Don Hale Blog

*Adam Lemalle (*above) was the first NWRRC club runner at Conwy parkrun. Fast times and a good turn-out at Conwy parkrun despite the cold and blustery conditions... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmasterathletics.co.uk   Despite a bitterly cold day, and a strong blustery wind, nearly two-hundred entrants still braved the elements and recorded some fast times over the challenging but relatively dry 5k course at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning. The event once again attracted a large number of visiting club and social runners from across the UK and Ireland, as part of an early Easter break, and plaudits were again handed to NWRRC member and parkrun volunteer  John Hatton , for his sterling efforts to help improve part of the start area. GOG Triathlete  Simon Cole  was the first runner home with an impressive time of just 17 minutes and 35 seconds to additionally win his VM40 age cat, and at the time of writing, the second placed runner remained unknown, b

*Pictured above - runners from the Back Cloak runners, Dalzell runners, and a variety of other local running clubs at the start of the Nick Beer 10k race on Llandudno promenade. Bumper entry for Nick Beer 10k race, and a fast pace by the lead runners... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathetics.co.uk   North Wales Road Runners had eight club members involved in the popular Nick Beer 10k race last Sunday and celebrated with two veteran age category victories amongst a bumper entry of 627 club and social runners. The event, named in honour of a former NWRRC athlete, was well organised by  Always Aim High , and followed a picturesque but very challenging course, which started from Llandudno promenade and around the Great Orme and back, and included over forty club members acting as marshalls and willing volunteers. *Harry Driscoll (*above left) with Steve Gardner. Harry Driscoll  was the first club runner home with an excellent run finishing in 26th pla

Carla G reen back to her best at Conwy parkrun - and sprint finish for talented trio. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Experienced GOG Triathlete Simon Cole took on the challenge against some very fast young students at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning, and just managed to edge ahead of Harri Jackson and Jack Rigal in a sprint finish to claim the top-spot in just 16 minutes 58 seconds. Harri , who is now representing (Menai T&F), had been the previous victor for the past couple of weeks, but still won his SM20 age cat, but  this  time he had to settle for 2nd place overall, and he was just 12-seconds adrift of the MV40 cat winner, Simon in 17.11, with  Jack Rigal  3rd, and the 2nd SM20 athlete, despite a new course PB in 18.13.  Carla Green  (NWRRC), *pictured right - was back to her best and she was the 1st female runner home, in 17th place overall, in a superb time of 21.15, and also won her VW50

*Martin Green (*above) won his age cat with another good run at Conwy. Bright and breezy for surprise ultra-distance walkers at Conwy parkrun...and fast pace by top three rivals. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was bright and very breezy at the Conwy parkrun on Saturday with over two hundred entrants negotiating the scenic, yet puddle-filled and challenging 5k course. This week’s surprise guests included Antony and Sally Brown, who visited this venue during their epic 6,000-mile trek around the UK coastline to help raise funds for the RNLI, Cornwall Air Ambulance, and parkrun!  The couple were also celebrating their 34th wedding anniversary, and Antony, who is a member of the  Newquay and Par Athletics Club , even took part in the parkrun, and finished well in 54th place in 24.05. *Ultra-distance charity walkers Antony and Sally Brown at the Conwy parkrun. The event also attracted the usual mix of qualit

*Some of the NWRRC members at the start of the Felinheli race. Good turn-out and podium awards for the Road Runners at the challenging Felinheli 10k race... Report by Don Hale.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   There was a good turnout from North Wales Road Runners amongst a quality entry of about three-hundred top club and social runners at the Felinheli 10k race last Wednesday night. Despite a very hilly and undulating course, and run mainly over rough tracks, forest trails, and some normally restricted private roads, many athletes still reported personal best times on another warm and humid evening. Adam Jones  (Meirionnydd RC) was the overall race winner following a superb run with an excellent chip time of just 32 minutes and 36 seconds to additionally win his Senior Male age cat.  Ifan Dafydd  (Eryri Harriers) claimed 2nd spot, and second prize in the same cat as Adam in 32.50, whilst the highly talented local youngster  Noa Vaughan  was the 1st

Fast times for top three athletes at Conwy parkrun.   Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Teenage athlete Bryn Woodall was the first man home again at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday with another outstanding performance over this challenging 5k course and he finished more than two minutes ahead of his nearest senior rival - but missed setting a new course record by just six seconds! Bryn , who was representing Colwyn Bay AC, and is currently on home leave from his studies in America, dashed home in 15 minutes and 21 seconds, and won his SM20 age cat, but he narrowly missed beating his own course record of 15.16 set in August 2021.  Top club veteran  Simon Cole  (GOG Triathlon) finished 2nd in 17.46, and he was the winner of his MV40 cat, whilst  Josh Keogh  (NWRRC) ran hard for 3rd place and won his SM30 cat in 17.51.   *Bryn Woodall (*above left) with Simon Cole at Conwy parkrun. The first female athlete