Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts on his way to a  podium place. (*photo courtesy of Bill Scrivens). North Wales athletes win podium places at the dramatic World Championships. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk *Michelle Farrell (*above) on the podium with her trophy after finishing 3rd in the World Trail Running Championships last weekend.   Two exceptional North Wales athletes claimed prestigious podium places at the Xterra Snowdonia Trail Running World Championships last Saturday after braving the extremely high temperatures that later led to the stoppage of all five events on the mountain. The races started and finished at Llanberis and offered a number of exceptional challenges with athletes tackling varied distances, ranging from 10k to a marathon, and even a 24-hour ultra event, and attracted many of the best athletes from across the globe. The event organisers confirmed:  ‘ The incredible routes explore the trails, gorgeous pa...

*North Wales athlete Llyr crosses the finish line at the Euro champs in Poland. Llyr competed well for GB at the European Duathlon Championships...plus Sandy on song at Wrexham 10k. Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   North Wales Road Runner Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts competed for Great Britain last Saturday in the European Triathlon Duathlon championships in Poland. Llyr performed extremely well, yet returned home slightly disappointed despite a brave effort, where he finished in the top ten in his respective age category and recorded his quickest time ever in both the running and cycling events! The prestigious bi-annual championships were held this year in Rumia, Poland, and attracted about 500 top athletes from across the continent to this popular location, which the organisers say has a rich tradition of staging major Triathlon and Duathlon championships.  After returning home, Llyr confirmed:  “This was the European Duathlon Championships, and I...

*Pictured above -  Llyr ApGeraint Roberts - finished 3rd in the Duathlon Latest race results including the Llandudno Triathlon, Berlin and Loch Ness marathons, and other parkrun results... Llyr finished third in the tough Llandudno Duathlon Report by Don Hale   Road Runner Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts finished 3rd in the Llandudno Duathlon on Sunday following a tremendous performance over a very tough and challenging course, which included both a 5k and 10k run, interspersed by four bike laps around the Great Orme. Llyr’s impressive split times were: 18 mins and 13 secs for the 5k run. 1 hr 10 mins for the bike and 37 mins and 50secs for the final 10km run! After the event he confirmed:  “I came third in the Duathlon. Really chuffed, as it was a standard distance, which is basically two times the distance that I do in the sprint! So, I’ll take that in my first attempt at this event! Lots of support around the course from NWRRC members, and Carla Green on the Orme was immense!” ...

*Road Runner Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts is pictured above in the finish area. Good performance by Llyr in Australia during the World Sprint Duathlon championships... Report by Don Hale https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Welsh Master and GB international athlete Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts celebrated an outstanding performance last Friday in the World Sprint Duathlon championships in Australia and just missed out on a top podium place. The North Wales Road Runner who has been training hard all year – despite some unexpected health problems of late – was delighted to be offered this unique opportunity to represent his country in such a major competition. And on Friday, he recorded some excellent times during his run-bike-run event, which attracted dozens of world class elite athletes to Townsville, a coastal city in North-East Queensland. Staged towards the end of the winter season in Australia, the weather proved to be unusually warm for this championship race, but Llyr still recorded a fast...

*Pictured above - Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts at the Cairns parkrun in Australia - as he prepares to represent Wales in the World Sprint Duathlon championships. Road Runner Llyr goes ‘Down Under’ to represent Wales in the World Sprint Duathlon. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   North Wales Road Runner Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts has travelled to Australia in readiness to represent Wales in the World Sprint Duathlon Championships on Friday (16th August). The talented Great Britain and Welsh international runner has been selected to represent his country in this week’s major competition, which has attracted about fifty of the top duathlon athletes from around the world, who will compete for honours in this prestigious event. This Sprint Duathlon championship race includes a 5k run, followed by a 20k bike ride, and then another 2.5k dash, and this year it’s being staged at Townsville, a coastal city in North-East Queensland. In preparation fo...

*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 lea...

*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...

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 Gerai...