Don Hale Blog

Kinmel Bay beat the freeze and scored nine goals North Wales Coast East Football League 24/25 – Premier Division 11 Jan 2025 Kinmel Bay FC (9) v CPD Bro Cernyw (0):   Report and photos by Barry Griffiths. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com One of the few matches to be held during the freeze and fortunate to be able to get a slot on the G4 at Colwyn Bay. Despite the score a match played end to end with skill and energy.    I had some photo difficulty with light and my poor technique but submit some photos to convey the atmosphere and action.   Well attended game with 6 of the KBFC team officials present and all 5 subs brought into the match.   For the Bay goals which were all fought with determination we have: Min 5 Charlie Jones his first of 2 goals this time assisted by Mathew Beach. Min 7 Sean Sheridan first of his 3 in the match this assisted by Joshua Parry. Min 18 Jordan Bellham first of his 2 this assisted by Mathew Beach. Min 19 Sean Sheridan assisted ...

*Steve Gardner (*above left), with his dad Dave. Gold medals for father and son Dave and Steve Gardner at the Indoor Championships. Report by Don Hale https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Road Runner and super-vet Dave Gardner struck gold at the North Wales Indoor Championships at Coleg Cambria, Deeside, last Sunday by winning his M85 age category in the shot-put competition. Dave also improved on his previous PB and winning performance from last year when he competed in the M80 cat with a superb throw of 7.26m, which is also expected to be a national record. He later obtained a deserved podium place and collected a prestigious gold medal for his sterling efforts. Meanwhile, Dave’s son  Steve Gardner , also collected a gold medal in the Welsh Masters Indoor Championships at Cardiff on Sunday in his 800m track event with an excellent winning time of 2 minutes 20.89 seconds. *Gold medal winners Dave Gardner (*above left), with Steve Gardner.

*Pictured above - Sandy Johnston in action from last year's event at Eirias Park **NEW FROM RUNWALES:  Colwyn Bay 5 miler/10 miler/20 miler.  9th March 2025, 10am. **Route update: from  RunWales:   Due to the continued sea defence works in Rhyl which will not be completed until 2026, this event has been moved to Colwyn Bay, we have also added a 20 miler to the mix, the race date is 9th March 2025. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com MORE INFORMATION.    Colwyn Bay 5 miler, 10 miler & 20 miler:   https://www.runwales.com/e/colwyn-bay-5-miler-10-miler-and-20-miler-8641 9th March 2025, 10am. All races start at the Athletics track in Colwyn  B ay, from here they head along to the promenade and head East along the coastline where all races have their turning points for you to retrace your steps back to the athletics track. All race routes are mainly very flat with just a couple of short hills. You could use the 20 miler to test your pace on this flati...

*Pictured above - five members of the NWRRC team at the XC champs at Bangor (l-r), Michael Finnie, Cheryl Frost, Kay Hatton, Gwen Charlton, and Karen Butler; and (*below), four NWRRC team members who competed in the Men's Senior Race (*l-r), Will  Williams, Iwan Evans, Stuart Culverhouse, and Steve Gardner.   Five podium places and two gold medals for the Road Runners in XC champs at Treborth, Bangor. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Nine members from the North Wales Road Running Club competed in different races during the NW Cross Country Championships at Treborth Track, Bangor, last Saturday, and claimed five podium places, including two age category wins. In the senior/master women’s race,  Karen Butler  won a deserved gold medal after finishing 1st in her W65 age cat following a great run in 39th place in 37 minutes and 30 seconds. The NWRRC team packed well with veteran  Cheryl Frost  on form again in...

*Pictured above - Steve Mason - who was the first NWRRC member home. Hot pace despite a bitterly cold morning at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com It was a very cold start for the first Conwy parkrun of 2025 as 247 mixed ability athletes tackled the puddle-filled, but picturesque 5k course, from the RSPB Nature Reserve last Saturday morning. Despite the freezing temperatures,  Iain Burgess  set a very hot pace as the 1st finisher in just 18 minutes and 36 seconds to win his VM35 age cat, and he was some 36-seconds ahead of his nearest rival, VM40  Richard Wilyman (GOG Triathlon), in 19.08, with SM25  Aaron Jones  3rd in 19.49. Llio Owen  was the 1st female finisher with a new PB of 21.23, and she won her SW20 age cat (13th overall), with VW40 athlete  Vicky Cole  (GOG Triathlon), 2nd (19th overall) with a fine run in 22.05, and VW35  Emma Stanley  claimed the 3rd place, (21st overall) in 22.15. North Wal...

 *Will Williams (*above) enjoyed a good run at Newborough Forest. New Year’s Day results from Newborough and Somerset. *Pictured above - Steve Mason and Tom Aindow. *Newborough:   Will Williams  and  Steve Mason  from NWRRC took part in the New Year’s Day parkrun at Newborough Forest last Wednesday morning. Will finished well in 5th place overall in 20.04, and he won his VM50 age cat, whilst Steve enjoyed a more leisurely walk around the course, and he was 338th in 55.07. *The 1st finisher at Newborough was JM15-17 teenager  William Delamere  in a fast time of just 17 minutes and 11 seconds, with SM25 athlete  Dean Horrell  2nd in 18.58, and SM30  Oscar Hardy  3rd on his debut in 19.11. * Anna Drinkwater  (Eryri Harriers) was the 1st female finisher (4th overall), and she won her SW25 cat in 19.55, with  Emma Alofs  (Cybi Striders), 2nd (13th overall), with a new PB of 21.05, whilst JW11-14 youngster  Lucy Dela...

  Nick Beer Llandudno 10k - 9th Feb 2025 https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com The event, which is in its 33rd year, has previously been run by North Wales Road Runners, and Always Aim High Events are now proud to add this fantastic race to our community events.  This not-for-profit event will continue to support local charities as well as the North Wales Road Runners Club. Starting on the iconic Victorian promenade in Llandudno, the route takes runners around the awe-inspiring Great Orme with its stunning views of Eryri (Snowdonia), Anglesey and beyond.  With hundreds of runners taking part year after year, it is a fabulous start to the running season. This event has some great history, read all about the man who inspired it, Nick Beer, here:  https://alwaysaimhighevents.com/events/nickbeer10k-5 Running alongside the event, there will be a 1k Fun Run, organised St David's Hospice (Llandudno).   The 10k course. The race starts on the beautiful North Shore of the Llan...