Don Hale Blog

*Richard Eccles (*pictured above) enjoyed a good run and finished 9th in addition to winning his age cat at the Abergele 5k race. Gold medals and podium places for a quartet of Road Runners at Abergele. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Over two-hundred club and social runners competed in the Abergele 5k and 10k races on the town’s promenade last Sunday morning, where a quartet of Road Runners celebrated podium places and won two gold medals! NWRRC  entered two athletes in both the 5k, and 10 events, and they all recorded unexpected podium places, with two welcome age category victories and impressive gold medals for  Richard Eccles  and  Don Hale  in the 5k, and two third-placed finishes in their respective age cats for  Steve Roberts  and  Mike Hayton  in the latter 10k event.     *Richard Eccles (*above left) with Don Hale. The races were run concurrently over a relatively flat and fast course with all parti

*Another deserved parkrun win for Mark Jessett (*above). Mark Jessett wins narrow victory at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery.   Road Runner Mark Jessett celebrated a deserved victory at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday following his impressive performance on this challenging 5k course and finished just eleven seconds ahead of a very determined rival. Mark was the first NWRRC member home and he also won his M35-39 age category in 17 minutes 41 seconds to confirm his recent excellent form. And promising teenager  Morgan Kendall  finished a close 2nd in 17.52. but won his SM18-19 age cat, with  Robert Cordle  3rd, and 1st MV40-44 cat in 18.05. The event attracted two-hundred and twelve finishers, including a team of fifteen Road Runners, who claimed seven cat podium places with three members also winning their respective age cats. *Pictured (*above left) Gethin Wyn Jones and (*right) John Dalzell. Gethin Wyn Jones  ran his fastest parkrun this year to finish

Martin Green beat the heat and the hills to win Mulberry half-marathon... Report by Don Hale. Most photographs by Steve Jeffery.   Road Runner Martin Green was the runaway winner of the tough Mulberry half marathon race last Sunday, and despite the very the warm conditions and an extremely hilly course, he still finished more than three and a half minutes ahead of his nearest rival. The NWRRC athlete, who has enjoyed some equally superb performances over the same distance in recent weeks, ran home in just 1 hour 22 minutes and 16 seconds to additionally win his MV45 age category. Martin also led a team of eight club runners over this challenging route, which started and finished on the beach next to Mulberry Marina before crossing into the Snowdonia National Park and included the gruelling long gradient up the Synchant Pass before heading back towards Conwy. *A great run from Nic Brook (*above left) and the 1st lady from Alice Johnston. Nic Brook  (Eryri Harriers) finished 3rd in 1.26.

Six of the best for the Road Runners at Conwy parkrun - plus other great race results... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffrey. North Wales Road Runners collected six age category awards on a very warm morning last Saturday during the well-attended 300th parkrun celebrations at Conwy. And it later added extra icing to the many cakes offered to participants after the event, to confirm that promising NWRRC athlete  Josh Keogh  was the runaway winner of the event in just 17 minutes and 25 seconds, and he also won his SM30-34 age category ahead of  Chris Yorke  2nd in 18.07, and GOG Triathlete  Alun Brown,  despite his PB in 3rd place in 18.18. *Josh Keogh was the runaway winner of the Conwy Parkrun. It was a depleted club turnout however this week of just ten members, including two juniors, due to numerous fixture clashes, and several other members taking it steady in readiness for half marathons or other races the following day.  *Martin Green (*above) took it steady last Saturday

*Steve Mason (*above) was the first NWRRC member at Conwy. Fun in the sun for Conwy parkrunners. Report by Don Hale.   Conwy parkrunners were greeted by bright, warm sunshine, and a light breeze, as they tackled the spectacular out and back 5k course along the river estuary last Saturday morning. The event attracted over two-hundred finishers with the first twelve runners all dipping under the magic twenty-minute barrier. And runners of all ages and abilities from across the UK were again well represented, including club members from as far afield as York, Forest of Dean, Salford, Accrington, Telford, Wigan, and Bingley, amongst others, with one runner even travelling over from New Zealand! Teenager  James Smith  (Menai T&F) was the first runner back in a fast time of 17 minutes and 39 seconds, and he also won his SM18-19 age cat, with  Guy Roberts  (Mossley Hill AC) 2nd overall, and 1st in his VM35-39 cat in 18.09, whilst well-known local athlete  Chris Yorke  finished 3rd, but wo

. *Another good run from Steve Mason (*pictured above) at Conwy parkrun. Splash down for Conwy parkrunners on puddle-filled course. Conwy parkrun 2/4/22.  Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   Conwy parkrun resembled a waterlogged cross-country course last Saturday, with a mass of deep puddles, and entrants having to splash their way around, and battle with the cold, damp conditions, and a steady drizzle. Despite all these climatic problems, the event still attracted 163 finishers including runners from as far afield as Darlington, Keswick, Hyndburn, Eden, and Rossendale, with five elite athletes in the top-13 all claiming new PBs, and the first 11 finishers dipping under 20-minutes. Nic Brook  (Eryri Harriers) was the first man home to additionally win his MV45-49 age cat in 17 minutes and 56 seconds, with  Daniel Wellings  2nd overall and 2nd in the same age cat as Nic in 18.37, with  Chris Yorke  3rd, and 1st in his MV50-54 cat in 18.49. North Wales Road Runners  entered ei

*They think it's all over - it is now! Three exhausted but happy runners (l-r) Cai Roberts, Kelly-Marie Alford  and  Vicky Taylor after completing the NW half-marathon race last Sunday morning. Club athletes competed in tough North Wales half-marathon Report by Don Hale. Believed to be one of the toughest events in the country, some 138 endurance athletes took part in the re-scheduled North Wales half-marathon race last Sunday in mixed weather conditions. This incredible challenge started and finished on the beach close to the Mulberry Marina and crossed back and forth into the Snowdonia National Park.  Set between the mountains and sea near Conwy, this year’s race unfortunately attracted a reduced entry due to previous pandemic restrictions, yet all were treated to some spectacular scenery over a difficult course. North Wales Road Runners  had five members competing and although most found the route very hard, they all claimed to have enjoyed their venture.  * Steve Roberts perfor