Don Hale Blog

*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

*NWRRC athletes Lesley Goodson (*left) and Sarah  Ferguson Hudson. Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Sarah Ferguson Hudson & Steve Jeffery.   Race organisers from the Betws y Coed Trail Challenge events had to call in a determined group of volunteers and supporters last Saturday morning to help clear the course following the aftermath of Storm Arwen, and ongoing weather problems, which had left dozens of fallen trees blocking or restricting several planned routes. *Pictured (above and below) some fallen trees blocked the 5k course. The exceptional gales, heavy rain, and dangerous conditions on Friday night and during the early hours of Saturday morning provided trail officials with a nightmare scenario, but within hours a team of athletes and supporters cleared the way for five out of the six races to go ahead. Initially organisers stated: ‘ Thanks to everyone that has been in touch this morning, the weather here is fine, and we have no snow. We’ve been up on the routes and there

Ian Turner completes his Virtual London Marathon charity run on Llandudno prom. Report by Don Hale. Photographs by John Hatton. Master veteran runner Ian Turner completed his Virtual London Marathon charity challenge on Llandudno promenade last Sunday morning supported by a host of NWRRC club members, who either ran part of the course with him, or were available as a back-up team with drinks and refreshments. Ian, who was running in support of “Breast Cancer Now,” was aiming to try and raise at least £1,000 for this charity, eventually completed his gruelling attempt by running numerous laps up and down Llandudno promenade.  And to help pace him throughout his marathon, which included the full 26.2 distance, Ian was joined by club colleagues and friends, Don Hale, Richard Scamans, Helen Hannam, Steve McCarten, and Kay Hatton, who completed varied distance legs. *Ian Turner crosses the finishing line on the prom after completing his marathon. John Hatton took some excellent commemorativ