Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - Stuart Culverhouse, and Carla Green head to the finish line at the 400th Conwy parkrun. Perfect weather for 400 plus runners as Conwy parkrun celebrated its 400th event. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was a perfect  morning at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning with warm, bright sunshine, for over four-hundred athletes, walkers, and volunteers as they commemorated their 400th event. Blessed with unusually good weather, very little wind, and with an atmospheric touch of mist in the distance surrounding the iconic Conwy Castle, people from all parts of the country boosted the number of local entrants to this regular run, with everyone determined to enjoy and celebrate this special occasion. The event also helped to raise awareness of mental health issues and included a brief presentation by  Conwy Mind  at the start, who highlighted examples of their good work, and mentioned the many services...

*Pictured above - Nurses, NHS medical professionals, and parkrunners, wore blue for International Nurses Day at Conwy last  Saturday. Outstanding performances at Conwy parkrun on a bone-hard course to commemorate International Nurses Day and the NHS... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was another bumper turn-out at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday, this time to commemorate International Nurses Day, and in support of the NHS, as just short of 300 club and social athletes enjoyed the humid conditions on a bone-hard 5k course to record some outstanding finishing times. *Pictured above - Will Williams, with Stuart and Joe Culverhouse. North Wales Road Runner  Will Williams  led home a team of twelve other club members, to finish in 2nd place overall in 18 minutes and 30 seconds, to win his VM50 age cat. And young soccer player  Joe Culverhouse , who has just finished playing for his local junior team, set a hot...

*Jonathan  Kettle  (*above) enjoyed an easy run at Conwy. Bumper turn-out at Conwy parkrun despite saturated course...plus other results. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Ten North Wales Road Runners were amongst a bumper turn-out of over three-hundred entrants at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday with the usual numbers boosted due to a local half-marathon event the following day.  This popular annual race, well organised by  RunWales , always attracts a massive following and ensures this particular parkrun date records one of the busiest days of the year, as many athletes utilise this event as an ideal warm-up.  After the parkrun however, it was hoped that most of the participants had a change of footwear available, as once again, this saturated riverside 5k course dominated proceedings, and made the narrow, twisty, riverside route quite a challenge, especially with so many visiting runners. NWRRC members were r...

*Pictured above - Road Runner (*centre), Dave Jones with the leading pack at the very wet start of the  Conwy parkrun. Wild, wet, and windy at a waterlogged Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was wild, wet, and windy for nearly two-hundred entrants at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday as they braved hailstones and driving rain at the start, and then faced a challenging waterlogged course full of puddles. This seemed in stark contrast to the previous week when unusually barmy temperatures led to a very dry, bumpy, yet enjoyable route for a variety of mixed ability runners.  And an extra special mention should go to all the volunteers (*some pictured below) who turned out on such a horrible day, plus our regular photographer Steve Jeffery. The first two finishers this week included travelling club runners, with  Steven Sims  (East Cornwall Harriers) taking the plaudi...

Bryn Woodall stars at Conwy parkrun after return from the States. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Conwy parkrun again attracted a good number of talented young athletes and visitors from across the UK, in addition to the usual mix of club and social runners, who all enjoyed a fast dash over this picturesque route despite very hot conditions. The first male runner back over this bumpy and bone-dry, out-and-back course, was promising young teenage athlete  Bryn Woodall,   (*pictured above right),  who has recently returned home from America for a break, where he is currently studying.  The talented SM18 age cat winner who represents  Colwyn Bay AC , celebrated another worthy victory in just 16 minutes dead, and he was more than a minute ahead of his nearest rival, visitor  Liam Busby  ( Wycombe Phoenix AC ) who finished 2nd in 17.06. At the time of writing the third placed finisher was still unk...