Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - Ifan Lloyd won his age cat at the World Marathon champs Birthday boy Ifan Lloyd celebrates another milestone with gold at the World Marathon Champs in Bucharest. Report by David Gibson https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   The 2024 World Master Athletics Marathon Championships were held as part of the 2024 Bucharest Marathon event held on 13th October 2024.   The date of the prestigious event was also shared with the 65th birthday of Swansea Harrier and Welsh Master  Ifan Lloyd .  He was able to celebrate this milestone by creating another - becoming the M65 World Master Athletics Marathon Champion by winning his new age category with scintillating time of 2 hours 49 minutes and 19 seconds.  In addition. and subject to ratification, this puts Ifan top of the M65 Abbott WMM MTT Age Group World Rankings. *Ifan Lloyd (*above), on the podium after winning his age cat. Afterward the race  Ifan said:  ...

*Pictured above - Swansea Harrier and Welsh Master Ian Bowles. Swansea Harrier Ian Bowles now claims eight Welsh Masters records for numerous throwing activities.. Some top throwing updates and statistics from Chris Pruski, the records co-ordinator at Welsh Masters Athletics Ltd. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Master veteran Ian Bowles from Swansea Harriers has bettered his own M80 Shot Putt record on three occasions this season. Chris Pruski highlights his remarkable results in track and field.   *8.21m in Sweden at the World Masters Championships in Bjorlanda 25th August 2024 *8.42m at the BMAF Championships in Derby, 26th July 2024   *8.44m at The Final Fling in Wrexham, 29th September 2024. In Sweden he also broke his own Hammer Record, with a throw of 27.96m on 25 th  August this year.   *Ian Bowles also holds WMAL records at Hammer [M75 and 80], Discus [M75 and 80], Shot [M75 and 80], Weight [M75} and Javelin [M75]. ...

*Pictured above - Master veteran  Alan Davies may have set a new world record at the Swansea Bay 10k race. Alan Davies set out to break a new M70 World Record at the Swansea Bay 10k... Report by David Gibson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   The Swansea Bay 10k is a well-loved event that has been going nearly as long as the London Marathon, and the 2024 set of races held on Sunday 15th September was the 43rd edition. Unlike last year which was wet, the weather this year was good for running with only a bit of a south westerly breeze working against the runners on the outward leg. Whilst the 10k race is the headline element of the day, there are also other races encouraging all members of families to take part. These are a 1k for youngsters seven and under; a 1k for 8 to 11-year-olds, a 3k for older children, and a 10k wheelchair race, which was won by Owain Terrell of Disability Sports Wales in a time of 31:05. The main 10k race saw ...

  *Pictured above - A great action shot shortly after the start of the THH 5k. Tri-Hard Harriers sell-out 5k race produced many PBs... Report by David Gibson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   On Thursday 22nd August saw Swansea club Tri Hard Harriers put on its second annual THH ‘5k on the Bay’ race along the Swansea Bay front between Blackpill and Oystermouth.  The course was very flat and fast, and this year produced numerous personal best times in the sell-out field of 300. Amongst many stella performances there were a few worth noting.   *Mike Roderick  of Tri Hard Harriers came in first with a time of 15:42.  *First female was  Megan Carter-Davies  of Swansea Harriers with a great time of 16:52.   *In the Veteran Female category  Stephanie Gibson  of Tri Hard Harriers was first (and second female overall) with a superb time of 18:00. This was despite Stephanie saying that she hates 5k...

*Welsh Master veteran Alan Davies (*above), at the Ammanford 10k DG Credit Stuart Ladd - South Wales Guardian Top Two UK M70s at the Ammanford 10k. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk The 2024 Ammanford 10k road race was run in ideal conditions of a light breeze and sunshine last Sunday morning.  The Carmarthenshire race is run on undulating open roads between Ammanford and Landybie with a generally steady uphill first half followed by a short sharp hill and then generally downhill to the finish. The current two top men on the Run Britain V70 National ladder - who are both from Swansea - were taking part and put in solid performances.  *Pictured above - Welsh Master veteran David Gibson at the Ammanford 10k DG Credit Stuart Ladd - South Wales Guardian. Top Two UK M70s at the Ammanford 10k Once again Swansea Harrier Alan Davies gave a masterclass to finish in 18th place with an excellent time of 38:47 with Tri Hard Harrier David Gibson foll...

