon runners packed well at Snowdonia Marathon with mixed emotions for two experienced veteran athletes. By Don Hale and Simon Roxburgh.   The Snowdonia Marathon has twice been voted the UK’s best marathon, and this time it saw another strong entry from GOG Triathlon members with some impressive finishing times despite the challenging weather conditions, and for two inspirational veteran runners, it also included some rather mixed emotions! * Ann  d'Albuquerque  (*above left) with Neil Vicars-Harris at the Snowdonia race. Super vet  Ann d’Alburquerque  probably shed tears of joy after completed this gruelling race and then finding out that she was the 1st F70 age cat winner in 5.19.44. After the race Ann admitted it was a tough but enjoyable race, saying: “After initial rain we had a lovely long dry spell, but the winds and rain returned for the last four miles of mostly muddy trail.” And for

*Josh Keogh pictured (*above) at a previous Great Orme Fell Race. Report by Don Hale.   The annual Great Orme fell race was held last Tuesday night and attracted a variety of experienced club runners from across the UK.  On an evening of mixed weather conditions and following a wet, slippery, and at times a challenging course that started from the Ski Centre in Happy Valley,  some 106 hardy athletes eventually finished to ensure that it proved another highly successful race for event organisers Eryri Harriers. Math Roberts  and  Gavin Roberts  from Calder Valley claimed a unique club double in the 1st and 2nd placings, with Math winning his V40 age cat in 30 minutes 29 seconds, and Gavin just 19-seconds adrift in 30.48, to win his M-Open age cat, with local athlete  Michael Corrales,  now representing Dark Peak, claiming the 3rd spot, and second place in the same cat as the overall winner. NWRRC  had three members competing with  Josh Keogh  taking 8th place in 32.53, with  Jonathan Ke