Don Hale Blog

*Josh Keogh (*pictured above), was the first runner home at Conwy. No ice this week but runners battled a cold and blustery wind at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   In stark contrast to last week’s icy 5k course at Conwy parkrun, this time some 229 starters faced a cold blustery wind, but the event welcomed a large contingent from Porth Eirias Runners, and numerous ‘Couch to 5k’ participants. North Wales Road Runners  entered twelve members with  Josh Keogh  being the first man home overall on an unusually dry but challenging course with a fast time of 17 minutes and 33 seconds. The club also celebrated four first placed age cat victories, four second, and two third placings. Josh also won his SM30 age cat, and he was more than a minute ahead of the second placed finishers and debutants,  Cameron Morris  in 18.42, and  Ed Slaughter  third in 18.43. Cameron won his SM20 cat, and Ed additionally won his SM18 age cat. 

*Some of the NWRRC team members at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn, (l-r), Mike Hayton, Rob Fryer, Mark Mason, Rachel Morris, Sion Thomas, Gwennan Charlton, Stuart and Joe Culverhouse, and Jonathan Kettle. Victory for Jonathan Kettle at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn during club championships. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Jonathan Kettle led a team of ten North Wales Road Runners home at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn last Saturday, with a superb victory as part of their club championships. Making his debut on this flat and fast course, Jonathan won his MV45 age cat and finished in 1st place overall with an excellent time of 17 minutes and 48 seconds. He was followed by visiting MV35 athlete  Ian Higgins  (Telford Harriers) with a new PB of 18.19, and SM30 runner  Jamie Betts  (Prestatyn RC) in 18.52. The event attracted 162 runners with seven athletes all dipping under 20-minutes. Jonathan Kettle (*above) w

*Mark Jessett (*above) was the first NWRRC member home. Great Bank Holiday turn-out in the sun at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery.   There was a large turn-out of mixed ability club and social runners at the Bank Holiday weekend parkrun at Conwy last Saturday with sixteen North Wales Road Runners returning from their recent marathon exploits to claim eight podium places including four age category wins. Visiting athlete  Aaron Hoyle  (Corstorphine AC) was the first runner home on his debut in just 18 minutes and 7 seconds. And at the time of writing the 2nd placed runner’s identity remained unknown, but NWRRC member  Mark Jessett  claimed the 3rd spot in 18.30, and he also won his MV35 cat. There were 287 finishers. The 1st female athlete was  Gemma Moore , a former NWRRC member now with Eryri Harriers, who finished in 12th place overall in 20.17, but she had a real tussle with club colleague  Anna Drinkwater , who was just one place and three seconds be

Success in the wind and rain for North Wales athletes at Conwy Parkrun - plus Gethin becomes a tourist again.   Report by Don Hale. Most photographs by Steve Jeffery.   Ten members of North Wales Road Runners took part in the Conwy parkrun last Saturday and despite cool, wet and windy conditions, with plenty of puddles underfoot, five members still claimed age category wins, including two runners in the top-ten finishers. Josh Keogh  was the first club man home finishing 2nd overall but he was the 1st SM30-34 age cat winner in 17 minutes 56 seconds, and  Carla Green  was the 1st female finisher again, and the 1st VW45-49 cat winner in 21.04. *Josh Keogh finished 2nd at the Conwy parkrun but won his age category. *Carla Green claimed another age cat win and she was also the 1st female runner at Conwy despite the wet and windy weather. With many other top runners missing due to other commitments including the London Marathon and Chester Metric and marathon races, it was left to the veter