Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - some of the NWRRC team and the Conwy regulars at Penrhyn, and (*below), the start of the Penrhyn Castle p arkrun. Half term boost by visitors at Penrhyn parkrun... plus other results... Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Michael (Pat) Finnie, and others. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   It was another bumper entry for the Penrhyn Castle parkrun last Saturday as some 329 mixed ability entrants from all parts of the country boosted this half term event. On a lovely warm and sunny morning and braving a rather challenging and undulating 5k lapped course, visitor  Matthew Sayers  (North Herts RRC), was the first finisher on his debut in just 18 minutes and 19 seconds, with fellow debutant  Matthew Jones  (Ripley RC), claiming the runner-up spot following a determined battle with his rival, and he was just three-seconds adrift in 18.22.  At the time of writing, the 3rd male place remained unknown, but the 1st female finisher was visitor...

*NWRRC veteran Kevin Higgins is pictured (*above), in the yellow vest tackling the woodland trail on his debut at Penrhyn parkrun. Conwy tour members gave a welcome boost to several local parkruns...plus a results  round-up... *Conwy regulars John Stallard (*orange t-shirt), and Pam Grant (*long sleeved blue top), are pictured at the picturesque Penrhyn parkrun. Report by Don Hale.  Photos courtesy of Michael (Pat) Finnie, and others. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   It was another bumper turn-out at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun last Saturday on a cool and breezy morning with 276 mixed ability athletes tackling the rather undulating but picturesque course, which again included numerous ‘Conwy on Tour’ members. Promising local teenager  Noa Vaughan  was the 1st finisher overall with a fast time of just 15 minutes and 47 seconds, and he easily won his SM18 age cat, but at the time of writing the second and third finishers remained unknown.  The 1st female ath...

*Pictured above - some of the many varied groups at a record Nova parkrun. Record breaking numbers at the Nova Prestatyn parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Nova parkrun. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Nova parkrun officials celebrated another record-breaking event last Saturday as some 327 entrants took advantage of the warm March sunshine over this 5k promenade course. The overall numbers were boosted by another large contingent from ‘Conwy on tour,’ members, in addition to numerous athletes from  St Asaph City Striders  from their Stride to 5, challenge team, and many others from the  Your Way, Your Move Against Cancer , squad. The event also welcomed 80 first timers from 33 different clubs, and they recorded 44 new PB times. The first finisher overall was Prestatyn Running Club’s, VM45 athlete  Stephen Skates  in just 18 minutes and 12 seconds, but it was a very close finish against runner-up  Gareth Griffith,  despite a new PB...

*Pictured above - Sarah and Ben Hudson after completing their run. Sarah and Ben Hudson completed the Trimpell 20-miler in their ultra season build up, and as preparation for the Boston  Marathon... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Ultra distance veteran athletes Sarah Ferguson Hudson and her husband Ben continued with their amazing training exploits last Sunday morning by competing in the Trimpell 20-mile race. At the time of writing, the full results had not been confirmed, but this popular pair turned in some excellent performances once again, with Ben running home in 2 hrs 57 minutes, and Sarah in very close pursuit in 3 hrs and 3 seconds. After the race Sarah confirmed:  “The event was not chipped timed, and they have not put the results out yet, but yesterday’s lovely Trimpell 20 went all along the river/estuary at Lancaster. It was a great little race for Spring marathon training.  “Not quite the times we wanted but being at 11.00am,...

Ultra athletes Ben and Sarah Hudson quit the rat-race to enjoy some extraordinary new adventures in North Wales   Special Coast and Country feature: This is the first of a new series of special features looking at the life, careers, hopes and ambitions, of many talented and dedicated athletes and sports people in North Wales.   Introduction by Don Hale.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com This feature highlights the extraordinary life and careers of popular husband and wife couple, Ben and Sarah Hudson, who are both keen runners and obviously love a challenge, both in life and in athletics, and regularly take part in varied events ranging from parkruns to marathons, to long-distance and ultra races, often raising thousands of pounds for charities. They gave up the rat-race in London a few years ago to move to North Wales, where they quickly created a thriving local business in Betws-y-Coed, before opting to enjoy some exciting new adventures in this stunning region, a...

North Wales 5k track championships at the Deeside Stadium. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.wekshmastersathletics.co.uk The North Wales Regional 5km track championships will be staged at Coleg Cambria on Friday 4th April (evening). Age-categories are under 20, senior, 35-39, 40-49, 50-59,60-69 and over 70, for both men and women.  On the night there are also some other non-championship races and field events: javelin, high jump and long jump;  *See full details at :   https://www.welshathletics.org/.../north-wales-endurance...   *To enter (closing date is 30th March at 23:59) go to: https://wales.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2025/GBR/nwend25/ OTHER CONTACT DETAILS: amy.edwards@welshathletics.org

*Pictured above - action from a previous Orme fell race. Great Orme Fell Race is back to its regular spot. Plus details of the Joe Brown Tuesday evening midweek series of Fell Races. Report courtesy of Mike Blake. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Fell race organiser Mike Blake has just confirmed that the Great Orme Fell Race will now return to its normal spot on May 13th, following reports that it may have had to be postponed. Mike said this week: “Please note that d ue to popular demand the Orme Fell Race is back in its normal spot thanks to Gavin Gog. This means that the Northerner's only have to travel south once as far as the Llanberis Valley to get the five counters in, while the southerners only have  to go as far north as Y Fron, to get their 5 counters in. ” Mike also confirmed details of the other Joe Brown   – Tuesday evening – midweek Fell Race fixtures for 2025 , and again he stated: “Ok folks, time to mark your wall planners, 1st April will soon be her...