Don Hale Blog

Conwy Urban Night Score – Explore the Medieval streets of Conwy – NOW RE-ARRANGED DUE TO THE WEATHER -Thursday 15th January 2026. Unique orienteering event. By Gwennan Charlton. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   For anyone who’s been thinking of doing one of the Orienteering Urban Night races, we’re coming to Conwy on the 15th of January! Link for more info/entries here:   https://facebook.com/events/s/conwy-urban-night-score/1186436856278025/ *Gwennan Charlton (*above left), is helping to promote the Conwy event, with Lizzie Bennett, who is a keen urban orienteer. Get ready for the first orienteering event of 2026!  We're exploring the medieval streets of Conwy for this one. And it's going retro- pen, paper and clues only! No map run.   I've got a series of clues- both educational and non-educational for you to gather around town. Think treasure hunt, but the pot of gold is a lamp post!   Entries are open online at :   https://pre-entries.co.uk/dl/events Onl...

*Pictured above - the NWRRC relay team and supporters on Llandudno prom. Hot pace on a warm night for the club relay teams. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Members of North Wales Road Runners took part in their annual team relay challenge last Tuesday night on Llandudno promenade amidst glorious sunshine and very warm conditions. Eighteen runners competed in six teams of three, with their previous average times over 5k estimated to help equalise the competition. The event, which included each runner targeting a specific distance, was well organised by  Carla Green , with support from  John Hatton ,  Elizabeth Driscoll and others , was eventually won by a team consisting of  Gwennan Charlton, Molly Evans, and Kevin Slattery , who finished in an overall time of 28 minutes and 34 seconds. The runners-up team included:  Mark Davies, Richard Scamans, and Molly Evans in a combined time of 28.34,  with all the team finishing quite close...

*Three members of NWRRC are pictured at the  start of last Saturday's Santa Dash on Llandudno  prom (l-r): Helen Hannam, Gwennan Charlton and Rachel Morris. Hundreds of festive runners enjoyed the 5k charity Santa Dash on Llandudno prom. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   *Pictured above - Road Runner Hannah Griffith with her  family and friends. Hundreds of runners, including many families, and even some pet dogs, took part in the popular 5k Santa Dash on Llandudno Promenade last Saturday morning which helped to raise funds for St David's Hospice, and other local charities, despite the freezing conditions. With the early morning  Conwy parkrun  cancelled the previous evening due to the icy and potentially dangerous conditions on the course, the Dash probably attracted a number of extra charity participants, who enjoyed the friendly atmosphere and the festivities, and we...

*Gwennan Charlton (*above) competed well in the Llandudno Triathlon. Road Runner and all-round athlete Gwennan Charlton  took part in the  challenging  Triathlon on Llandudno Promenade and around the Great Orme on Sunday but she seemed slightly disappointed with her swim result after a slight mishap.  She explained: “I took a wrong turn in the swim and probably added an extra 100-200m. It really threw me off! When it came to the bike, I had nothing left in the tank for loop 1, after that mare of a swim.” I don’t think Gwennan though should be too hard on herself, as her results looked quite promising despite an unfortunate mishap, including: - 750m swim in 25 minutes 37 seconds, T1 2.51, 16.95K bike ride 60.00, T2 0.58, 5k run in 30 minutes 52 seconds. Well done Gwennan! *  Cai Roberts  and his partner Kelly Marie Alford are pictured (*above) with their finishing medals after completing the Cardiff half-marathon. Kelly Marie Alford  and  Cai ...

* Gwennan Charlton (*above) on the finish line after her Torchlight Trail race. Gwennan enjoyed her night race in the woods. Report by Don Hale.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   NWRRC athlete Gwennan Charlton took part in the Sandman Black Diamond Torchlight Trail 5k plus event last Saturday night which was set amidst the pine trees and sand dunes of Newborough Forest, Anglesey.  Staged during the Sandman Triathlon weekend, the events offered either a 5.3k, or a 10.6k trail race option, promising a very special experience for all those taking part.  The trail races started and finished in the village and took runners around the forest trails before welcoming them back at the end of their adventure. It was primarily a fun-run for all abilities, and for people who love trail running but perhaps wanted to try something different. Gwennan certainly enjoyed her night-out and finished 8th overall, and she was also the 4th female fin...

*Carla and Martin Green (*above) both won their age cats at Conwy Parkrun. Bright and breezy with close finish at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   Some 267 runners of all shapes and sizes, ages, and mixed abilities, tackled the Conwy parkrun last Saturday amidst bright but very breezy conditions, which was in stark contrast to the blistering heat of the previous week. In addition to the many social runners, this popular event again attracted a generous mix of young and promising athletes, together with numerous top club runners, who all seemed determined to test their abilities over this challenging 5k course. Exciting local teenage prospect  Morgan Kendall  was the first runner home to celebrate his third parkrun victory at Conwy, and his 90th parkrun overall, but this time he also recorded a great new PB of just 17 minutes and 38 seconds to win his SM18-19 age category. Morgan was pushed all the way by  Martin Green  (NWRRC) and...

*Harry Driscoll (above) with another good run to lead the club runners home. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   North Wales Road Runner Harry Driscoll was the first club runner back at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning and he led home a strong team of fourteen seniors and two juniors amongst a holiday crowd of some two-hundred finishers. The talented team of mixed ages and abilities also claimed six age category wins and five second places in addition to recording several personal best (PB) times. Harry  finished 5th overall and won his SM20-24 age cat in just 20 minutes and 6 seconds, and he was nearly two minutes ahead of his nearest rival, veteran  Sean Butler  who also won his MV60-64 cat in 21.56 and he was 18th overall. *Jamie Tharme (*above) produced a good result despite a lack of sleep. Jamie Tharme  battled a lack of sleep due to work commitments, but still enjoyed a dream run to finish 22nd and 2nd in his MV40-44 cat in 22.13, and he was...

*Stuart Culverhouse (above) enjoyed another good performance at the Conwy Parkrun. Hot pace for top athletes at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   It was an incredibly bright, sunny, and warm start for nearly two-hundred Conwy parkrunners last Saturday morning with the first eleven athletes setting a hot pace to record some superb times and all dipping under the twenty-minute barrier. Ian Lawton  (Mersey Tri) was the first finisher overall in a very fast time of just 16 minutes and 4 seconds over this challenging 5k course, with  James Yarwood  (Abergele Harriers) 2nd despite a great new PB, and finishing exactly one minute behind Ian in 17.04, whilst local junior  Alfie Shirland  (Colwyn Bay AC) claimed 3rd place with another good run in 17.43 to win his JM11-14 age cat.                      *Will Williams (*above) turned in another great run in 7th place. North Wales Road Ru...