Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - Mark Jessett - who won a most unusual naked 5k race. Mark Jessett ran his socks off to win a naked 5k charity trail race in Kent... Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Welsh athlete Mark Jessett took part in a most unusual race last Sunday where he almost literally ran his socks off – in addition to all his other clothing – as it was all part of a unique and very naked 5k fundraising event for the Naturist Foundation at Brocken Hurst, near Orpington, in Kent. Mark, who is a member of North Wales Road Runners, and is also one of the regular run directors at Conwy parkrun, was the first male runner home out of 130-completely naked entrants, winning the race in style in a fast time of 18 minutes and 50 seconds, despite the very hot weather with temperatures hovering around 27 degrees. After his run, Mark said: “A rather rare running appearance for me these days. The event was organised by the Naturist Foundation, and it

*Some of the NWRRC team members at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn, (l-r), Mike Hayton, Rob Fryer, Mark Mason, Rachel Morris, Sion Thomas, Gwennan Charlton, Stuart and Joe Culverhouse, and Jonathan Kettle. Victory for Jonathan Kettle at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn during club championships. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Jonathan Kettle led a team of ten North Wales Road Runners home at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn last Saturday, with a superb victory as part of their club championships. Making his debut on this flat and fast course, Jonathan won his MV45 age cat and finished in 1st place overall with an excellent time of 17 minutes and 48 seconds. He was followed by visiting MV35 athlete  Ian Higgins  (Telford Harriers) with a new PB of 18.19, and SM30 runner  Jamie Betts  (Prestatyn RC) in 18.52. The event attracted 162 runners with seven athletes all dipping under 20-minutes. Jonathan Kettle (*above) w

*NWRRC athlete Jamie Tharme was the first club runner home. Good weather, bumper turn-out, and fast times at Conwy parkrun... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   In stark contrast to previous weeks, it was bright, warm, and sunny at the Conwy parkrun, which attracted numerous visitors for a bumper turn-out on a challenging 5k course. Promising young travelling athlete  Harri Jackson  (Manchester Metro University AC) stole the show again with another tremendous performance as the first finisher in just 17 minutes and 12 seconds, and he also claimed the top spot in his SM20 age category. He was closely followed by MV45 cat winner  Matthew Baker , despite a superb new PB of 17.44, with  Lewis Hall  the 3rd finisher, with another PB in 19.18 and the 1st SM18 cat winner. The event recorded 244 finishers, with the first 9 runners all dipping under 20-minutes. The 1st female finisher was talented youngster  Bethan B

*NWRRC track and gold medal winner Steve Gardner at Yate, near Bristol. Steve Gardner and Paul Brooks struck gold at the Welsh Masters Athletics champs at Yate, near Bristol... Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   North Wales Road Runner Steve Gardner hit the track running last Saturday and won a gold and a silver medal during the Welsh Masters Athletics championships, which this year was held at Yate, near Bristol, due to some unforeseen problems at the proposed original venue at Aberdare. And a second talented North Wales athlete and official,   Paul Brooks   (Wrexham AAC), was another worthy champion, and collected three gold medals in three different field events in his master veteran age cat. This prestigious T&F challenge was staged in breezy, and often quite showery conditions within the Avon/Yate Open meeting where the organisers generously included the WMAL championships, which attracted over 70 Welsh registrations. Steve,

*Will Williams (*above) was the first NWRRC runner back. Very wet, and windy with swamp-like conditions for Conwy parkrunners... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was another very wet and windy day for nearly two-hundred hardy athletes at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning on a challenging course that resembled swamp-like conditions. Despite the weather, this event still attracted sixty-two debutants, and recorded thirteen new personal best times (PBs), with club and social runners travelling from varied parts of the UK. The first male runner home was  Owain Morris  (Les Croupiers RC), who amazingly completed his run in just 17 minutes and 11 seconds, and he also won his SM30 age cat.  Promising SM20-24 youngster  Harri Jackson  (Manchester University AC) had to settle for 2nd place this week in 17.28, and at the time of writing, the 3rd placed finisher remained unknown. For the ladies, debutant junio

*Members of North Wales Road Runners pictured (*above) prior to the start. Road Runners staged their annual inter-club relay challenge on the prom in Llandudno. Report by Don Hale. Photos by John Hatton. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   North Wales Road Runners held their annual inter-club relay competition on Llandudno promenade last Tuesday night with a couple of dozen athletes taking part over a variety of distances. Seven teams, each consisting of three mixed ability and/or mixed aged athletes, plus one volunteer, entered this fun relay event, which was well organised by John Hatton and Carla Green , and included several other willing club volunteers.  All the distances were different and approximated. The first leg was just over 1k, with the second about a mile, and the third just over two miles. *I have entered the individual times and distances where known. The names are in the order of their running, with the 1k leg first, followed by the mile

Welsh Athletics Masters team call-up for Martin Green (*above) and Kay Hatton at the Mid-Cheshire 5k International at Kingsley. Report by Don Hale.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   North Wales Road Runners Martin Green and Kay Hatton have been selected to represent Welsh Athletics Masters in the forthcoming Wales Masters versus England meeting in the Mid-Cheshire 5k International at Kingsley on Friday 25th August. On receiving his confirmation letter this week, Martin said: “Thanks as always for the opportunity at Welsh Athletics Masters. Really looking forward to this after a hefty block, specifically for 5k (for the first time ever). Hopefully do the team proud, thanks to the new coach  @russell_runner who has gradually changed me from an aging plodder to an aspiring speedster, now just for Running Cheshire to sort the weather out.” changed me from an aging plodder to an aspiring speedster, now just for Running Cheshire to sort the weather out.” K

*Martin Green (*pictured above right) in the pack at the Sale Sizzler. Road Running trio ran fast at Sale Sizzler 5k. Report by Don Hale . https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Three members of North Wales Road Runners competed in the Sale Sizzler 5k race last Thursday night which included a quality field of 642 elite and top cub runners. Martin Green  enjoyed another great run and finished 37th overall and he was 3rd in his MV45 age category in a fast chip time of 16 minutes and 19 seconds.  Will Williams  continued his excellent form in 87th place, and he was 4th in his MV50 cat in 17.35, with  Jamie Tharme  223rd in 20.24. This popular summer event again attracted a massive field and incredibly there was only a matter of a few seconds between the top nine athletes, with the first twenty-seven runners all dipping under sixteen seconds.  The overall race was won by  Nicholas Barry  (Sale Harriers) in 15.00, with  Thomas Charles  (Chorlton Runners) 2nd in 1

*Some of the NWRRC team at Holyhead (back row l-r) Jamie  Tharme, Cai Roberts, Rachel Morris, Rob Fryer, Iwan Evans, Steve Roberts, Kevin Higgins, and Sion Thomas, (and front row l-r), Kay Hatton, Kelly Alford, Sarah  Hudson and Cheryl Frost. Road Runners won nine regional medals at the Holyhead Breakwater 5-mile championship race...special feature. Report by Don Hale. Photos   by Steve Jeffery.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   North Wales Road Runners celebrated some great individual performances and won nine prestigious regional medals at the Holyhead Breakwater 5-mile race last Sunday despite battling with a strong and blustery wind. NWRRC entered fifteen athletes and recorded five podium places in the main race, including one age category win, three second, and one third; and in addition they also claimed nine prestigious North Wales medals, including five gold, in the associated regional championships, which was run in conjunction with this same