Don Hale Blog

*The NWRRC quartet pictured above (l-r): Nia Lister, Kay  Hatton, Cheryl Frost and Mike Hayton. NWRRC quartet tackled an 8-mile challenge for the South Snowdonia Search & Rescue Team. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   North Wales Road Runners entered a quartet of hardy athletes in the SSART Trawsfynydd Multi-Terrain 8-mile race last Sunday afternoon amongst an entry of 232 finishers who helped to raise essential funds for the South Snowdonia Search & Rescue team. Described as a beautiful multi-terrain race starting from the Magnox Power Station and then around Trawsfynydd Lake in the Eryri/Snowdonia National Park, the course was claimed to be fast, with just one challenging hill over a mixed tarmac and trail route. The NWRRC team  performed well despite the very blustery conditions, combined at times with hail showers, but  Cheryl Frost  led her group home in 68th place, as the 9th female athlete, with an excellent chip time

*Pictured above - some of the NWRRC team at the Anglesey races (l-r): Stuart  Culverhouse, Mike Hayton, Rob Fryer, and Don Hale. NW Road runners celebrated age cat wins at Anglesey half-marathon and 10k races. *Adam Lemalle and Kevin Slattery are pictured (*above) at the start of the half-marathon race, and (*below left), Alastair Canaway (*left), with Don Hale close to the finish of the 10k. (*These superb images courtesy of Mel Parry photography). Tel: 07810 161614. 01248 852944. Email:  Email:  dmelparry@gmail.com     Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was a bumper turn-out at the Anglesey half-marathon and 10k races last Sunday with over 1,100 runners taking part in this tough and very challenging course on an unusually bright and sunny morning. North Wales Road Runners  entered five athletes in the half-marathon event, with a further six members competing in the 10k, and once again they celebrated with an excellent M65 age cat

*Richard Eccles (*pictured above) enjoyed a good run and finished 9th in addition to winning his age cat at the Abergele 5k race. Gold medals and podium places for a quartet of Road Runners at Abergele. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Over two-hundred club and social runners competed in the Abergele 5k and 10k races on the town’s promenade last Sunday morning, where a quartet of Road Runners celebrated podium places and won two gold medals! NWRRC  entered two athletes in both the 5k, and 10 events, and they all recorded unexpected podium places, with two welcome age category victories and impressive gold medals for  Richard Eccles  and  Don Hale  in the 5k, and two third-placed finishes in their respective age cats for  Steve Roberts  and  Mike Hayton  in the latter 10k event.     *Richard Eccles (*above left) with Don Hale. The races were run concurrently over a relatively flat and fast course with all parti

*Road Runner Steve Gardner (*above) was the first NWRRC man home. Splash down at Conwy parkrun as student Harry takes the honours despite the wet and windy conditions. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Entries were well-down at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday, which perhaps was not too surprising given the horribly wet weather, combined with a gusty wind, and a near waterlogged 5k course. Just 156 mixed ability runners braved the event which incredibly registered talented local student  Harry Jackson (Manchester Metropolitan University AC) for his first victory at Conwy following twenty-seven previous attempts including a second and third placing.  Harry  was the first male finisher in an amazing time - given the challenging conditions - of just 17 minutes and 22 seconds. He was followed by visiting club runner  William Richardson  (Irvine RC) on his debut in 17.48, and  Grant Little  in 18.44. The 1st female

*Pictured above (l-r) NWRRC members Kevin Higgins, Kelly Alford and Cai Roberts at the Wilmslow 10k. Kelly records another course PB in the heat at the Wilmslow 10k... Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Four NWRRC members took part in the very well attended but hot  Wilmslow Summer 10k race  on Sunday, with  Kelly Marie Alford  probably the pick of the team, and she was delighted to record another course PB of nearly one and a half minutes.  Kelly  eventually finished in 1,063rd place in 48.33, with  Cai Roberts  next in 1,110th place in 49.03. And  Kevin Higgins  was also in form and finished 1,212th in 53.00, with master veteran  Mike Hayton  1,585th and enjoying a steady run in 58.35.   Mike  said: “Wilmslow 10k this morning, with my nephew Pete. A scenic course and a lovely sunny morning.” Kevin  later added: “ A great race and well organised but it was bit hot”   The race attracted over 2,500 entrants. *Mike  Hayton  (*above lef

*Will Williams (*above) was the first NWRRC member home at Conwy. Fast times despite being cool and breezy at Conwy parkrun...plus news of Elizabeth in the Falkland Islands and Nicola at breezy Blackpool. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was rather cool and breezy at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday (1/7/23) but it still failed to deter another bumper attendance which also included a host of top club runners and enthusiastic visitors from many parts of the UK. Two new names though were registered as the 1st and 2nd placed finishers at Conwy with  Aled Hughes  taking the plaudits with an excellent and determined run, especially given the blustery conditions, as the 1st male finisher in 18 minutes and 6 seconds, to win his MV35 age category. He was very closely followed by rival  Dave Hughes , who finished 2nd in the same age cat as Aled, and he was only seven-seconds adrift despite a new PB of 18.13, with