Don Hale Blog

*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 restricted again due to additi

*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 plaudits, and dominating the event,

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 unknown. Gemma Moore  ( Eryri Harriers ) w

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

. *Another good run from Steve Mason (*pictured above) at Conwy parkrun. Splash down for Conwy parkrunners on puddle-filled course. Conwy parkrun 2/4/22.  Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   Conwy parkrun resembled a waterlogged cross-country course last Saturday, with a mass of deep puddles, and entrants having to splash their way around, and battle with the cold, damp conditions, and a steady drizzle. Despite all these climatic problems, the event still attracted 163 finishers including runners from as far afield as Darlington, Keswick, Hyndburn, Eden, and Rossendale, with five elite athletes in the top-13 all claiming new PBs, and the first 11 finishers dipping under 20-minutes. Nic Brook  (Eryri Harriers) was the first man home to additionally win his MV45-49 age cat in 17 minutes and 56 seconds, with  Daniel Wellings  2nd overall and 2nd in the same age cat as Nic in 18.37, with  Chris Yorke  3rd, and 1st in his MV50-54 cat in 18.49. North Wales Road Runners  entered ei

*Josh Keogh (*above) ran a great new PB at Conwy for 2nd place overall. Bright and breezy but a fast finish at Conwy parkun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   It was bright and breezy at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday where over two-hundred finishers enjoyed the exceptional conditions and picturesque route to record a host of PBs and fast times, with the first nine finishers all dipping under the twenty-minute barrier. Road Runner  Josh Keogh  ran his socks off and claimed a deserved new PB, but he still finished a few seconds adrift of the overall winner, teenager James Smith, who also recorded a PB in 17.00, with another young runner Peter Cotterell, finishing 3rd in 17.28. Josh  was one of three NWRRC members who won their age categories, and yet, amazingly a further eight club runners all finished second in their cats! He led home a team of eleven seniors and one junior in 17.13, and was 1st in his SM30-34 age cat.  Jonathan Kettle (*above left) with Will Williams (*a