Don Hale Blog

*John Dalzell (*above) led the North Wales Road Runners home. Hat-trick of age category wins at a bright and sunny Conwy parkrun...plus other race results. Report by Don Hale.   North Wales Road Runners entered thirteen athletes in last Saturday’s Conwy parkrun and claimed eight podium places including three age category victories. Blessed this week with bright sunshine and a light breeze, the event attracted over two-hundred runners of varied ages and abilities, and from different parts of the UK.  The first man back was  James Yarwood  (Abergele Harriers), the runaway leader who won his SM30 age cat with a fast time of 17 minutes and 32 seconds. The second spot remained undeclared, but the 3rd placed runner was  Matthew Young  in 19.09. The 1st Lady was  Anna Drinkwater  (Eryri Harriers) in 6th place overall in 20.00, with  Elisha Price  2nd in 23.26, and  Ffion Williams  3rd with a new PB in 24.47. The parkrun attracted 211 finishers. NWRRC endurance athlete  John Dalzell  led the R

*(PICTURED ABOVE): The NW Road Running team at Lake Vyrnwy (*back row l-r), Sue Smith, Kevin Higgins, Ben Hudson, Stuart Culverhouse, and John Dalzell, and (*front row), Nicola Wylie, Mandy Owen, Kelly Alford and Sarah Hudson. Fast times by Road Runners at Lake Vyrnwy half-marathon - plus other race results... Report by Don Hale.   Nine Road Runners tackled the revised Lake Vyrnwy half-marathon last Sunday with many athletes amongst the 800 plus entrants celebrating superb times in near perfect conditions. Endurance star  John Dalzell  was the first club man home in 122nd place in 1 hour 28 minutes and 36 seconds, closely followed by  Stuart Culverhouse , who was thrilled to go sub-90 minutes after his 37th attempt, finally finishing in 125th place in 1.28.47.  Ben Hudson  also had a good run out and finished in 158th place in 1.32.33, but his wife  Sarah Hudson  was the outstanding star of the team knocking an amazing nine-minutes off her previous best time. Sarah later admitted that

*Steve Forsyth (*above) celebrated his birthday in style at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   Steve Forsyth celebrated his birthday in style at Conwy on Saturday where he was the first parkrunner home and finished more than a minute ahead of his nearest rivals The North Wales Road Runner also brought the best out of the chasing pack with  Hari Jackson  (Manchester Metro University AC) finishing in 2nd place in 17.31, and  Carl Shawcross  (Medway), in 3rd spot in 17.52, with both recording impressive new PBs over this challenging 5k course. The 1st female runner was JW15-17 runner Olivia Jones in 21.45 Steve, who finished in just 17 minutes and 21 seconds and won his MV40 cat, eventually led a team back of eleven other senior club members and one junior, claiming seven podium places altogether, including six age category victories. * Steve  Mason  (*above left) with Harry Driscoll. Steve Mason  was back to his best in 4th place, and he also won his M45 cat in

*John Dalzell (*above) completed the tough West Highland's Way race. SOME GREAT RESULTS ON THE ROAD FROM NWRRC ATHLETES: *Scotland: John Dalzell  took part in the  ‘Devil O the Highlands’  footrace. John was the 2nd Welsh finisher, and he was 146th out of 274 runners who eventually completed this tough 68k plus ultra-event in an amazing time of 9 hours 18 minutes and 30 seconds.  After the race, John confirmed: “West Highland Way done in two shifts. Today’s effort was an easy 21-miles in the rain, the second 21 starting with the Devil’s staircase, which I’m sure was steeper and longer than last time, followed by the undulating military road. The legs weren’t impressed, but I kept smiling.” *Steve Bozier (*above left) and Steve Poupart ran in the Coastal Marathon. *Anglesey:  Two NWRRC endurance athletes took part in the  Cybi Coastal Marathon  on Saturday, but both struggled with injuries.  Steve Bozier  battled with a hip problem after 15-miles but still finished well in 18th plac

Josh Keogh (*pictured above) led the team to success at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery. North Wales Road Runners had three athletes within the top four finishers at Conwy parkrun last Saturday and claimed six age category wins during another well attended and sun-drenched event. This popular 5k event again attracted numerous Bank Holiday runners from across the UK to sample the delights of this spectacular riverside course with many of the 216 finishers also recording PBs. Josh Keogh  led the club team, and he was the first runner home overall, and celebrated victory as the 1st SM30 cat winner in just 17 minutes and 19 seconds. He was closely followed by club colleagues  Jonathan Kettle  in 2nd place and 1st MV45 in 18.03, and  Steve Mason  4th, and 2nd in his MV45 age cat in 18.55. *Jonathan Kettle (*above) finished 2nd at the Conwy Parkrun. Steve Roberts  won his MV55 cat finishing 21st overall in 21.26, with  Sean Butler  continuing his good form to

*John Dalzell *(above) put in a tremendous effort during his ultra challenge and not only recorded a great new PB time but he was also the 1st Welsh runner. John Dalzell completed 53-mile Highland Fling Ultra Race for the Welsh Air Ambulance charity appeal. Report by Don Hale.   North Wales Road Runner John Dalzell was celebrating last weekend after completing a gruelling 53-mile international challenge race, including an amazing new PB, whilst also helping to raise vital funds for the Welsh Air Ambulance appeal. *The Welsh air Ambulance team in action (*above). The experienced endurance athlete was the 1st Welshman to finish amongst a top-quality international field of 450 starters – with only 315 finishers – during the Highland Fling Ultra Marathon in Scotland. John was 116th overall and completed this extremely tough course, with 7,187 ft of elevation, in just 11 hours 47 minutes and 52 seconds, knocking a massive 37 minutes of his previous best time.  *John Dalzell (*above) recorde

*NWRRC athletes Lesley Goodson (*left) and Sarah  Ferguson Hudson. Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Sarah Ferguson Hudson & Steve Jeffery.   Race organisers from the Betws y Coed Trail Challenge events had to call in a determined group of volunteers and supporters last Saturday morning to help clear the course following the aftermath of Storm Arwen, and ongoing weather problems, which had left dozens of fallen trees blocking or restricting several planned routes. *Pictured (above and below) some fallen trees blocked the 5k course. The exceptional gales, heavy rain, and dangerous conditions on Friday night and during the early hours of Saturday morning provided trail officials with a nightmare scenario, but within hours a team of athletes and supporters cleared the way for five out of the six races to go ahead. Initially organisers stated: ‘ Thanks to everyone that has been in touch this morning, the weather here is fine, and we have no snow. We’ve been up on the routes and there