Don Hale Blog

*Members of NWRRC (*pictured above), prior to the start of the Christmas handicap race at West Shore. Blustery winds for Road Runners at club’s Christmas handicap race...plus other  results and New Year events. Report by Don Hale. Main photos by Kevin Slattery and John Hatton. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Twenty-five members of North Wales Road Runners took part in the annual Christmas handicap race last Sunday, but they had to battle with cool and very blustery head and sidewinds as they negotiated a challenging four-mile course along part of the Great Orme. Following a tough route out from West Shore and climbing up the Orme to the old WW2 gun sites and past what’s known as ‘ Millionaires Row ,’ the runners then turned via a further muddy track before returning back to the start. This popular event, well organised by John Hatton, Martin and Carla Green, and a team of willing volunteers and marshals attracted a bumper attendance, which included ne

*Three members of NWRRC are pictured at the  start of last Saturday's Santa Dash on Llandudno  prom (l-r): Helen Hannam, Gwennan Charlton and Rachel Morris. Hundreds of festive runners enjoyed the 5k charity Santa Dash on Llandudno prom. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   *Pictured above - Road Runner Hannah Griffith with her  family and friends. Hundreds of runners, including many families, and even some pet dogs, took part in the popular 5k Santa Dash on Llandudno Promenade last Saturday morning which helped to raise funds for St David's Hospice, and other local charities, despite the freezing conditions. With the early morning  Conwy parkrun  cancelled the previous evening due to the icy and potentially dangerous conditions on the course, the Dash probably attracted a number of extra charity participants, who enjoyed the friendly atmosphere and the festivities, and were kept toasty-warm after weari

*Jonathan Kettle (*above) was involved in an exciting sprint finish at Conwy. Top duo battled for honours amidst a sprint finish at Conwy parkrun... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was another battle from start to finish by two talented club runners during last Saturday’s parkrun at Conwy with Wrexham AC’s James Yarwood just holding on to the top spot following a sprint finish ahead of Road Runner Jonathan Kettle. Despite unusually humid conditions and a strong blustery wind, the experienced pair were locked neck and neck throughout on this puddle-filled 5k course but both athletes remained well ahead of any potential rivals.  James  eventually finished in 17 minutes and 33 seconds, with  Jonathan  just 16-seconds adrift in 17.49, and  Aled Hughes  was 3rd in 18.15. The 1st female runner was  Alex Aldous , who won her SW25 age cat in 18th place overall with a new PB of 21.52, and  Emma Bishop  was the ru

*Rachel Morris (*above) with her medal at the Great North Run. New course PB for Rachel Morris at the Great North Run. Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Road Runner Rachel Morris claimed a great new course PB by more than two-minutes at the Great North Run last Sunday, with an excellent run, despite the heat!  After her run, which she completed in 2 hours 32 minutes, she was later able to celebrate her time and performance at this spectacular event with her parents Brian and Hilda, who also took part in the race, and power-walked the route from Newcastle to South Shields in an amazing time of just 3 hours and 42 minutes. Rachel later confirmed : “It was a great race, but it took us an hour to get through the starting line. GNR officials however, put on extra water stations, and they also put crates of water all around the waiting areas in the waves. “There were 60,000 runners and it’s now the World’s biggest half marathon. It was so

*Carla Green (*pictured above) won her FV50 age cat at Conwy. Course and car park swamped by downpour at soggy Conwy parkrun... Report by Don Hale.    https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   More than 300 entrants took part in a very soggy Bank Holiday parkrun at Conwy last Saturday which attracted numerous visiting club and social runners. On a challenging 5k course that more resembled a cross between a lake and a swamp following a heavy overnight and early morning downpour, participants even had to negotiate a flooded RSPB car park (*see below) before starting their run. Despite numerous weather-related problems, the first two finishers were still able to splash their way around this picturesque route, with both recording extremely fast times, including   Adam Jones   who claimed 1st place in only 17 minutes and 17 seconds to win his SM2-29 age cat.   He was closely followed by rival  Hamish Morton  (Cambridge & Coleridge AC) in 17.30, who was 2nd in th