Don Hale Blog

Athletes set a hot pace in the heatwave at Penrhyn parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Michael Finney. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   There was a good turn-out of nearly 300 mixed ability entrants at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun last Saturday despite scorching temperatures during this extraordinary heatwave period, including athletes from opposite ends of the UK. A large contingent of quality club runners set a hot pace right from the start over this roller-coaster of a 5k woodland course, with the first seventeen finishers all dipping under the twenty-minute mark, and the first finisher,  Rhodri Owen ( Meirionnydd RC), celebrated a great run in just 16 minutes and 7 seconds, and he also led home a clean sweep with club colleagues, who packed well and took the first five finishing positions. Ricky Challinor  finished in 2nd place, with  Russell Bentley  3rd in 16.52,  Geraint Pugh  was 4th in 16.53, and...

*Carla Green from NWRRC was the first female finisher at Nova. Hot, humid and windswept at Nova’s Prestatyn parkrun...plus other parkrun results round-up... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com It was a very hot and humid despite a very strong and blustery wind at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn last Saturday, with a generous attendance of some 255 mixed ability athletes and walkers, who all braved the refreshing sea breeze and sandy atmosphere. Two male visitors and course debutants grabbed their places in the top three as fast finishers with  Aaron Dodwell becoming the first male runner home on his debut in 18.44, with  Dafydd Montgomery  2nd in 19.17, and debutant  Harry Brewster  3rd on his debut in 19.30. The first female finisher was  Carla Green  (NWRRC), in 14th place overall, and she also won her VW50 age cat in 21.34. Prestatyn RCs  Lisa Lines  claimed the 2nd spot in 22.33, with  Sali Wheway  3rd with a new ...

*Pictured above - Will Williams celebrated a new 10k PB. North Wales Quartet performed well at the Colshaw 10k. Report by Don Hale https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Four members from North Wales Road Runners competed in the Colshaw Hall 10k race last Sunday in near perfect conditions and celebrated some excellent results. Will Williams  hit top form again and recorded a superb new PB, but he was just seven-seconds adrift of his estimated target, finishing in 95th place out of 1,137 entrants in 36 minutes and 7 seconds, and 5th in his VM50 age category. After his event, Wiil said:  “A massive PB, though I thought I had dipped under 36 minutes. Not quite, but next time, I think I will get it!” Carla Green  also enjoyed a good run as the 48th female finisher and 320th overall, with a good time of 43.07, whilst  Kay Hatton  claimed the 5th spot in her VW60 cat in 47.51, and master veteran  Mike Hayton  was 852nd and 5th in his VM70 cat in 1.07.32. ...

*Pictured above - Elizabeth Driscoll and her dog Winston at Penrhyn Castle parkrun. Parkrun round-up plus news of Carla and Kevin on the road Report by Don Hale. Penrhyn photos by Michael Finnie. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com    *Carla Green (*above left), with Kevin Higgins. Carla Green  from NWRRC ran well in the Swansea half marathon on Sunday and she was 521st out of 5,729 entrants. She was the 94th female finisher in a chip time of 1.31.42, and her club colleague  Kevin Higgins  travelled to  Port Sunlight  on the same day to compete in two races and explained: “ Double header this morning in  Port Sunlight races . First a 5k and then a 10k straight after it. Two great races. Great course and an extra medal for completing in both races. My times were: 5k in 28 minutes 50 seconds, and 59 minutes 33 seconds   in the 10k.” *Action (*above and below) from the Penryhn Castle parkrun. Parkrun round-up *Penrhyn:   Chris Turner  (Er...

Response to Conwy Parkrun's potentially controversial statement about the latest behind the scenes activities... Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com Following the statement issued by Conwy parkrun officials on Thursday afternoon, it would now seem that their comments have attracted widespread controversy, confusion and much anger, with many volunteers and regular runners and supporters, demanding to air their personal views in response. This feature contains some varied reactions etc:   *I have therefore included a link and a copy of the parkrun statement from 29/5/25 which appeared on my blog, and on the Conwy Parkrun’s Facebook page from yesterday. And in addition, I have also included – in the interests of fairness and accountability – the latest updated statement from Conwy parkrun officials, which seems to have attracted further controversy and debate, together with the pubic reaction:   *This is a link to the original statement on my blog from Conw...