Don Hale Blog

*Teenage GOG athlete Caitlin Owen (*above) has won her age cat at Conwy parkrun twice in recent weeks during a break from her studies. GOG Triathlon members ran their luck with 7 podium places, including five age cat wins! Report by Don Hale. (*Conwy parkrun 25/3/23).   GOG Triathlon entered thirteen members at Conwy but contrary to belief, this number proved very lucky as they claimed seven podium places including five age category victories! Victoria Cole  was the first club athlete home, and she was also the 1st female finisher, with a new PB of 21.20, to also win her VW40 age cat, finishing 10th overall .  Andy Brazier  was 2nd in his MV55 cat in 23rd place in 23.04, with  Steven Owen  finishing 29th in 23.15, and  Merf Jones  was in close pursuit in 32nd place in 23.30. Tom Simpson  finished 64th in 25.35, and  Stephen Dutton  was 70th in 25.52, with  Claire Parsley  enjoying another good run in 71st place, and she was only three seconds behind Stephen but won her VW45 age cat in

Simon Cole leads the field and the GOGs home at Conwy parkrun's soggy birthday dash. Report by Don Hale.    Talented athlete Simon Cole was the first GOG Triathlon member - and the first male runner home - at last Saturday’s Conwy parkrun despite some atrocious conditions underfoot and a dark drizzly morning. He led a large contingent of club and social runners back along a waterlogged 5k course with seventeen GOG’s also helping the parkrun to celebrate its 8th anniversary. The club later recorded six podium places including three age category victories. Simon also won his MV40 age cat in 18 minutes and 23 seconds and finished some 25 seconds ahead of his 4th placed club rival  Alun Brown  who was 2nd in the same age cat in 18.48.  Graeme Tunstall  was 22nd in 22.29, with  Andy Jones  26th in 22.35. Lizzie Irvine  was the first GOG female runner finishing 33rd overall, the 2nd female runner, and she was 1st in her VW35 cat in 23.41; whilst  Merf Jones  also finished well in 47th pl

  *Steve Mason led the NWRRC team home at the Conwy parkrun. Anniversary parkrun success at Conwy despite tough weather conditions and challenging course... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   There was a tremendous turn-out of some 200 mixed ability entrants at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning, and they all helped to celebrate their 8th anniversary, despite very wet and blustery conditions. Many runners additionally wore unique themed costumes for this special birthday event but later probably wished they had also taken their wellies to help cope with this challenging and puddle-filled 5k course. GOG Triathlete  Simon Cole  was the first runner home overall, and won his MV40 age cat in just 18 minutes and 23 seconds, with  Aled Hughes  2nd, and just twelve seconds behind Simon in 18.35. NWRRC’s  Carla Green  was the 1st female runner and the VW50 cat winner in 22.33, with  Lizzie Irvine  (GOG Triathlon) 2nd in 23.41, and  Katie Cotton (Long Eaton) 3rd in 23.54.  *Ste

*Simon Cole set a new course record at an American parkrun last week. GOG star  Simon Cole  set a new course record last week at the Merry Meeting parkrun at Maine in the USA with a superb time of just 16 minutes and 43 seconds. * Ann  d'Albuquerque (*above) has been selected to represent Wales this weekend. Two GOG runners selected for Wales at BMAF international cross country race in Dublin next weekend. Report by Don Hale.   Two GOG athletes have been selected to represent Wales in Dublin at the BMAF Master’s Cross Country International next Saturday 12th November.  Geran Hughes  will compete in his MV 50-54 age cat, whilst  Ann d’Alberquque  will run as a MV70-74 veteran. This will be the 33rd running of this spectacular International cross-country event and returns after a two-year break due to Covid-19 restrictions. The selectors have also included many well-known and experienced runners including Martin and Carla Green from NWRRC, Gemma Moore and Maggie Owen from Eryri Harri

*The start of Rohan's run with Steve Forsyth (*left) and Simon Cole and (*below) Martin Green and Josh Keogh, ahead on Nic Brook and Iwan Evans. Rohan’s Run raised over £7,000 for Children’s Cancer Charities. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery and Sandra.   Over £7,000 was raised for a children’s cancer charity last Friday night at Rohan’s Run in Deganwy, which attracted nearly three-hundred runners, who helped to commemorate the life of an extraordinary young student, Rohan Ingley, who tragically lost his life to leukaemia in August 2018, aged just 17. Originally named the Deganwy Dash, this popular race changed its name a couple of years ago in tribute to Rohan, from Abergele, who was a remarkable scholar and a very keen sportsman.  The event however has had to be postponed several times due to the Covid-19 pandemic and this year has been the first time since 2019 that it’s been possible to stage the race in his name.  Celebrated classical Welsh soloist Sioned Terry also

*Simon Cole (*pictured above) with his wife and family at the Conwy Parkrun following his 100th race and amazing record of outstanding victories. Simon completed his 100th parkrun at Conwy and celebrated an amazing record. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery.   GOG Triathlon star Simon Cole enjoyed a great record-breaking performance at the Conwy parkun last Saturday morning to celebrate his 100th parkrun and yet another memorable victory on his favourite course.  The highly talented local athlete romped home to easily win the event amongst 218 finishers in just 16 minutes 38 seconds and he was more than a minute ahead of his nearest rival, youngster  Alfie Shirland  (Colwyn Bay) in 17.55, and NWRRC member  Steve Forsyth  in 18.40. Simon has now competed at 39 different parkruns across the country, including visits to Guernsey, and incredibly, he has also won over 50% of his runs, even recording a previous PB of just 16.23 on the Monsall Trail in Derbyshire, but he says Co