Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - North Wales Road Runners (l-r), Steve Gardner, Michael (Pat) Finnie, and Don Hale at the Indoor Open 60m event last Saturday. Top performances by NW Road Running quartet at the Christmas Indoor Open event... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Four veteran Road Runners competed in the North Wales Christmas Indoor Open Challenge event staged at Coleg Cambria, at Connah's Quay, last Saturday afternoon, and they all claimed new PB’s, podium places, and probable new records in their respective age categories. This was an extra meeting on the Track & Field race calendar that attracted a few hundred of the best junior to master athletes in the region who competed in a wide variety of events in an indoor arena. Steve Gardner, Michael (Pat) Finnie,  and  Don Hale  from NWRRC all ran in the 60m heats, whilst Steve’s father  Dave Gardner  took part in the shot-put competition and won his super-master M80 age cat with an

*Tracy Rogers (*above) on top form for records and the team manager's award. North Wales road records tumble again following some outstanding performances during the season. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Paul Brooks from NWRAC, has announced several notable records recently.  He confirmed: “In 2007  Marilyn Kitching  set an F35 NWRAC best in Farndon of 37.12. That has stood for 16 years - until recently, when  Tracy Rogers  equalled it at Wilmslow. And  Tracy has recently collected a Team Manager’s award for the 'Most Improved Athlete 2023'. Well deserved.   Many congratulations Tracy!" “And  Gordon Jones  (Prestatyn) ran a superb 1.25.14 at the  Caernarfon half marathon  on 10th September last. In doing so, he set a new NWRAC best for M65, breaking  Cliff Wilkinson's  previous record of 1.29.54, which had stood since 2000 at the  Lake Vyrnwy half marathon . Congratulations Gordon!   *Welsh record breakers - Gordon Jones (*above

*Jonathan Kettle crosses the finish line to claim 10th place at Oswestry. Jonathan Kettle 10th at Oswestry 10k race for NW Regional team. Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk North Wales  Road Runner Jonathan Kettle  had a great run at the Oswestry 10k on Sunday as he represented the North Wales Regional Athletics team against Shropshire.  Jonathan finished in 10th place overall and he also won his MV45 age cat in 35.09. Afterwards he confirmed: “I was very happy with my run, but the course was not very flat at all.”  North Wales men finished 1st and the Ladies 2nd.  Team manager Paul Brooks added : “ Our times from Sunday: Men:  Scott Nixon  33:00 (third overall);  Connor Rogers  33:01 (fourth overall);  Luke Northall  34:17 (sixth overall);  Jonathan Kettle  35:09 (10th overall and 1st M45).  Ladies: Rachel Shipley  39:17 (second overall);  Gemma Brown (Moore) 39:47 (fourth overall and 1st F40);  Jane Doughton  (42:28);  Melissa Turnbu

*Paul Brooks (*pictured above) with his throwing medals. Throwing champion Paul Brooks celebrated a productive day at the Telford Games last weekend...and reviews the Caernarfon half-marathon Regional championships. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Welsh Masters veteran athlete Paul Brooks, who represents Wrexham AAC, said he was very happy with a productive day at the Telford Games last Saturday, where he set three new MV75 Wrexham club records. The evergreen throwing champion competed in several T&F events and his times included: hammer, 15.12m; shot putt, 7.19m, and discus 23.94m. Paul additionally said well done to colleagues Will and Sally, and says he has his fingers crossed for another similar T&F event this weekend in Sheffield. And (*above)  Paul Brooks  is shown with in his other role as an official with the North Wales Regional Athletics Council (NWRAC), with  Rachel Shipley  (Abergele Harriers), who received her champion’s shield and

*NWRRC track and gold medal winner Steve Gardner at Yate, near Bristol. Steve Gardner and Paul Brooks struck gold at the Welsh Masters Athletics champs at Yate, near Bristol... Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   North Wales Road Runner Steve Gardner hit the track running last Saturday and won a gold and a silver medal during the Welsh Masters Athletics championships, which this year was held at Yate, near Bristol, due to some unforeseen problems at the proposed original venue at Aberdare. And a second talented North Wales athlete and official,   Paul Brooks   (Wrexham AAC), was another worthy champion, and collected three gold medals in three different field events in his master veteran age cat. This prestigious T&F challenge was staged in breezy, and often quite showery conditions within the Avon/Yate Open meeting where the organisers generously included the WMAL championships, which attracted over 70 Welsh registrations. Steve,

*Team manager Paul Brooks (*above left) from NWRAC with the North Wales team at the Helena Tipping 10k at Wrexham and (*below) runners ready for the off at the start of the race. Results and photographs from the Helena Tipping 10k Inter-region race courtesy of Paul Brooks and Daniel Purdie.   *North Wales Regional Runners at Wrexham (l-r) Steven Hays, Ricky Challinor and Luke Northall.   *Pictured above (l-r) Daniel John Weston, Rachel Shipley, Gemma Moore, and Claire Purdie.   *Pictured above (l-r), Amie Louise Smith, Jane Doughton, and Martha Owen.   *Pictured above (l-r), Lucie Truett, runners dash from the start, and Ryan Davies.

*Pictured (*above and below) some of the many NWRRC club runners who competed in the Rhyl 5 mile and 10 mile races last weekend. Photos by John HATTON. Medals galore for Road Runners at the windy Rhyl 5 mile and 10 mile series of races... Report by Don Hale. Rhyl photos by John Hatton and Mike Smith.   There was a good turn-out of Road Runners amidst many other elite athletes at the Rhyl 5-mile and 10-mile races last Sunday, where several members celebrated podium places and age cat wins, during a very windy series of events that also incorporated an Inter-Counties match, and the Regional Championships. It was the latter 10-mile race that served as both a major North Wales Championship event and an Inter-Counties invitation match, where once again several NWRRC members, and other top local club runners won prestigious individual, and team medals. In the 5-mile race, Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts  finished in 4th place overall and claimed 2nd place in his MV45 age cat in 27 minutes and 45 seco