Don Hale Blog

*Father and son, Stuart and Joe Culverhouse (*above) ran well at Conwy. Cold and windy but well attended New Year’s Day parkruns. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   It was another very cold and very windy morning at most of the New Year’s Day parkruns, yet the conditions still failed to deter hundreds of hardy and determined athletes from travelling a long way just to start their 2026 events in style. Known parkrun events took place at  Conwy, Llangollen, and Newborough Forest , to name but a few, and all reported good attendances, and were well supported by generous teams of enthusiastic volunteers. At Conwy,  the organisers welcomed 242 entrants including numerous first timers, and the first finisher was Wrexham AAC star  James Yarwood  in 17 minutes and 45 seconds.  Iain Burgess  ran a good second place in 18.10, and visitor  Thomas Watkiss  took the third spot in 18.44. Anna Drinkwater  (Eryri Harriers) (*pictured ri...

*Flashback to a previous start at Penrhyn Castle parkrun Plenty of newcomers and good times despite wet and windy parkruns...round up of NW results. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Despite a sudden change in the weather including some blustery winds and intermittent showers, it still failed to deter plenty of newcomers to various North Wales parkruns, where once again many excellent times and PBs were recorded. The ladies though took most of the plaudits around the region last Saturday morning with plenty of fast finishers, and at both  Nant y Pandy , and at  Llangollen , visiting female athletes dominated the top three positions.  Visitor  Sarah Evans  was the first female finisher at Penrhyn Castle, and there was an interesting battle for second and third places at Nova, Prestatyn, where partners and Eryri Harriers clubmates,  Nic Brook  and  Gemma Moore  raced nip and tuck, with Nick eventually finishing second ove...

Hard and dry again at Conwy parkrun with another bumper entry...plus other results. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was another packed parkrun at Conwy last Saturday where 377 entrants tackled the challenging but picturesque 5k river trail from the RSPB Nature Reserve on a very dry and bumpy course. North Wales Road Runners  had fifteen members involved, and the first club man home was the rapidly improving  Harry Driscoll,  who finished 6th overall in just 19 minutes and 7 seconds, and he was 2nd in his SM20-24 age category. Jonathan Kettle  ran as a pacer for his club colleague  Benjamin Brummitt , who celebrated a new course PB in 10th place in 19.31, and he was 2nd in his SM30 cat, with  Jonathan  11th in 19.33, and he won his VM50 cat.  Steve Bozier  also enjoyed a good run after returning to fitness, and he was 30th overall, and 3rd in his VM45 cat in 21.42.   *Harry Dr...