Don Hale Blog

*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...

*Pictured above - the NWRRC trio each won their respective age categories at the Nant y Pandy parkrun, (l-r): Carla Green, Mike Hayton and Kay Hatton. Hat-trick of age category wins for NWRRC trio at Nant y Pandy parkrun...plus other results... Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Three NWRRC members each won their respective age categories at the Nant y Pandy parkrun on Saturday morning. Carla Green finished well as the third female athlete in 24th place in 23.53, and she also won her VW50 age cat. Veteran  Kay Hatton  was also in top form, and she won her VW60 cat in 26th place overall with a new course PB in 24.40, and master vet  Mike Hayton  was 112th, and he won his new VM75 age cat on his debut in 31.55. *Nant y Pandy:  *The first finisher at  Nant y Pandy parkrun  was SM20 athlete  Sam Gunning , with a PB in 17.11, with  Joel Chick  second on his debut in 17.33, and visitor  Nathan James  (...

*Pictured above - mixed runners are shown on the second lap on Conwy Cob. Mixed emotions due to a new start on the Cob for Conwy parkun - plus other results... Report and photos by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Conwy parkrun finally returned to action last Saturday morning following a long four month break due to construction work on part of the picturesque 5k course, and delays caused by the controversial introduction of a new start position on the Cob. Nearly 300 runners from past and present, together with numerous visitors, turned out to witness activities at this new start position, which is now half a mile away from the original start/finish, and situated about half-way down, and along the lower section of the Cob. Most runners and walkers were naturally pleased to see the event return, but the new arrangements attracted mixed feelings from the majority of participants, both before, during, and after this revised event, wit...

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...

*Pictured above - super vet Sandy Johnston (NWRRC) won his VM75 cat at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun last Saturday. North Wales parkrun round-up: Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael Finnie. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   *Prestatyn:  There was another good turn-out of 248 finishers at the warm but windswept  Nova Prestatyn parkrun  last Saturday, with local SM30 soccer star  Aaron Dodwell  recording a new course PB and sharing the exact time of 17.58 with JM15-17 Northern Ireland visitor and junior athlete  Matthew Lamont , whilst  Nic Brook  (Eryri Harriers) took the 3rd spot in 18.26. The first female finisher was  Anna   Drinkwater  (Eryri Harriers) in 19.16, (6th overall) with  club  colleague  Gemma Moore , hot on her heels with a new PB in 19.29, whilst  Eve Manifold  (Eryri Harrier) was 3rd with a new PB in 22.03.  *There were 248 finishers. Some Conwy on Tour members at Nova include...