Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above and below - hundreds of runners listen intently to the instructions given by run director Richard Peevor at the launch of the new Llandrillo-yn-Rhos parkrun New Llandrillo-yn-Rhos parkrun celebrated an amazing launch event...with over 500 athletes from across the UK. Exclusive report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk What a fantastic turn-out for the very first Llandrillo-yn-Rhos (Y Promenade) parkrun last Saturday, as over 500 mixed ability athletes travelled from near and far to help create and enjoy a spectacular occasion. Run directors  Richard Peevor, Sharon Hughes, Dougie Graham,  and Chris Spillane , together with their hard working support team of new volunteers and marshals, worked their socks off to produce an excellent event on a near perfect day - weatherwise - after recent storms had deposited a load of sand along the promenade course at Rhos on Sea.     *Above left - Run director Richard Peevor...

*Pictured above - some members from NWRRC are shown near the start. Nearly 4,000 runners tackled the Conwy half-marathon. Report by Don Hale . Photos by Pat Finnie and others. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 Conwy half marathon attracted  nearly 4,000  mixed ability athletes from all across the UK to a most challenging race from Conwy Quay and then around the Great Orme and back ,  and despite  a cold  and often blustery  wind , many still recorded some excellent times. Crowds lined the majority of  the route and they were aided by numerous partially closed roads, which helped to create a tremendous carnival-type party atmosphere en-route.  Andrew Davies  (Malden Harriers) was the eventual winner of this prestigious race well organised by RunWales, in just 1 hour 8 minutes and 56 seconds.  He was followed by  Harry Lupton  (Liverpool Harriers) in 1.13.00, and  Matthew Crehan  (St Helens) in 1.13.57.  In 4th pl...

*Kay Hatton (*above) with others at the rather wet finish area at Conwy parkrun. Back to the ‘splash and dash’ at Conwy as Storm Claudia strikes. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Pat Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025     What a difference a week makes   as  Storm Claudia  replac ed  the previous Saturday’s bright sunshine ,   bringing 24-hours of  heavy rain ,  and  causing extreme  flooding  to many 5k parkrun courses ,  forcing several event cancellations  throughout the region.   Conwy  parkrun  somehow survived  but   it  brought an  unwelcome return of the old ‘splash and dash’ riverside rou te with atrocious conditions underfoot.   Despite the weather issues,  and a large influx of visiting athletes ready for the Conwy half-marathon on Sunday,  Rowan Poot  still managed a new PB  as the first finisher  in just 16 minutes and 32 seconds , with...