Don Hale Blog

*Mal Preece (*above) had a great run at London Mixed emotions for Road Runners at the London Marathon..plus other race results. Report by Don Hale.   There were mixed emotions for several members of the North Wales Road Running team who tackled the varied challenges of the ever-popular London Marathon last Sunday as heavy rain and damp conditions caused a few problems for the 49,000 mixed ability entrants. Cramp and fatigue unfortunately played a role in the performances of several key athletes, and yet most still enjoyed the occasion, and the tremendous atmosphere and support provided by tens of thousands of supporters who cheered on the runners around some of London’s most famous landmarks. Martin Green  celebrated his hard preparatory work for this race with a tremendous run finishing in 152nd place in 2 hours 30 minutes and 43 seconds, and he also claimed the 3rd spot in his MV45 age category, leading home a team of nine fellow club runners. *Martin Green (*above) put in another tr

*Josh Keogh (*above) performed well again at Conwy to claim another win. Josh celebrated his 50th parkrun at Conwy with his 10th win...and 5th on the trot!  Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   North Wales Road Runner Josh Keogh celebrated his 50th parkrun overall at Conwy last Saturday with another stunning result as the first runner home despite competing on a waterlogged 5k course in freezing cold, and very wet conditions. For  Josh , this was also his 10th win at Conwy and his 5th consecutive victory, finishing in 17 minutes and 32 seconds, which was some 27-seconds ahead of teenage rival  James Smith  (Menai Track & Field), who was 2nd in 17.59, and  Osian Griffiths,  3rd in 18.35. For the Ladies  Anna Drinkwater  (Eryri Harriers) was the 1st female runner home in 7th place overall in 20.47, and  Ella Grundy  (Colwyn Bay) finished 2nd, and in 19th place overall in 22.49, with another fine battle for both placings, and age cat results, by NWRRC athletes  Cheryl Frost

*John Dalzell (*above) led the North Wales Road Runners home. Hat-trick of age category wins at a bright and sunny Conwy parkrun...plus other race results. Report by Don Hale.   North Wales Road Runners entered thirteen athletes in last Saturday’s Conwy parkrun and claimed eight podium places including three age category victories. Blessed this week with bright sunshine and a light breeze, the event attracted over two-hundred runners of varied ages and abilities, and from different parts of the UK.  The first man back was  James Yarwood  (Abergele Harriers), the runaway leader who won his SM30 age cat with a fast time of 17 minutes and 32 seconds. The second spot remained undeclared, but the 3rd placed runner was  Matthew Young  in 19.09. The 1st Lady was  Anna Drinkwater  (Eryri Harriers) in 6th place overall in 20.00, with  Elisha Price  2nd in 23.26, and  Ffion Williams  3rd with a new PB in 24.47. The parkrun attracted 211 finishers. NWRRC endurance athlete  John Dalzell  led the R

*Richard Eccles finished 5th and won his age cat at Conwy Parkrun. Plenty of visiting club runners at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   Club athletes from as far afield as Truro, Littleborough, the Fylde Coast, Chiltern, and Trentham, had to battle a strong breeze and large puddles amidst the challenging 5k course at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning. North Wales Road Runners entered ten members this week following numerous fixture clashes over recent weeks with  Richard Eccles  and  Steve Mason  competing neck and neck with just four seconds separating the talented duo. *Steve Mason (*above) had a close finish with Richard Eccles. Richard  eventually finished in 5th place overall in 19 minutes 13 seconds, and he also won his MV55-59 age category, with  Steve  6th, and the winner of his MV45-49 cat in 19.17.  *Pictured (*above left) Gethin Wyn Jones, and (*right) Stuart Culverhouse. Gethin Wyn Jones  continued his rapid progress of late, to finish 16th ove

Conwy parkrunners’ battled atrocious weather conditions. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.    Conwy parkrun attracted 146 determined finishers last Saturday morning despite athletes having to battle with atrocious weather conditions. It was certainly not a day for any fair-weather runners with the course near waterlogged, and coupled with wind, rain, sleet, and bitterly cold temperatures. This half-term fixture however, welcomed tourist runners from as far afield as Taunton, Newcastle, Bromsgrove, Chester, and Abingdon, with just twenty-two seconds separating the top three finishers, and six men dipping under the twenty-minute marker. *Mark Jessett was the first NWRRC athlete back at the Conwy Parkrun. Jonathan Tyler  (Betsi Runaways) claimed 1st place in 18 minutes 11 seconds and was 1st in his MV35-39 age category.  James Smith  (Menai Track and Field) was 2nd overall and 1st in his SM18-19 cat in 18.29, with  Pete Vale (Bromsgrove & Redditch) just four-seconds behind

*Road Runner Josh Keogh was the first athlete back at the Conwy Parkrun. Familiar faces returned to boost Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve  Jeffery and John  Hatton.   Conwy parkrun welcomed back numerous familiar faces for the second week on the trot as the popular 5k event returned to near normal again following several problematic weeks due to pandemic restrictions. The event was also boosted by an increased attendance of 234 runners on a very cold Saturday morning, but this time it was run over a bone-hard course instead of the usual puddle filled route and included many first timers and travelling tourists in addition to the usual group of elite athletes. North Wales Road Runner  Josh Keogh  was one such returnee and celebrated his first-ever victory at Conwy, together with a superb new course PB, and a deserved age category win.  He was nearly a minute ahead of the talented 2nd placed local youngster  Alfie Shiland , who easily who won his JM11-14 cat, in 18.17,

*Harry Driscoll (*above) led the Road Runners home at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Steve Jeffery.   Harry Driscoll was the first club man home once again for NWRRC at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday, which had depleted numbers due to festive demands, and the aftermath from a succession of storms and challenging conditions. Despite all the problems and a cool, breezy morning, on a wet and part debris riddled course, the organisers worked hard to ensure that the safety of runners and volunteers was paramount and celebrated with 146 finishers enjoying their weekly 5k dash. Teenager  James Smith  (Menai Track and Field) was the 1st finisher and won his SM18-19 age cat with an impressive new PB of 17 minutes 5 seconds, with  James Coleman  2nd in 17.54. In addition, popular local runner  Nic Brook (Eryri Harriers) was another man in fine form, and he also celebrated a new course PB in 18.04 in 4th place. Harry Driscoll  led a team of eleven NWRRC members, and he was one