Don Hale Blog

*Harry Driscoll (*pictured above) from Meirionnydd RC was second at Conwy. Some fast times and good attendances at many North Wales parkruns - full results round-up... Report by Don Hale.  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Sam Griffiths  was the runaway first finisher at the  Conwy parkrun  last Saturday where they welcomed 209 club and social athletes, including many visitors from around the UK. Sam had an outstanding run in just 16 minutes and 42 seconds, with  Harry Driscoll  (Meirionnydd RC) second with a great new PB of 17.51, and visitor  John Brogan  (RC Warriors) took the third spot on his debut in 18.06. *Vicky Cole  (GOG Triathlon) was the first female finisher (16th overall), and she ran the course with her husband  Simon Cole , and claimed a new PB in 20.38, with  Ellie Evans  (Cybi Striders) second (34th) with a PB in 22.10, and  Katherine Gregson  finished third (38th) in 22.26. *Pictured above - Husb...

*Stuart Culverhouse (*right) ran well with Darren Dentith at Ruthin. Good results and keen competition at various North Wales parkruns...results round up... Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Some very good results including numerous personal best (PB) times at various parkruns across North Wales last weekend, with some keen competition for placings, particularly amongst the ladies, and well done to JW11 athlete Martha Brown at Nant y Pandy, who finished a close second overall, and the first female finisher in 19 minutes and 18 seconds.   *Conwy:   GOG Triathlon athlete  Simon Cole  was the first finisher at the  Conwy parkrun  with a very fast finish in just 16 minutes and 52 seconds, and  Elin Jones  took the first female finisher place with a new PB in 20.40. * North Wales Road Runners included  –  James Singleton  59th in 24.51, with master vet  Rob Fryer  84th in 26.38, and he also won his VM70 a...

*Pictured above - group members of the 5k Your Way, Move Against Cancer group when it first  started at Conwy parkrun before moving to Rhos on Sea. Rhos on Sea 5k Your Way, Move Against Cancer group is set to celebrate its first birthday this Saturday... Introduction by Don Hale. Report and photos by Richard Peevor. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 At the end of this month, the Rhos on Sea 5K Your Way, Move Against Cancer group will celebrate its first anniversary. They have had a highly successful year after being initially based at Conwy before opting to move to nearby Rhos earlier this year due to public demand.   They are due   meet up again this Saturday (*27th September), which will be their first birthday bash, and a delighted  Richard Peevor,  who is the Lead  Ambassador for the Rhos group  confirmed:    “Our group has gone from strength to strength, with over thirty people attending our events on the last Saturday of every month. We wi...

*Flashback to a previous start at Penrhyn Castle parkrun Plenty of newcomers and good times despite wet and windy parkruns...round up of NW results. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Despite a sudden change in the weather including some blustery winds and intermittent showers, it still failed to deter plenty of newcomers to various North Wales parkruns, where once again many excellent times and PBs were recorded. The ladies though took most of the plaudits around the region last Saturday morning with plenty of fast finishers, and at both  Nant y Pandy , and at  Llangollen , visiting female athletes dominated the top three positions.  Visitor  Sarah Evans  was the first female finisher at Penrhyn Castle, and there was an interesting battle for second and third places at Nova, Prestatyn, where partners and Eryri Harriers clubmates,  Nic Brook  and  Gemma Moore  raced nip and tuck, with Nick eventually finishing second ove...

Storm Bert was the only winner as various parkruns and local events hit - but Steve, Martin, and Harry beat the weather. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Storm Bert was the only winner last weekend as heavy rain and gale force winds forced the postponement of numerous sporting events, and in particular some fell and trail races, plus a host of popular parkruns across the area. Planned parkruns at Nova Prestatyn, Penrhyn Castle, Newborough Forest and Conwy, to name but a few, were all cancelled on either Friday night, or early Saturday morning, on essential health and safety grounds, to help protect both volunteers and many hundreds of participants. At Penrhyn Castle  they announced on Friday afternoon: “Unfortunately owing to the weather forecast we’ve been informed that parkrun is cancelled this Saturday.” And the same applied at the  Nova Prestatyn  venue, which is run along the promenade, when they confirmed: “...

*Pictured above - Harry Driscoll led the NWRRC team. Harry Driscoll led the Road Runners home at Conwy parkrun...plus other parkrun results. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was another bumper turn-out at Conwy parkrun last Saturday as a host of visitors enjoyed the mild conditions and the picturesque 5k riverside course at the RSPB Nature Reserve. Harry Driscoll  led home a team of just nine  North Wales Road Runners  due to members recovering from illness, injuries, or from last week’s Marathon Eryri.   Harry finished 12th overall out of 366 entrants, and he was 2nd in his SM20 age cat in 20 minutes and 16 seconds.  Sion Thomas  was 78th in 24.30, and  Richard Scamans  finished in 82nd place in 24.37.  *Sion Thomas (*above left), with Richard Scamans. Steve Bozier  had an easy recovery run in 27.33 in 151st place, and  Gwen Charlton  was 163rd and she claimed a new...

*Colwyn Bay athlete Bryn Woodall (*above) was on top form at Conwy Student Bryn provided a master class at Conwy after returning from America. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Talented youngster Bryn Woodall, who has just returned home to North Wales for the summer from his studies in America was the first athlete home at last Saturday’s Conwy parkrun, which attracted a host of club and social runners from all over the UK. Bryn, who represents Colwyn Bay AAC, easily won his SM20 age cat with a fast time of 17 minutes and 43 seconds, with fell runner  Josh Keogh  winning his SM30 age cat in 2nd place overall in 18.02, whilst  Aled Hughes  (GOG Triathlon) finished 3rd in 18.15, and he won his VM35 cat. Anna Drinkwater  (Eryri Harriers) claimed the 1st female spot with a superb run finishing in 11th place overall in 19.39, and she won her SW25 cat. Meanwhile,  Hannah Whitelam Hodges  (Hallamshire ...