Don Hale Blog

*A great victory for NWRRC member Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts at the Southport Sprint Duathlon. He is  pictured above and below, together with his medal and race number.    Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts wins the Southport Sprint Duathlon. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   North Wales Road Runner Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts was the proud winner of the Southport Sprint Duathlon event last Sunday with a determined display following his success at two 5k runs and a tough 20k bike ride. This overall victory and his veteran age cat win came as something of a shock to the experienced GB and Welsh International athlete, as he only confirmed his attendance at the last minute after suffering from an illness all week.  In his first 5k race run he admitted he “wasn’t feeling it,” but persevered, and eventually finished strong in 19 mins 33 secs. He then battled for honours in the 20k plus bike ride, and said he finally caught the race leader after about 4k.  His

*NWRRC member Will Williams (*above), called-up for double Welsh date. Easter surprise - Double date Welsh selection for Will Williams - and international call-ups and news for other NWRRC athletes. Report by Don Hale.    North Wales Road Runner Will Williams received a welcome Easter surprise this week with confirmation that he has been selected to represent Wales in two varied international distance races next month against the old enemy England! He is now one of three top-level club athletes who have recently had their talents recognised by the sporting authorities following some consistent and outstanding performances. Will, who has just recovered from a niggling knee injury, confirmed that he will compete in the Masters’ International 10k race at Birmingham on Sunday 5th May, and then again for the Masters’ International half-marathon event at Manchester on Sunday 26th May. Following news of his selection, based on several previously outstanding efforts in the red vest on both the

Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts (*pictured above) wins qualification to the GB Team for 2025 Duathlon Championships. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmasterathletics.co.uk North Wales Road Runner Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts has gained qualification to the GB Team after finishing 3rd in his respective age category during a 2025 Duathlon Championships qualifying event, held last Sunday on the East Fortune Race Circuit, near Edinburgh. Welsh master Llyr competed in a 5k run, followed by a 21k bike ride, and a final 2.5k run, with his excellent times, and age cat position ensuring him an automatic qualification. His very fast times for each event included his first run of 5k in just 18 minutes, the 21k cycle race in 36 minutes, and the final 2.5k run in 9 minutes. After the event, he confirmed: “I secured my qualification for the 2025 championships by finishing in the top-four of my age group at this event (I missed out at Castle Combe at the beginning of March). “Overall, I

*Martin Green is pictured (*centre), with his wife Carla, and NWRRC chairman Kevin Slattery at the Conwy Sports awards. Martin Green wins Senior Sportsman of the Year award - and other prizes from race events for Carla and Llyr! Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk North Wales Road Runner Martin Green  won a prestigious trophy   after being selected   as the deserved  Senior Sportsman of the Year  at the  Conwy Sports Awards  ceremony held in Llandudno last Friday night following another superb season of extraordinary racing results. And on Sunday morning, Martin’s wife  Carla Green  collected some additional family silverware after becoming the 1st female athlete at the  Running GP Oulton Park 10k  with a stunning performance in 23rd place overall, to win her FV50 age category in just 44 minutes and 1 seconds around this spectacular motor racing circuit. Meanwhile,  Llyr Ap Geraint-Roberts,  collected a very welcome, but surprise gold me

*NWRRC member Llyr  ApGeraint-Roberts on the podium (*centre) after winning the ATW Duathlon at Mallory Park. Road Runner Llyr just dipped under the chequered flag to win the Mallory Park Duathlon. Report by Don Hale.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts just managed to dip under the chequered flag at the Mallory Park race circuit last Sunday to win the ATW Duathlon event with another stunning performance and he finished just six-seconds ahead of his nearest rival Stephen Ball. North Wales Road Runner Llyr (*pictured above) celebrated a great couple of runs and a bike ride, and apart from winning the overall event, he also claimed 1st place in his MV50-54 age cat in a total time of 1 hour 4 minutes and 9 seconds. He recorded a split time of 18.40 in his first 5k race, following by a bike ride of about 18k in 34.51, and then with another short road dash of about 3k in 9.52.   Stephen Ball   finished in 1.04.25, with   Mike Wheeler 

*Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts (*above) crosses the finish line after winning his duathlon race at the Slateman challenge. Llyr wins T2 Slateman Sprint Duathlon race. Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   NWRRC member Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts came home in 1st place in the T2 classification of the Slateman Sprint Duathlon in the Snowdonia National Park last Saturday.  Despite an undulating course, plus very warm and breezy conditions, Welsh Master and GB International athlete Llyr competed well throughout the event and recorded a time of 9 mins 11 secs for his first 2.36k run. This was followed by a 20.36k bike ride with 368m of elevation, which he completed in 44 mins and 53 secs; and then he followed this again with a second 5.59k run, including 198m of elevation, in 27 mins and 48 secs.  His total time for the entire event including transition was shown as 1 hour, 23 minutes and 1 second. And after the race, Llyr confirmed: “I was not as quick

*Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts pictured in the lead in his GB vest during the Duathlon. Llyr claims worthy top-ten finish for Great Britain at European Sprint Duathlon in Italy. Report by Don Hale. North Wales Road Running veteran Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts enjoyed a superb run for Great Britain last weekend in the Veteran’s MV50 European Sprint Duathlon Championships in Italy, and claimed an excellent Top-Ten finish. The international all-rounder was even leading the pack at one stage but admitted to a slight mishap during transition which pushed him back, but he recovered well to eventually claim a prestigious 8th place overall. Held in Carole, which is about 50km from Venice, his split times included 16 minutes and 35 seconds for the first run of about 5k, and 36.20 for the cycle ride, with 11 minutes for the second run. After the event Llyr confirmed: “I was really pleased, but it could have been higher if I hadn’t had trouble getting my feet into my bike shoes during T1 transition, but I’ll

*Pictured (*above and below) some of the many NWRRC club runners who competed in the Rhyl 5 mile and 10 mile races last weekend. Photos by John HATTON. Medals galore for Road Runners at the windy Rhyl 5 mile and 10 mile series of races... Report by Don Hale. Rhyl photos by John Hatton and Mike Smith.   There was a good turn-out of Road Runners amidst many other elite athletes at the Rhyl 5-mile and 10-mile races last Sunday, where several members celebrated podium places and age cat wins, during a very windy series of events that also incorporated an Inter-Counties match, and the Regional Championships. It was the latter 10-mile race that served as both a major North Wales Championship event and an Inter-Counties invitation match, where once again several NWRRC members, and other top local club runners won prestigious individual, and team medals. In the 5-mile race, Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts  finished in 4th place overall and claimed 2nd place in his MV45 age cat in 27 minutes and 45 seco

 *Some of the NWRRC members who ran at Bangor last week (l-r) Llyr ApGeraint Roberts, Mike Hayton, Rob Fryer, Kelly Alford and Cai Roberts. Llyr won a surprise victory at the hilly Bangor 10k race. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   Travelling Road Runner Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts was the surprise winner of the hilly Bangor 10k race last Sunday. The East Midlands based athlete finished just 15-seconds ahead of his nearest rival and won his MV45 age cat in just 37 minutes and 3 seconds. Llyr (*pictured left) led home a NWRRC team of eight runners amongst an entry of some 198 finishers, with five members recording podium places including four runners, who also won their respective age categories.   After the race Llyr admitted his surprise at his outstanding victory. He said: “ The race was great as I won, but I went into it with the sole purpose of just doing a course PB, and then see what would happen, so I was surprised when I crossed the line first!” Llyr’s colleague  Harry