Veterans at the Paul Popham Swansea Bay 5k Summer Series. Report and photos by David Gibson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk The Paul Popham Swansea Bay 5k Summer series consists of three Wednesday evening events in May, June and July of each year and proves to be popular with south Wales runners of all ages.  The Swansea Prom ‘there and back’ course starts at the Secret Bar and Kitchen near St Helens Rugby ground and heads towards the marina before turning back. The route can be breezy’ which makes judging pace a bit tricky but then it is the same for everyone. Once again this year, VM70 Swansea Harrier Alan Davies produced three strong performances to receive the series veteran third place trophy despite being 71 years old! The veteran podium places were:- VETERAN FEMALE WINNERS 1st Place          Katie Williams           3M Gorseinon Road Run...

*Pictured on the podium with their championship medals - Ultra-distance athlete Ifan Lloyd (*above centre), in the orange t-shirt with Swansea Harrier David Warren from Cardigan (*dark t-shirt), and Andrew Noble, from the  Southern Counties Vets at Folkestone. Welsh Master Ifan Lloyd struck gold in the British Masters 30k Trail Running Championships at Gravesend, with David Warren also winning a silver medal. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Welsh Master and Swansea Harrier Ifan Lloyd was soon back in race action in the UK following his successful adventure in the Comrades Ultra-Marathon in South Africa last month, this time winning a prestigious gold medal in the British Masters Trail Running Championships. The event was incorporated within the North Downs 30k multi-terrain race at Gravesend in Kent on Sunday 30th June, and the intrepid and experienced ultra-distance athlete collected a gold medal after winning his MV60-64 age ca...

*Pictured above - Welsh Master and Swansea Harrier Ifan Lloyd. Great performance by Welsh Master Ifan Lloyd in the South African Comrades Ultra-Marathon... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Welsh Master and Swansea Harrier Ifan Lloyd bravely completed the gruelling Comrades Ultra-Marathon in South Africa last month, which is said to be one of the world’s largest and oldest ultra-marathon events. This year, and described as an ‘up-run,’ this prestigious annual race was held in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa and started in waves from 5.30am by the City Hall in Durban, and eventually finished 88kms (55 miles), away in  Pietermaritzburg. The organisers claimed it is ‘ The Ultimate Human Challenge ,’ and said it’s the ‘ Unofficial World Championships of ultra-running. ’ Ifan was one of about 22,522 entrants with some 17,304 finishers and amazingly, he completed his own epic performance in a superb time of just 8 hours...

*Swansea Harrier Alan Davies (*above) crosses the finish line at the recent Cardiff 5k - Race for Victory - event to set a new record. (Photo  courtesy of Paul Stillman Sports Photography). World 5k record title hope for Swansea Harrier and Welsh Master Alan Davies. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Subject to official confirmation, Welsh Master Alan Davies of Swansea Harriers is another top veteran who may well have smashed the VM70 category World Record for 5k.  Running in the Cardiff 5k – Race for Victory - on Sunday 5th May 2024, 71-year-old legend Alan clocked a chip time of 18:01. This is a notable improvement on the 18:17 that he recorded at the Tri Hard Harriers 5k On the Bay in Swansea in August last year. Alan also holds the joint 5k M65 Welsh Masters Record at 18:04. Like fine wine, he is improving with age!  *Pictured above - Swansea Harrier Alan Davies - competing in the West Glamorgan cross-country league earlier this ye...

Funeral arrangements for the former Swansea Harrier and WMAA secretary Jonathan Kersting... Message from Mel James at Welsh Masters Athletics.   I have received the sad news of the passing of a previous WMAA secretary   Jonathan Kersting , on April 12th. Jon was secretary around the millennium time, alongside the great John Collins and Ken Bray.   He competed for  Swansea Harriers  and WMAA within the B&I Cross Country International and many other masters events. I received this info from Ken Bray's daughter Yvonne, (Bullen) It was Jon's wife that informed her. I will attempt to find out more info, ASAP.  These are the  details of Jon Kersting's funeral arrangements. The funeral will take place on Wednesday 8th May.   The Service is at St Mary's Church, Burry Port. SA16 0SL at 12.30pm. Followed by Cremation at Llanelli Crematorium, Penprys Rd. SA14 8BX.  Friends and Family are cordially invited to meet after the funeral at Ashburnham Golf...