Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above Ben and Sarah Ferguson Hudson at their ultra coastal run. Ben and Sarah’s ultra 14-mile Coastal Challenge. Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com North Wales ultra-distance couple Ben and Sarah Hudson competed in the challenging 14-mile Northumberland Coast Trail Run last Sunday, which closely followed the coastal path from Beadnell Harbour to the Alnmouth Estuary through an area of outstanding natural beauty. The route started on sand, then onto road, sand, trail, road, and finished on sand again at Alnmouth.  This dynamic duo ran the race whilst on holiday and after the event Sarah explained: “We are away with Ben’s family in Northumberland and did a 14-mile trail race along the coast.  “It was tough going but stunning, with lots of delightful sandy miles. Ben snuck under two hours, and I did around 2.24. It was certainly a challenge that’s for sure. A good turn out and it was really well organised!” *The final results confirmed that Ben f...

*Pictured above - the powerful locomotive that challenged the runners. Quick 5k dash to ‘Race the Highland train.' Report by Don Hale.  Many photos courtesy of Lesley Goodson, and Prestatyn RC. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk *Three NWRRC members at Dinas station (l-r): Gwennan Charlton, Daniel Hennell and Hannah Griffith, and (*above right), some Prestatyn RC members on the train.   For many people, it’s just a race to catch the train, but last Wednesday night nearly 300 runners opted to ‘Race the Highland Train,’ in this very popular annual 5k event, with everyone enjoying a ride out to the start at Dinas station after departing from the initial assembly point at Caernarfon. The conditions were good on this fast downward course, with a generous number of club and social runners taking part and naturally recorded some very good times.  Meirionnydd RC took many of the plaudits with four club members in the first five places, including the ...

*Pictured above - Stuart Culverhouse and Kevin Slattery - at the Snowdon race. North Wales duo tackled the tough Snowdon international race with the stars... Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Two North Wales Road Runners took to the great mountain at the weekend and competed in one of Europe’s toughest endurance challenges during the Castel Howell, 48th International Snowdon race. This extraordinary event included over 1,000m climb of Yr Wydda attracted an international array of stars, club runners, plus an elite list of top mountain and fell runners, with standard, international and elite events taking place. Master veteran and NWRRC chairman  Kevin Slattery , who is a VM70 athlete, completed his gruelling run up and down Mt Snowdon on Saturday afternoon in just 1 hour 53 minutes and 49 seconds, and he finished second in his age cat, with his club colleague  Stuart Culverhouse,  a very close seven-secon...

*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...

*The Welsh Team before the AJ Bell Great North 10km Old Boys show the way home in the Great North. Report and photos courtesy of Bernie Jones. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk The ‘Old Boys’ led the way in the third of this year’s Master Internationals which was held within the AJ Bell Great North 10km in Newcastle. Not satisfied with breaking the Welsh and British records at the Swansea Half Marathon last month, Alan Davies, Swansea Harriers once again emphatically won his M70 category by nearly two minutes and he ran the undulating Newcastle course in 38-34! That’s two wins out of two events for Alan this year and both by two minutes underlining he is world class. Alan Davies being presented with his winning trophy from Welsh Team Manager Luke Northall Not to be outdone, Mike Whyatt, Eryri Harriers also won his second Masters International out of two (having previously won the 5km in Shrewsbury by over a minute) when he won his M60 category by 73 secon...