Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - some of the many hard working volunteers at the Nova parkrun. Course debutants and first timers boosted local parkruns over Easter...plus results round-up. Report by Don Hale.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com *Members of the NWRRC team at Nova (*above l-r): Gwen Charlton, Hannah Griffith, Carla Green, Cheryl Frost,  Daniel Hennell, and Nia Lister, with Adam Lemalle on the back row.   The Easter weekend series of local 5k parkruns attracted massive attendances again this year, with many recording record numbers of entrants including a large input of course debutants and first timers! Nova at Prestatyn and Penrhyn Castle parkruns, were probably the most popular events last weekend in North Wales, with bumper attendances also reported at Newborough Forest, who welcomed 297 runners, and Nant y Pandy 145, whilst most other local events also welcomed a large number of families, visitors and first-time participants. Conwy parkrun director  Gwyn Williams ...

*Pictured above - some of the NWRRC team and the Conwy regulars at Penrhyn, and (*below), the start of the Penrhyn Castle p arkrun. Half term boost by visitors at Penrhyn parkrun... plus other results... Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Michael (Pat) Finnie, and others. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   It was another bumper entry for the Penrhyn Castle parkrun last Saturday as some 329 mixed ability entrants from all parts of the country boosted this half term event. On a lovely warm and sunny morning and braving a rather challenging and undulating 5k lapped course, visitor  Matthew Sayers  (North Herts RRC), was the first finisher on his debut in just 18 minutes and 19 seconds, with fellow debutant  Matthew Jones  (Ripley RC), claiming the runner-up spot following a determined battle with his rival, and he was just three-seconds adrift in 18.22.  At the time of writing, the 3rd male place remained unknown, but the 1st female finisher was visitor...

*Pictured above and below - volunteer and photographer John Hatton captures the unique atmosphere as the  large number of runners begin their Easter dash at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning. Bumper Easter turn-out at Conwy parkrun boosted by a host of visiting UK club and social entrants. Report by Don Hale. Main photos by John Hatton. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It proved to be another bumper Easter attendance at Conwy parkrun last Saturday as some 435 entrants from all parts of the UK, tackled  the   picturesque  but soggy 5k riverside route to help celebrate the Bank Holiday weekend, and they  just missed out on setting a new attendance record! Parkrun official Mark Jessett  confirmed: " Saturday was our second highest attendance, and our highest since we restarted post-2020. Our highest attendance was at Easter in 2019.  "Overall, across the UK, parkrun saw its highest attendances since the restar...

*Gwyn Williams (*pictured above) at Conwy parkrun. Praise for hard working Event Directors at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale.   Conwy parkrun officials announced some changes to the event director’s positions at this popular event and paid tribute to several important volunteers and their dedicated service. Parkrun official and regular run director Gwyn Williams stated: “Well done to everyone who joined us to run, jog, and walk the course this morning on a crisp and beautifully morning. We had fifty first timers taking part and an incredible thirty-four runners recorded new PBs. Thanks also to the twenty-two wonderful volunteers who made the magic happen." *Event Directors Mark Jessett (*above left) and Bethan Wyn Roberts at Conwy. Gwyn added: “I would like to offer congratulations to today’s Run Director  Mark Jessett , who completed his 100th volunteering stint. Some of you may not be aware that Mark, along with Bethan Wyn Roberts took on the baton of the Event...

*GOG athlete Jose Eduardo Vega Perez (*above) was the first club runner back at Conwy parkrun. Snooker champion Ronnie O’Sullivan at Conwy parkrun as GOG’s claimed four age cat wins. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve  JEFFERY.   Nine GOG members took part in the Conwy parkrun last Saturday and recorded four excellent age category wins on a dry but windy event that also welcomed snooker star Ronnie O’Sullivan. Numbers were boosted by many tourist entrants during the half-term weekend with the run attracting 233 mixed ability runners from various parts of the UK, including  Ronnie (*pictured below)  who had been performing at Venue Cymru in the Welsh Open championships. Jose Eduardo Vega Perez  was the first club man home and finished 1st in his MV35 age cat in 19.38. He was followed by  Lizzie Irvine  who also won her VW35 cat in 23.56 in 47th place overall, with  Andrea Cody  claiming the 2nd spot in the same cat as Lizzie finishing 59th in...