Don Hale Blog

Bananaman finished ahead of the bunch at Conwy’s Christmas parkrun - plus double win for Stuart and Joe at Ruthin. Special report and festive photos by Don Hale. It was a unique experience at Conwy’s Christmas parkrun last Saturday when Bananaman, aka local athlete and Durham University student Morgan Kendall became the first runner back wearing a bright yellow costume and finished just thirteen seconds ahead of the chasing bunch! The teenage prospect initially dominated the 5k event but in the end nearly let it slip, and only won by the skin of his teeth, as he was pursued by several other similarly talented youngsters, who were enjoying a festive break. The parkrun also turned out to be a very colourful and joyous occasion and attracted 230 runners and walkers of all ages and abilities, with the majority dressed in special Christmas outfits Morgan   Kendall   (*pictured top of page) , won his SM18 age cat with a new course PB of 17 minutes and 36 seconds, with  Matthew Baker  2nd wit

*Martin Green (*above) ran well at Conwy parkrun. Hot pace on a cold day at Conwy parkrun...plus success for trio at Ruthin parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   One hundred and fifty mixed ability runners braved a cold but clear morning at Conwy parkrun last Saturday where a trio of North Wales Road Runners claimed three out of the top four finishing places. Josh Keogh  continued his recent domination of this challenging 5k event and this week, apart from being the 1st runner home, he also set a hot pace and recorded an incredible new personal best time of just 17 minutes and 1 second to win his SM30 age cat. Josh  led a team of eleven NWRRC club members, who recorded nine podium places overall including four wins, three second, and two third place finishes.  Martin Green  was 2nd in 17.56, and he won his MV45 cat, but he was pushed all the way by  Matthew Baker,  who was just one second adrift in 3rd place in 17.57, with Martin’s club colleague  Steve Mason  4th, an

*Carla and Martin Green (*above) both recorded all time PBs at Ruthin. Nine podium places and seven age category wins at Ruthin parkrun... Report by Don Hale.   North Wales Road Runners took nine members to the Ruthin parkrun last Saturday morning to complete in another 5k club championship event as a replacement for a recently cancelled race and celebrated with unprecedented success! The team performed well again with all nine runners claiming podium places and seven also won their respective age categories, and many additionally recorded all-time PBs, as they made their debuts at this relatively new venue staged at the Memorial Playing Fields. In another very fast-paced encounter  Martin Green  was the first male runner home, and his wife  Carla Green  finished as the first female runner, with both additionally celebrating new parkrun all time PBs. Martin  ran in his 100th parkrun event and he knocked a couple of seconds off his previous best time to finish 1st overall in 16 minutes

 *Stuart Culverhouse was the first NWRRC member home at Conwy parkrun. Conwy parkrun welcomed bumper entry to Bank Holiday weekend event - plus other race results... Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery.   It was an excellent Bank Holiday weekend turn out of athletes at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday where two visiting club runners took the honours by claiming the first and second placings amongst a bumper entry of 230 finishers on a warm but windy morning. Matt Darnley (Bramhall Runners) was the first man home to win his VM40 age cat in 18.34, followed by Richard Gallois (Kingfisher Harriers), who also won his VM45 cat in 18.58, with Chris Morgan taking the 3rd place in 19.07, and he finished 2nd in the same age cat as Richard. The first female runner was Alice Johnston (Les Croupiers), and 1st SW30 cat with a new PB of 19.36 North Wales Road Runners  had several top members missing due to a variety of reasons and entered ten athletes and one junior, but still managed to