Don Hale Blog

*Will Williams (*above), ran flat-out to finish second at Conwy. Perfect conditions for Will Williams amidst a bumper half-term crowd at Conwy parkrun...plus other results. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Conditions were almost perfect at Conwy parkrun this week with a remarkably dry course after several weeks of swamp-like conditions underfoot, with nearly 300 mixed ability club and social runners enjoying this picturesque 5k course. Boosted by the half-term holidays, organisers welcomed entrants from across the UK, and North Wales Road Runner  Will Williams , had to run flat-out to secure 2nd place overall, and he won his VM50 age cat, during another fast-dash event.  Will finished in a good time of 18 minutes and 54 seconds, but he was only 13-seconds ahead of the 3rd placed finisher, visitor  Richard Pollitt  (Horwich RMI Harriers), who won his VM45 cat in 19.07. The first male finisher was  Dave Hughes , who recorded a new cou

*Will Williams (*above) was the first NWRRC member home at Conwy. Fast times despite being cool and breezy at Conwy parkrun...plus news of Elizabeth in the Falkland Islands and Nicola at breezy Blackpool. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was rather cool and breezy at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday (1/7/23) but it still failed to deter another bumper attendance which also included a host of top club runners and enthusiastic visitors from many parts of the UK. Two new names though were registered as the 1st and 2nd placed finishers at Conwy with  Aled Hughes  taking the plaudits with an excellent and determined run, especially given the blustery conditions, as the 1st male finisher in 18 minutes and 6 seconds, to win his MV35 age category. He was very closely followed by rival  Dave Hughes , who finished 2nd in the same age cat as Aled, and he was only seven-seconds adrift despite a new PB of 18.13, with 

*Stuart Culverhouse (*above) ran well at the Manchester Marathon. Road Runners tackled various Marathon challenges. Report by Don Hale.   Marathon mania returned to the streets of Manchester and elsewhere in the UK again last Sunday as tens of thousands of runners celebrated their long winter training slog in style by completing numerous and very personal 26.2-mile journeys. The events, which helped to raise many millions of pounds for various charities, always attract a wide variety of entrants ranging from top international stars to first time social runners and brought mass crowds out to cheer on their heroes. The Manchester race was eventually won by Lithuanian athlete  Ignas Brasevicius  in just 2 hours 16 minutes and 27 seconds, with  Naomi Mitchell  taking the plaudits as the 1st female finisher in 2.31.27. North Wales Road Runners  welcomed back various marathon challenges and entered seven members at Manchester, with two others competing at the  Boston Marathon  in the UK, and

Five age cat wins for Road Runners at sunny Conwy parkrun....and Steve Forsyth back in action again...plus Elizabeth back at the Falkland Islands. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery.   *Steve Forsyth (*above) back in action again at Conwy. North Wales Road Runners entered fourteen members at last Saturday’s Conwy parkrun and claimed six podium places, including five age category wins, amidst another great turn-out of some 283 mixed ability runners from all parts of the UK. Visiting athlete  Sam Lewis Jones  (Parc Bryn Bach RC) set a hot pace and claimed a new PB on such a bright, sunny, and warm morning, and finished a minute and a half ahead of his 2nd placed NWRRC rival  Steve Forsyth  in 17.02, with Steve running home in 18.32 on his return to Conwy.  Aiden Myles  (UK Parkrun Tourists) finished 3rd. and he was just two-seconds adrift of Steve in a fast finish. The first female athlete was  Gemma Moore  (Eryri Harriers), 7th overall, in 18.32, with  Hailey Fletcher  (Se

*Will Williams (*above) was the  first  club man home at Conwy parkrun. Conwy parkrun dodged the snow and ice - and Charlie wins podium place in the Falkland Islands. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   Conwy parkrun managed to dodge the snow last weekend, but numbers were down slightly due to a late thaw that still left the threat of ice on this problematic 5k course. Despite some potential problems, visiting athlete  Ian Lawton  (Mersey Triathlon) kept up a good pace and was the first man home in 19 minutes and 8 seconds, and he was nearly two minutes ahead of his nearest rival  Alun Brown (GOG Triathlon), who finished 2nd in 18.24, with  Alan Bryson  3rd in 18.57. The first female finisher was  Jackie Lee  on her course debut. She was 12th overall in 20.49, with  Ellie Leonard  17th and the 2nd female in 21.34. And  Becky Sleath  (Newcastle University) was the 3rd female runner in 21st place overall in 22.02. *Will Williams (*above left) and Jamie Tharme at Conwy. North W