Don Hale Blog

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 ...

*Pictured above - Jonathan Kettle at Conwy parkrun. Conwy parkrunners battled against Storm Kathleen. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was wild and extremely windy at Conwy parkrun last Saturday as nearly 300 mixed ability athletes braved Storm Kathleen on this blustery riverside 5k course. Once again, this popular event attracted a host of visiting runners from across the UK, but they all faced the usual swamp-like, waterlogged course, following several days of heavy and unrelenting rain, combined with 40-mph plus head and side winds! North Wales Road Runners  entered eleven members and J onathan Kettle  led the team home with an amazing performance considering the atrocious conditions under foot to finish in 3rd place overall, and he also won his VM45 age cat in just 18 minutes and 19 seconds. Will Williams  was also in good form, and he won his VM50 cat in 6th place in 19.02, with  Steve Mason  10t...