Don Hale Blog

*Will Williams (*above) was the first NWRRC member home at Conwy. Fast times despite being cool and breezy at Conwy parkrun...plus news of Elizabeth in the Falkland Islands and Nicola at breezy Blackpool. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was rather cool and breezy at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday (1/7/23) but it still failed to deter another bumper attendance which also included a host of top club runners and enthusiastic visitors from many parts of the UK. Two new names though were registered as the 1st and 2nd placed finishers at Conwy with  Aled Hughes  taking the plaudits with an excellent and determined run, especially given the blustery conditions, as the 1st male finisher in 18 minutes and 6 seconds, to win his MV35 age category. He was very closely followed by rival  Dave Hughes , who finished 2nd in the same age cat as Aled, and he was only seven-seconds adrift despite a new PB of 18.13, with 

Five age cat wins for Road Runners at sunny Conwy parkrun....and Steve Forsyth back in action again...plus Elizabeth back at the Falkland Islands. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery.   *Steve Forsyth (*above) back in action again at Conwy. North Wales Road Runners entered fourteen members at last Saturday’s Conwy parkrun and claimed six podium places, including five age category wins, amidst another great turn-out of some 283 mixed ability runners from all parts of the UK. Visiting athlete  Sam Lewis Jones  (Parc Bryn Bach RC) set a hot pace and claimed a new PB on such a bright, sunny, and warm morning, and finished a minute and a half ahead of his 2nd placed NWRRC rival  Steve Forsyth  in 17.02, with Steve running home in 18.32 on his return to Conwy.  Aiden Myles  (UK Parkrun Tourists) finished 3rd. and he was just two-seconds adrift of Steve in a fast finish. The first female athlete was  Gemma Moore  (Eryri Harriers), 7th overall, in 18.32, with  Hailey Fletcher  (Se

*Steve Forsyth (*above) returned to Conwy parkrun and performed well again. Depleted Road Runners team claim podium hat-trick at Conwy parkrun...plus some other race results. Report by Don Hale   North Wales Road Runners were down in numbers again at Conwy parkrun last Saturday due to numerous competing fixtures, but they still managed to snatch three podium places including two age category victories, and one second place finish. Steve Forsyth  returned from his recent travels to claim 2nd place overall in this challenging 5k event and won his MV40 cat in 17 minutes and 58 seconds, yet despite his best-efforts Steve was still unable to catch runaway athlete  Jacob Watson  who finished just five-seconds ahead of Steve on his course debut in 17.53, with fellow NWRRC newcomer  Robert Evans  3rd overall and 2nd in the same cat as Steve with a PB of 18.37. The Ladies event was equally competitive with former NWRRC athlete  Gemma Moore , now with Eryri Harriers, finishing as the 1st female

 *Steve Forsyth (*above) dashes towards the finish line at the Amsterdam half-marathon. Other race results: - North Wales runners on the road.  Report by Don Hale. *Amsterdam parkrun:  Road Runners  Steve Forsyth  and  Jamie Tharme  travelled to the Amsterdamse Bos parkrun in Holland last weekend as a warm-up for the Amsterdam half-marathon the following day. In a massive field of nearly 500 starters,  Steve  had an incredible run to finish in 6th place in 17.39 and he also won his MV40 age cat, whilst  Jamie Tharme  celebrated a massive new PB time of 21.06 to knock about a minute off his previous best parkrun time to run home in 30th place and he was 4th in his MV45 age cat. The event was won by Welshman  Matthew Rees  (Swansea Harriers) in 16.04. *Jamie Tharme (*above) ran well at the Amsterdam parkrun and half-marathon. *Amsterdam half-marathon:   Steve Forsyth  and  Jamie Tharme  said they both struggled in the Amsterdam half-marathon last Sunday, yet they still recorded some dece

*Birthday boy Will Williams (*centre), with his friends Jamie Tharme (*left) and Steve Forsyth (*right) at the Conwy parkrun. Conwy parkrun’s silent tribute to the Queen & Will's birthday surprise. Report by Don Hale.   One hundred and sixty-five entrants at the Conwy parkrun stood in silence for a minute to pay tribute to Her Majesty the Queen last Saturday morning before the start of their 5k dash. It proved to be a day of missed emotions following recent commemorative events and special permission had to be granted to run this week’s parkrun as part of the course covers Crown land. The parkrun race director Kelly said: “Thank you to everyone who joined us this morning, runners, and volunteers alike. It was a lovely atmosphere and the silence in memory of Her Majesty the Queen was very moving.  “It was lovely to share a piece of living history with you all today. We are so fortunate to have the support of the RSPB at Conwy parkrun, so thanks again for today folks it was a rea

*Steve Forsyth (*above) celebrated his birthday in style at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   Steve Forsyth celebrated his birthday in style at Conwy on Saturday where he was the first parkrunner home and finished more than a minute ahead of his nearest rivals The North Wales Road Runner also brought the best out of the chasing pack with  Hari Jackson  (Manchester Metro University AC) finishing in 2nd place in 17.31, and  Carl Shawcross  (Medway), in 3rd spot in 17.52, with both recording impressive new PBs over this challenging 5k course. The 1st female runner was JW15-17 runner Olivia Jones in 21.45 Steve, who finished in just 17 minutes and 21 seconds and won his MV40 cat, eventually led a team back of eleven other senior club members and one junior, claiming seven podium places altogether, including six age category victories. * Steve  Mason  (*above left) with Harry Driscoll. Steve Mason  was back to his best in 4th place, and he also won his M45 cat in

*Josh Keogh (*above) was the first NWRRC athlete back at Conwy Parkrun. Fast and furious despite the heat at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   More than 250 runners braved the baking heat at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning, and yet despite the challenging conditions, it still proved to be another fast and furious event with the first fifteen athletes all dipping under the twenty-minute barrier. This week’s 5k parkrun again attracted plenty of elite, club, and social runners, with the results reflecting many tourist participants from across the UK, including  Karl Welborne  (Birmingham RA and Triathlon Club), who was the 1st man home in just 16 minutes and 7 seconds. Karl also won his MV40 age cat. The first female was  Gemma Moore  (Eryri Harriers), and she was the 1st VW35 cat and celebrated a new course PB of 19.30. North Wales Road Runners  returned in force this week and their quality showed with five members finishing in the top-ten positions, and t