Don Hale Blog

*Alastair Canaway (*pictured above) was the 1st man home. Newcomer Alastair records new PB and takes the plaudits at Conwy parkrun...plus other parkrun results. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery.   Club newcomer Alastair Canaway was the first man home at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday as the club celebrated four age category wins and six podium placings in another fast and furious encounter. The NWRRC athlete   continued his recent impressive form to secure a narrow victory and additionally won his MV35 age cat with a new course PB of 18 minutes and 1 second.  This event again attracted plenty of additional club and social runners from across the UK, and yet, despite a fierce encounter for honours,  Alastair  just managed to stay ahead of the chasing pack, with  Aled Hughes  2nd in 18.24, and  Alison Campbell  (Sheffield University) 3rd, and the 1st Lady with a great PB of 18.32.  With Alison claiming the top female place,  Hayley Cooke  (Cheltenham & County) took t

*Will Williams (*above) finished 2nd in the Run Wales 5k race Loyal athletes battled horrific weather in Run Wales 5k and 10k races...plus  Martin and Carla Green at Telford 10k. Report by Don Hale.   Nine Road Runners took part in the Run Wales Loyalty 5k and 10k races last Saturday despite freezing conditions that included sleet, rain, and snow, and a tough course covered in mud with many deep puddles. The race organisers confirmed this was a non-profit event and offered a free bonus place to runners who had previously entered at least two Run Wales events this year.  Both races utilised what was meant to be a very fast, flat, and scenic course long the cycle tracks from Conwy Bridge to Deganwy Quay and back, but the adverse weather conditions made the races far more of a challenge than expected. The 5k race  attracted twenty-one runners, and it was won by  James Yarwood  (Abergele Harriers) in 16.39, with  Will Williams  from NWRRC claiming a deserved 2nd place overall, and 1st in h

 *Steve Forsyth (*above) dashes towards the finish line at the Amsterdam half-marathon. Other race results: - North Wales runners on the road.  Report by Don Hale. *Amsterdam parkrun:  Road Runners  Steve Forsyth  and  Jamie Tharme  travelled to the Amsterdamse Bos parkrun in Holland last weekend as a warm-up for the Amsterdam half-marathon the following day. In a massive field of nearly 500 starters,  Steve  had an incredible run to finish in 6th place in 17.39 and he also won his MV40 age cat, whilst  Jamie Tharme  celebrated a massive new PB time of 21.06 to knock about a minute off his previous best parkrun time to run home in 30th place and he was 4th in his MV45 age cat. The event was won by Welshman  Matthew Rees  (Swansea Harriers) in 16.04. *Jamie Tharme (*above) ran well at the Amsterdam parkrun and half-marathon. *Amsterdam half-marathon:   Steve Forsyth  and  Jamie Tharme  said they both struggled in the Amsterdam half-marathon last Sunday, yet they still recorded some dece

*Steve Mason (*above) at Conwy parkrun. Road Runners took the plaudits at blustery Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   Due to several fixture clashes only six North Wales Road Runners took part in the Saturday morning parkrun at Conwy, but they still recorded three age category wins and Steve Mason was the first male runner back home amidst 181 starters. Steve  maintained his recent good form to claim a notable victory, and he also won his MV45 age cat in 18 minutes and 59 seconds despite the blustery conditions and a puddle-filled course. Former NWRRC athlete  Chris Yorke  took the 2nd spot overall, and he too won his VM50 age cat in 19.21, with  Lewis Jones  finishing in 3rd place and 1st VM35 cat in 19.53. The 1st female runner was local junior athlete  Sophia Voice,  who also won her JM11-14 age cat in 11th place overall in 21.33. *Jamie Tharme (*above left) with veteran Rob Fryer. Jamie Tharme  was the next Road Runner back, and he finished in 13th place

*Nicola Wylie (above) won her age cat at the Ellesmere Port parkrun Other club race results: from around  the UK and beyond.. *Birchwood:  Three NWRRC members took part in the Birchwood 10k race on Sunday.  Kelly-Marie Alford  and  Cai Roberts  ran together again with Kelly finishing in 156th place in 50.46 and the 7th F35 athlete, with Cai sharing the same time and just one place behind.  Mandy Owen  also continued her return to fitness with another determined run in 56.13 and 220th place. *Pictured (*above l-r) Mandy Owen, with Kelly Alford and Cai Roberts. *America: Jon Evans  continued his American adventure last weekend and returned to the  Theodore Roosevelt Island DC parkrun  in America where he celebrated a great new course PB of 22.55 to win his MV55 age cat, marking a 27-second improvement to his time from last week and finishing in 7th place overall. *Jon Evans (*above) celebrated a new course PB at his American parkrun. *Hemel Hempstead: Stuart   Culverhouse  completed a to

Steve Forsyth (*above) led the club team at Helena Tipping 10k.  Road Runners celebrated great performances at Helena Tipping 10k and at Dolgellau 5-mile races. Report by Don Hale. Several NWRRC members braved the heat and made the journey to Wrexham last Sunday to take part in the popular  Helena Tipping 10k race. *Pictured (*above left) Steve Forsyth and (*right) Will Williams at the 10k. Many celebrated fast times including Steve Forsyth , who was the first club man home in 30th place in just 34.47, and club colleague  Will Williams finished  126th in 39.45, with  Gethin Wyn Jones  160th in 41.46, and  Jamie Tharme  264th in 46.08.   *Pictured above - some NWRRC members at the Helena Tipping 10k (l-r) Kevin Higgins, Kelly-Marie Alford, Mandy Owen and Cai Roberts. Cai Roberts  continued his good form in 302nd place in 48.45, with  Kevin Higgins  impressing again in 388th spot in 54.28. And  Kelly-Marie Alford  ran well to finish 393rd in 54.53, with  Mandy Owen  building back her fit

Martin Green beat the heat and the hills to win Mulberry half-marathon... Report by Don Hale. Most photographs by Steve Jeffery.   Road Runner Martin Green was the runaway winner of the tough Mulberry half marathon race last Sunday, and despite the very the warm conditions and an extremely hilly course, he still finished more than three and a half minutes ahead of his nearest rival. The NWRRC athlete, who has enjoyed some equally superb performances over the same distance in recent weeks, ran home in just 1 hour 22 minutes and 16 seconds to additionally win his MV45 age category. Martin also led a team of eight club runners over this challenging route, which started and finished on the beach next to Mulberry Marina before crossing into the Snowdonia National Park and included the gruelling long gradient up the Synchant Pass before heading back towards Conwy. *A great run from Nic Brook (*above left) and the 1st lady from Alice Johnston. Nic Brook  (Eryri Harriers) finished 3rd in 1.26.

Great running from Steve Mason (*pictured above) at Conwy Parkrun but two teenagers led the way in hot conditions... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   It was another hot, dry, and dusty race at Conwy parkrun last Saturday where a considerable number of visiting athletes ensured it was a fast pace at the sharp end with two teenagers eventually claiming their share of glory over this challenging 5k course. Visiting youngsters  Harri Kendall  (Manchester Metropolitan University AC) and  Morgan Kendall  finished in 1st and 2nd positions respectively, with the two SM18-19 athletes dominating the event from start to finish.  Harri also claimed a new PB of 17 minutes 47 seconds, with Morgan recording 18.06, followed by  Osian Griffiths , the 1st SM30 in 18.35. The 1st Lady runner was  Hailey Fletcher  (Sedbergh School RC) in 20.38. The event attracted over 200 runners with many also preparing for local endurance events. North Wales Road Runner Steve  Mason continued his purple p