Don Hale Blog

Will Williams tackled the gruelling cross country course at Dolgellau. Mud, wind, and rain at a very muddy cross-country race at Dolgellau... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Lesley Goodson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Three Road Runners braved the strong blustery winds, rain, and heavy mud at Dolgellau this weekend during the latest fixture within the Grand Prix Express, North Wales XC league. Will Williams  ran well in the  Senior Men’s race  and finished well in 38th place overall amongst 125 starters, and he was 3rd in his MV50 age cat in 36 minutes and 19 seconds. Will later said: “ I really love cross-country. Always a great atmosphere.” The race was won by  Matthew Collins  (Oswestry Olympians) in 30.11 and he won his SM age cat.  Janos Vranek (Aberystwyth University) was 2nd in 30.22, with  Rhodri Owen  (Meirionnydd) 3rd in 31.11.  Emyr Davies  competed in the over 65’s race and won his M80 age cat in 29.25, finishing 15th overall, with  Roge

*Some of the NWRRC team (*above), that competed at the NW cross-country championships last Saturday (l-r): Karen Butler, Cheryl Frost, Kay Hatton, Carla Green, Gwennan Charlton, Iwan Evans, and Stuart Culverhouse, with team supporter Martin Green.  Prestigious medals won at the North Wales cross-country championships... Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Several hundred runners ranging from juniors to master veterans took part in the Grand Prix Express, North Wales cross-country championships, held last Saturday afternoon at Ysgol Morgan Llywd at Wrexham. North Wales Road Runners  entered nine athletes including five ladies and four men, and they won six prestigious NW championship awards with one gold, one silver, and four bronze medals. The female athletes competed in the senior/master women’s race with  Carla Green  bouncing back to form in 29th place overall in 28 minutes and 20 seconds to win a silv

NORTH WALES CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE 2023-24 SEASON. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk UPDATE:  NORTH WALES CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE Unfortunately due to issues beyond our control (bookings at Eirias Park) we have had to re-schedule the second North Wales Cross Country League fixture to Saturday 21st October. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. The revised fixture list is as follows: Saturday 14th October – Treborth Track, Bangor  Saturday 21st October – Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay  Saturday 25th November – Shrewsbury (venue to be confirmed) Saturday 20th January – Dolgellau  Saturday 10th February – Marches School, Oswestry. *Starting times:  Junior races at 10-30am. Women/65+men at 1-00pm; men 2-00pm. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The 39th Annual General Meeting of the " David Alun Williams " North Wales Cross Country League, in association with  Grand Prix Express  took place at  Ysgol Clywedog Leisure Centre , Ruthin Road, Wrexham, on Friday 5th May. An

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