Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - some of the many varied groups at a record Nova parkrun. Record breaking numbers at the Nova Prestatyn parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Nova parkrun. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Nova parkrun officials celebrated another record-breaking event last Saturday as some 327 entrants took advantage of the warm March sunshine over this 5k promenade course. The overall numbers were boosted by another large contingent from ‘Conwy on tour,’ members, in addition to numerous athletes from  St Asaph City Striders  from their Stride to 5, challenge team, and many others from the  Your Way, Your Move Against Cancer , squad. The event also welcomed 80 first timers from 33 different clubs, and they recorded 44 new PB times. The first finisher overall was Prestatyn Running Club’s, VM45 athlete  Stephen Skates  in just 18 minutes and 12 seconds, but it was a very close finish against runner-up  Gareth Griffith,  despite a new PB...

*Pictured above - Jonathan Kettle who was the first NWRRC member home. Another fast and well attended event at the Conwy parkrun swamp! Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was another good turn-out at Conwy parkrun last Saturday due to a large number of visiting athletes, but the conditions underfoot were horrendous once again, with another swamp-like 5k course for the 300 plus entrants. Despite the waterlogged and challenging route, the first twelve finishers all dipped under the twenty-minute mark, with SW20 runner  Andrew Moore  the first man home with a new PB of 16 minutes and 27 seconds. The second placed finisher was visitor VM40  Aaron Saxton  (Manchester Tri Club), who was pleased with his debut time of 17.41, with fellow VM40 athlete  Frazer Slade  3rd with another PB of 17.52.  The first two female runners were both teenage visitors, with JW15-17  Cara Scott , the first lady in ...

*Pictured above - Steve Bozier was back to form at Conwy parkrun. Back to a cold splash and dash at Conwy parkrun for visiting athletes...plus other results. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Conwy parkrun finally got underway again this week following a series of weather affected postponements, and this week it attracted many visiting athletes from across the UK in readiness for the Nick Beer 10k race the following day. The first two finishers overall were  John Gardner  and  James Jones  in this famous 5k splash and dash event through the puddles from the RSPB Nature Reserve, with both men recording new PB times.  VM35 runner John enjoyed a great run in just 19 minutes and 33 seconds, with NWRRC SM30 runner James also celebrating with a new PB of 20.10, whilst visitor  Harry Kelly  (Sports Feet), was satisfied with a time of 20.50 on his course debut. North Wales Road Runners  entered eig...

*Pictured above - the warm-up in readiness for the Conwy Dark Run. Conwy Dark Run proved a massive success for Hope House and Ty Gobaith children’s hospices Report by Don Hale. Summary of the event by MC and fundraiser John Hatton. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   The ever-popular Conwy Dark Run held last Saturday night proved a massive success with over 400 runners and walkers supporting the event in brilliant weather and raising tens of thousands of pounds for Hope House and Ty Gobaith children’s hospices. Even promotion organiser  John Hatton , from  North Wales Road Runners , and  Conwy Parkrun , is an incredible supporter of numerous local charity events, said that he was absolutely delighted by the response. *Pictured above - the popular and extraordinary fundraiser John Hatton, from NWRRC and Conwy parkrun, who was the MC at the Conwy Dark Run. John Hatton confirmed:  “My role at  Penrhyn Castle Dark Run  was MC...

  *Pictured above - the special Dark Run glow medal. Conwy’s Fundraising Dark Run on 26th October for Hope House Children’s Hospices...organised by John Hatton. Please register as soon as possible... Introduction by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   The Conwy Dark Run is all set to go ahead once again and this year it will be staged on Saturday 26th October from 6pm at the RSPB Nature Reserve at Conwy and  will help to raise thousands of pounds for Hope House Children’s Hospices. MC John Hatton will be present and he is bound to add to the fun at Conwy, and he will also be the MC for a similar DarK run event at Penrhyn Castle.   Entrants will have the option to run or walk either the full 5k course, or the 2.5k reduced version, and they will be encouraged to wear fancy dress or Halloween themed costumes. Publicity and fundraising for Conwy Dark Run.   It’s time to glow crazy for Hope House Children’s Hospices and have fun in the dark! Run, jog or...

*Pictured above left - Steve Gardner, with his super-veteran father Dave. Good performances by Steve and Dave Gardner at the Menai Open events... plus lots of other great results from the weekend... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Road Runners S teve Gardner and his father - super-vet Dave Garner - both competed in the midweek  Menai Sprint challenge  last Wednesday night. Steve ran in both the 200m and 400m events, whilst Dave set a new PB in the veteran’s shot-put competition. After the events, Steve confirmed:  “Just a note to let you know that my dad and I competed in the Menai evening events, with dad achieving a new shot put PB, and I was very pleased with my 200m and 400m performances. “ Dad won 1st place in the shot-put in his MV80 age cat, with a throw of 7.09 to set a new PB record, and I completed the 200m in 29.05, and was 2nd MV60 cat, and I finished 1st MV60 cat in the 400m in 1.03.63.”   Other...

*Carla Green (*above) finished as the first female at the Nova parkrun. North Wales Road Runners travelled to various parkruns. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was another very busy weekend with many club runners travelling to take part in numerous parkruns around the country.   *Prestatyn: Carla Green  was the first female finisher at the  Nova parkrun  at Prestatyn last Saturday, in 13th place overall, and she also won her VW50 age cat with another excellent performance in 21.39, and she was just ten-seconds off her PB. This result mirrored her run the previous week at the  Aberystwyth parkrun , where she also claimed the first female title, and she was 12th overall, in 21.05. *Ben Hudson (*above left) with Sarah Ferguson Hudson. *Keswick: Ben and Sarah Hudson   made their course debuts at the  Whinlatter Forest parkrun  near Keswick but faced mixed results on a very tough and challe...