Don Hale Blog

*Harry Driscoll (above) with another good run to lead the club runners home. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   North Wales Road Runner Harry Driscoll was the first club runner back at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning and he led home a strong team of fourteen seniors and two juniors amongst a holiday crowd of some two-hundred finishers. The talented team of mixed ages and abilities also claimed six age category wins and five second places in addition to recording several personal best (PB) times. Harry  finished 5th overall and won his SM20-24 age cat in just 20 minutes and 6 seconds, and he was nearly two minutes ahead of his nearest rival, veteran  Sean Butler  who also won his MV60-64 cat in 21.56 and he was 18th overall. *Jamie Tharme (*above) produced a good result despite a lack of sleep. Jamie Tharme  battled a lack of sleep due to work commitments, but still enjoyed a dream run to finish 22nd and 2nd in his MV40-44 cat in 22.13, and he was just six seconds ahead

Third place and a superb new PB for Steve Bozier (*above) at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos Steve Jeffery.   Steve Bozier claimed a new personal best time at last Saturday’s Conwy parkrun, which this week was completed in bright sunshine in stark contrast to recent events. The NWRRC member finished 3rd overall and he was 2nd in his MV40-44 age cat in 19 minutes and 10 seconds. Steve led home seven other team-mates, with six recording age cat podium places including three outright wins! Steve Mason  (*pictured above) was another runner in top-form, and he finished shortly behind Steve in 4th place overall but won his MV45-49 cat in 19.38, with  Harry Driscoll  going well again in 11th spot and finishing 1st in his SM20-24 cat in 20.50.  Gethin Wyn Jones  (*pictured above) was back to his best in 16th place and was 2nd in his MV35-39 cat in 21.23, with  Jamie Tharme  in 27th place in 22.54, and  Josh Keogh  finished 30th and 3rd in his SM30-34 cat in 23.23.  *Jamie Tharme (*pi

*Some members of the NWRRC team at the Rhyl 10-mile and 5-mile championships. (*Photo by John Hatton). Road Runners beat the weather to win championship medals at Rhyl 10-mile Report by Don Hale. Photos by John Hatton and Mick Hall.   NWRRC members beat the horrific weather last Saturday and claimed medals galore in the highly prestigious North Wales championships held within the Rhyl 10-mile race. Tackling rain, sleet, snow, and freezing temperatures, runners claimed five podium places including two age category wins, one second and two third placings, in addition to winning four gold and four silver medals in the North Wales championship age categories. Josh Keogh  was the first club man home finishing 3rd overall and 3rd in his SM21.34 age cat in 56 minutes 47 seconds, with  Jonathan Kettle  8th but won his MV50-55 cat in 58.28. *Jonathan Kettle braved the elements to finish 8th and won his age cat at the Rhyl 10-miler. (Photo Mick Hall) Stuart Culverhouse  was another runner in fin

*Mark Jessett (*above) was the  first NWRRC athlete back at the Conwy  Parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. Conwy parkrun finally returned as predicted last Saturday following another unfortunate break from action due to harsh Welsh Government and Covid-19 restrictions and even ended up on TV! The parkrun events were only approved by the Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford the day before, after the ruling for people attending outdoor events was suddenly increased from 50 to 500! This meant a slightly belated 7th anniversary birthday bash celebration at the RSPB starting point for just short of two-hundred enthusiastic runners on a cold morning that was also filmed by ITV Wales. It turned out to be a rather fast and furious event that attracted numerous elite athletes in addition to a host of fun runners, including nineteen first timers, and numerous local athletic club members.  The quality at the top end of the run included seven out of the first eight finishers recor

*Harry Driscoll (*above) led the Road Runners home at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Steve Jeffery.   Harry Driscoll was the first club man home once again for NWRRC at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday, which had depleted numbers due to festive demands, and the aftermath from a succession of storms and challenging conditions. Despite all the problems and a cool, breezy morning, on a wet and part debris riddled course, the organisers worked hard to ensure that the safety of runners and volunteers was paramount and celebrated with 146 finishers enjoying their weekly 5k dash. Teenager  James Smith  (Menai Track and Field) was the 1st finisher and won his SM18-19 age cat with an impressive new PB of 17 minutes 5 seconds, with  James Coleman  2nd in 17.54. In addition, popular local runner  Nic Brook (Eryri Harriers) was another man in fine form, and he also celebrated a new course PB in 18.04 in 4th place. Harry Driscoll  led a team of eleven NWRRC members, and he was one

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