Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - over 400 people joined in with the fun at the Rhos parkrun. No sand, so fast times and plenty of visiting athletes at Rhos parkrun...plus other parkrun results... Report by Don Hale. Conwy photos by Michael Finnie.  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   There was another very good turn-out at the new Y Promenade, Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday where, following the council clear-up of the sand last week on parts of the course, two new event records were smashed, whilst other entrants recorded 114 new personal best times in total amongst the 406 finishers. There were some 226 newcomers to this popular fourth event, with many wearing festive attire to add to the usual warm and friendly atmosphere of this fast and furious parkrun. Talented visiting Wrexham AAC athlete  Connor Rogers  set a new record on his course debut as the first overall finisher in just 16-minutes and one second over this flat 5k and picturesque route, and the first female finis...

*Some members from Porth Eirias Runners (*above and below) at the start of the Rhos parkrun last Saturday. Top athletes and plenty of newcomers at new Rhos parkrun...plus NW parkrun results round-up. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com.2025   There was another good attendance of over 300 finishers at the new Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun with another excellent showing from top club runners and newcomers despite a rather sandy 5k course. The first finisher however remained unknown at the time of writing at Rhos, but visitor  Gavin Roberts  (Eryri Harriers) took the second place on his debut in 17 minutes and 30 seconds, with  Harry Driscoll  (Meirionnydd RC) just three-seconds and one place adrift in 17.33. Emily Hanlon  continued her top form (5th overall) to claim the first female place once again, with a tremendous run and a new PB of 17.48, with  Alex Aldous  second with another good PB in 19.38, and  Anna D...

*Martin Green (*above far right) leads the pack at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun. Parkrunners beat the wind and rain to record some great PB times...NW results round-up... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Heavy rain and wind played a key role at most of the NW parkruns last Saturday with many courses reporting flooding and sections of heavy going, yet they still attracted numerous club and mixed ability entrants from far afield. With the  Newborough Forest parkrun  cancelled, this probably swelled the numbers at both the nearby  Penrhyn Castle and Nant Y Pandy  events, with numerous debutants recording some excellent PB times despite the challenging conditions *Penrhyn:  (*pictured right - John Hatton and fellow volunteers at Penrhyn).  There was a very good turn-out of some 243 entrants at the  Penrhyn Castle parkrun  with  Adam Jones  the first man home in 16.29, and  Rhodri Owen ...

* Veteran athletes Kay Hatton and Mike Hayton (*above) both won their respective age cats with good times at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun last Saturday. North Wales Parkun results round-up: plus Kevin Higgins in a spin at the Oulton Park race circuit. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 Good number of visitors, first-timers and PBs at NW parkruns. There were good numbers and numerous personal best times at most North Wales parkruns once again last weekend as hundreds of mixed ability athletes, including loads of visitors and first-timers, enjoyed the last of the summer events in the continued good weather.   *Penrhyn:   Ewan Brown  tore around the  Penrhyn Castle parkrun  last Saturday morning in an amazing new PB time of just 15 minutes and 49 seconds to additionally win his VM35 age cat. He was followed by  Nicolas Seguin  in 18.17, and  James Coleman  (Eryri Harriers) in 18.33. The first female finishers at Penrhyn included:  Mabli Bates ...

*Pictured above - super veteran John Hatton at Penrhyn Castle. John Hatton celebrated his 350th volunteer role at Penrhyn parkrun...plus other results... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Super veteran John Hatton, a well-known local race director and a prolific charity organiser/fundraiser, celebrated his 350th role as a volunteer at the  Penrhyn Castle  parkrun event last Saturday morning. VM80 athlete John, who also represents  North Wales Road Runners  (NWRRC), said he was delighted to have been given the opportunity to reach this parkrun milestone at Penrhyn, and he confirmed: “It was my 350th volunteering opportunity, and I was so thrilled to achieve this number at this particular venue, as they are always so welcoming.” He later helped out with barcode scanning and was also able to witness an exciting fast paced finish by the top three male athletes, which included the first two sharing the exact same times.  Visitor  Daniel...

*Bright sunshine and another great attendance (*above) at the Nova parkrun start. Good weather provided a tourism boost at many NW parkruns. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Malcolm. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   The good weather and the start of the main holiday season provided bumper attendances at most of the local parkruns in North Wales last week, with many reporting multi-elite, club, and social runners attending from all parts of the UK. The firm ground and a generous selection of venues to choose from also enhanced numerous personal best times (PBs), with many visiting athletes determined to make an impact on their course debuts, with Penrhyn, Nova, Nant y Pandy, and Newborough Forest, enjoying a surge in popularity. *Prestatyn:   It was another bumper holiday crowd at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn with visiting athletes claiming the first two places including  Phil Banton , who made a successful debut in 18.57, with  Chris Morgan  (Brighton Phoenix) t...