Don Hale Blog

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

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

*Some of the NWRRC team prior to the start of the Fairy Freckled Cow race (*pictured l-r) Stuart Culverhouse, Helen Hannam, Kevin Higgins, Hannah Griffiths, Don Hale, Mike Hayton and Nicola Wylie. Podium places and NW medals for Road Runners at Fairy Freckled Cow Trail race. Report by Don Hale.   It was a great turnout of experienced club athletes and a few social endurance runners at the very tough Fairy Freckled Cow 10.7k trail race last Sunday morning. The Road Runners entered eight members and collected four podium places and a few PBs, in addition to several North Wales Trail championship medals, at one of the most challenging trail races in the region around Alwen Reservoir. Despite spectacular views, this race followed a gruelling and very hilly course, with the event eventually won by  James Yarwood  (Abergele Harriers) in 40 minutes 21 seconds. He was followed by  Stephen Skates  (Prestatyn RC) in 41.15, and  Ian Edwards  (Eryri Harriers) 3rd in 41.24. The Ladies race was won

 *Stuart Culverhouse was the first NWRRC member home at Conwy parkrun. Conwy parkrun welcomed bumper entry to Bank Holiday weekend event - plus other race results... Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery.   It was an excellent Bank Holiday weekend turn out of athletes at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday where two visiting club runners took the honours by claiming the first and second placings amongst a bumper entry of 230 finishers on a warm but windy morning. Matt Darnley (Bramhall Runners) was the first man home to win his VM40 age cat in 18.34, followed by Richard Gallois (Kingfisher Harriers), who also won his VM45 cat in 18.58, with Chris Morgan taking the 3rd place in 19.07, and he finished 2nd in the same age cat as Richard. The first female runner was Alice Johnston (Les Croupiers), and 1st SW30 cat with a new PB of 19.36 North Wales Road Runners  had several top members missing due to a variety of reasons and entered ten athletes and one junior, but still managed to

* North Wales Road Runners at the start of the Llandudno Easter 5k Dash. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Kevin Slattery and Steve Jeffery.   North Wales Road Runners had two athletes in the top three placings, in addition to winning both the male and female team prizes and claimed five age category wins at the popular Easter 5k Dash on Llandudno prom last Saturday. Martin Green  led home a large club entry of some twenty-eight athletes for this revived race which has not been held since 2019 due to Covid-19 restrictions and postponements. The overall race was won by  Scott Nixon  (Cardiff AC) in 16 minutes 23 seconds, with Martin just 12-seconds adrift in 2nd place, despite a gallant effort, and  Mark Jessett  finished 3rd in 16.48, and he deserves extra credit after competing at the Conwy parkrun earlier that morning where he was the top club finisher in 18.50. *Pictured (*above left) Martin Green, and (*above right) Will Williams with Harry Driscoll at the start of the Easter 5k Dash o

North Wales Road Runners success dates back to the early 1980s. Archive report for the North Wales Pioneer by Don Hale .   NWRRC was formed in the 1980s by John Chambers and other athletes including Mike Hayton, Kevin Higgins, and Steve Roberts, who are still members! Based at the Penelope Hotel, they once welcomed London Marathon winner Hugh Jones, before moving to the old John Bright school, now the Asda site, and currently meet at the new school. *(Pictured above) A nostalgic photographic of some NWRRC club members at the Penelope Hotel, including Wallace Black, Steve Roberts, Peter Cleave, Norman Connor, Ed Garner and Mike Hayton, with London Marathon winner Hugh Jones shown holding a magazine. And (Below) a group photo before a race in the 1980s. *(Pictured below) Another NWRRC social gathering including Kevin Higgins, Dave Nolan, and Mike Hayton.  NWRRC are a very successful club with over 100 members, including some who have achieved national recognition and won elite honours, a