Don Hale Blog

* Bryn Woodall  (*in white vest) just ahead of Steve Mason. Top marks to American student Bryn Woodall as he celebrated his 100th parkrun on a very heavy Conwy course... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   Colwyn Bay athlete Bryn Woodall was the first runner back at a very heavy Conwy parkrun on Saturday, where the talented teenager celebrated another superb result and his 100th parkrun, during a break from his studies and running adventures in America. Bryn also won his SM18 age cat and incredibly, he dashed around this saturated course in just 15 minutes and 38 seconds - which is the third fastest time ever - and he finished the best part of three minutes ahead of his nearest senior rival  Jonathan Kettle  from  NWRRC , who finished 2nd overall in 18.21, with JM15-17 runner  Ciaran Keyworth , 3rd in 18.59.  *Bryn Woodall (*above left) with Jonathan Kettle, who ran very well but had to settle for second place to Bryn. The first female runner was  Kirsty Stevenson  (Stone Ma

*Will Williams (*above) finished 2nd in the Run Wales 5k race Loyal athletes battled horrific weather in Run Wales 5k and 10k races...plus  Martin and Carla Green at Telford 10k. Report by Don Hale.   Nine Road Runners took part in the Run Wales Loyalty 5k and 10k races last Saturday despite freezing conditions that included sleet, rain, and snow, and a tough course covered in mud with many deep puddles. The race organisers confirmed this was a non-profit event and offered a free bonus place to runners who had previously entered at least two Run Wales events this year.  Both races utilised what was meant to be a very fast, flat, and scenic course long the cycle tracks from Conwy Bridge to Deganwy Quay and back, but the adverse weather conditions made the races far more of a challenge than expected. The 5k race  attracted twenty-one runners, and it was won by  James Yarwood  (Abergele Harriers) in 16.39, with  Will Williams  from NWRRC claiming a deserved 2nd place overall, and 1st in h

*John Dalzell (*above) led the North Wales Road Runners home. Hat-trick of age category wins at a bright and sunny Conwy parkrun...plus other race results. Report by Don Hale.   North Wales Road Runners entered thirteen athletes in last Saturday’s Conwy parkrun and claimed eight podium places including three age category victories. Blessed this week with bright sunshine and a light breeze, the event attracted over two-hundred runners of varied ages and abilities, and from different parts of the UK.  The first man back was  James Yarwood  (Abergele Harriers), the runaway leader who won his SM30 age cat with a fast time of 17 minutes and 32 seconds. The second spot remained undeclared, but the 3rd placed runner was  Matthew Young  in 19.09. The 1st Lady was  Anna Drinkwater  (Eryri Harriers) in 6th place overall in 20.00, with  Elisha Price  2nd in 23.26, and  Ffion Williams  3rd with a new PB in 24.47. The parkrun attracted 211 finishers. NWRRC endurance athlete  John Dalzell  led the R

*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) ran a great new PB at Conwy for 2nd place overall. Bright and breezy but a fast finish at Conwy parkun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   It was bright and breezy at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday where over two-hundred finishers enjoyed the exceptional conditions and picturesque route to record a host of PBs and fast times, with the first nine finishers all dipping under the twenty-minute barrier. Road Runner  Josh Keogh  ran his socks off and claimed a deserved new PB, but he still finished a few seconds adrift of the overall winner, teenager James Smith, who also recorded a PB in 17.00, with another young runner Peter Cotterell, finishing 3rd in 17.28. Josh  was one of three NWRRC members who won their age categories, and yet, amazingly a further eight club runners all finished second in their cats! He led home a team of eleven seniors and one junior in 17.13, and was 1st in his SM30-34 age cat.  Jonathan Kettle (*above left) with Will Williams (*a

*Road Runner Josh Keogh was the first athlete back at the Conwy Parkrun. Familiar faces returned to boost Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve  Jeffery and John  Hatton.   Conwy parkrun welcomed back numerous familiar faces for the second week on the trot as the popular 5k event returned to near normal again following several problematic weeks due to pandemic restrictions. The event was also boosted by an increased attendance of 234 runners on a very cold Saturday morning, but this time it was run over a bone-hard course instead of the usual puddle filled route and included many first timers and travelling tourists in addition to the usual group of elite athletes. North Wales Road Runner  Josh Keogh  was one such returnee and celebrated his first-ever victory at Conwy, together with a superb new course PB, and a deserved age category win.  He was nearly a minute ahead of the talented 2nd placed local youngster  Alfie Shiland , who easily who won his JM11-14 cat, in 18.17,