Don Hale Blog

*NWRRC member Will Williams (*above), called-up for double Welsh date. Easter surprise - Double date Welsh selection for Will Williams - and international call-ups and news for other NWRRC athletes. Report by Don Hale.    North Wales Road Runner Will Williams received a welcome Easter surprise this week with confirmation that he has been selected to represent Wales in two varied international distance races next month against the old enemy England! He is now one of three top-level club athletes who have recently had their talents recognised by the sporting authorities following some consistent and outstanding performances. Will, who has just recovered from a niggling knee injury, confirmed that he will compete in the Masters’ International 10k race at Birmingham on Sunday 5th May, and then again for the Masters’ International half-marathon event at Manchester on Sunday 26th May. Following news of his selection, based on several previously outstanding efforts in the red vest on both the

*Steve Gardner (*pictured above), ran well at the XC champs. Team prizes and some notable NW results at the BMAF cross country champs at Corwen. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   The British Masters Athletics Cross-Country championships was held last Saturday at Rhug Farm, near Corwen, and included some exceptional performances by many North Wales runners. The event attracted 97 top club and elite athletes in the Veteran Men’s up to M60 age cat event, and a further 94 runners in the combined Women’s and Male Masters aged 65-plus race.  The championships were well organised by officials and members of Prestatyn RC, and this was the fourth time the club had been asked by Welsh Athletics to host the event. North Wales Road Runner   Steve Gardner   (*pictured right), finished 52nd overall in the Male open event, and he was 10th in his MV60 cat, and covered the approximate 8k course in 35.37. After his race, Steve confirmed: “I was very p

*Pictured above - North Wales Road Runners (l-r), Steve Gardner, Michael (Pat) Finnie, and Don Hale at the Indoor Open 60m event last Saturday. Top performances by NW Road Running quartet at the Christmas Indoor Open event... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Four veteran Road Runners competed in the North Wales Christmas Indoor Open Challenge event staged at Coleg Cambria, at Connah's Quay, last Saturday afternoon, and they all claimed new PB’s, podium places, and probable new records in their respective age categories. This was an extra meeting on the Track & Field race calendar that attracted a few hundred of the best junior to master athletes in the region who competed in a wide variety of events in an indoor arena. Steve Gardner, Michael (Pat) Finnie,  and  Don Hale  from NWRRC all ran in the 60m heats, whilst Steve’s father  Dave Gardner  took part in the shot-put competition and won his super-master M80 age cat with an

*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,

*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

*Road Runner Steve Gardner (*above) was the first NWRRC man home. Splash down at Conwy parkrun as student Harry takes the honours despite the wet and windy conditions. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Entries were well-down at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday, which perhaps was not too surprising given the horribly wet weather, combined with a gusty wind, and a near waterlogged 5k course. Just 156 mixed ability runners braved the event which incredibly registered talented local student  Harry Jackson (Manchester Metropolitan University AC) for his first victory at Conwy following twenty-seven previous attempts including a second and third placing.  Harry  was the first male finisher in an amazing time - given the challenging conditions - of just 17 minutes and 22 seconds. He was followed by visiting club runner  William Richardson  (Irvine RC) on his debut in 17.48, and  Grant Little  in 18.44. The 1st female