Don Hale Blog

 *The winning female relay team at the Euro Masters Championships. Welsh Masters Shine at the European Championships in Madeira...results round-up by Juliet Sidney. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 Welsh Masters athletes once again did Wales proud at the European Masters Championships in Madeira, delivering a week packed with medals, personal bests and inspirational performances.  From sprints to jumps and endurance events, every athlete showcased the determination, camaraderie and spirit that define Welsh Masters Athletics.   Double Team Gold for Anne Dockery Anne Dockery (W75)  had a packed and impressive schedule in Madeira, showing her trademark endurance and determination across multiple events. She finished 4th in the 400m , 3rd in the 1500m , 4th in the 5000m , and produced another strong performance in the 6K cross country , earning individual bronze and team gold . Anne rounded off her superb week with the 10K road race , finishing 6th  and helping her te...

*Some of the award winners from the NW Junior Mountain Running Championships. A special race report courtesy of event organiser Mike Blake on the recent North Wales Junior Mountain Running Champs... donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 High winds, road closures and an overhead power cable breakage close to the start/finish area resulting in, no electric in the summit complex and moving the u/17 and19 starts, did not prevent 3 records being broken in the North Wales Junior Mountain Running Championships on the Great Orme at Llandudno, a nd all by the young ladies!  The first record to go was to Enya Maguire , 18 sec in the U 11 girls, next was Daisy McVicar, 2nd o/a out of 21 and 30 sec in the U 13'S. last but not least was Lola Corrales, whose father Michael Low Corrales Mills, best known for his 5 victories in the Tryfan Dash, took 2 sec off the U 9 girls time.  Big thanks to all those who helped especially Ann and Sharo n for coping with my scribbles, to Ron Jones for once again...

New USEFUL TOOLS PAGE by Welsh Masters Athletics. Introduction by Don Hale.  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 *This is the link to the additions and to the main website:   https://www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk/useful-tools Welsh Masters Athletics Ltd have just updated their website and Facebook page to include details about a brand new USEFUL TOOLS PAGE. Created by the organisation's webmaster expert and award winning sprinter Juliet Sidney . This now includes some very interesting facts and links about AGE GRADING, BAF LAWS & RULES, A WIND CORRECTION CALCULATOR, RACE PREDICTOR FOR 3K PLUS, AND SPRINT CONVERSION TIMES. Juliet confirmed this week: "Hi all this page is now live after setting up a useful tools page.  It's very simple, but let us know if you use any better tools for the same thing, or if you have any other additional tools that you would like to see." www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk *This is the link to the additions and to the main website:   https:/...

*Pictured above and below - some exclusive photos by John Hatton at Conwy. CONWY PARKRUN COULD SOON BE BACK ON TRACK  Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com Conwy parkrun could soon be back on track.    North Wales athletics official and popular event organiser John Hatton, who is also the MC at the Conwy parkrun, enjoyed a unique site visit to view the ongoing construction work to the riverside path from the RSPB Nature Reserve to the Bridge, and understands that it may soon re-open to the public! The parkrun was suspended earlier this year to help accommodate essential work on a new cycle track towards Betws-y-Coed which covers a section of their course. He has now been advised by a construction manager that it should all be tarmacked, fenced, and finished in time for the Deganwy Dash at the end of May, and currently it all seems to be slightly ahead of schedule. John confirmed: "I had full site visit this morning of the pathway. It looks really good...

   *Pictured above - athletics  coaches  Tony  Price Jones and his wife Hayley, are shown just after Tony reached his 100-mile charity challenge. Dalzell Runners sports coach Tony Price-Jones runs 100 miles plus for Mind UK... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com    *Some members of Tony's coaching squad are pictured on the prom last week.   North Wales athlete and popular sports coach Tony Price-Jones has just reached a very challenging target of running 100 miles during March to help raise essential funds for Mind UK, and mental health support. For the past few weeks, Tony has been seen pounding the streets, promenade, and hills around his hometown in Llandudno, with a determination to support such a worthy and charitable cause. And last weekend whilst running with his wife Hayley, he finally reached his milestone, but he has now opted to continue with his gruelling efforts, in order to clock-up as many miles as possible during t...

CONWY PARKRUNNERS ON THEIR TRAVELS AT PENRHYN CASTLE... Photographer and Welsh Master Michael (Pat) Finney was on hand to produce a photo special at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun last Saturday. Pictured above (*The start of the parkrun), and (*below), a large contingent of Conwy parkrunners went. on tour to Penrhyn. *Pictured (*above and below), some great action shots from Penrhyn parkrun.          *This is the link to the full report about the Penrhyn Castle parkrun on 15/3/25. Don Hale Blog: Conwy parkrunners on tour at the Penrhyn Castle ..... https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025/03/conwy-parkrunners-on-tour-at-penrhyn.html?spref=tw

*Pictured above - Oleksandr Kadkalo competing in a trail race. EXCLUSIVE: How a Ukrainian veteran athlete Oleksandr Kadkalo copes with life and work in war-torn Kyiv. Ukrainian athlete Oleksandr Kadkalo runs the gauntlet every day in war-torn Kyiv…this is the true story of how a keen veteran runner and businessman copes with everyday life and constant threats from Russia.   Exclusive report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Whilst writing various posts for my blog, I occasionally come across some quite remarkable people, who both read my blog, and share my love of running. This week, I have spoken with veteran athlete Oleksandr Kadkalo, who lives and works in war-torn Kyiv in Ukraine, who reveals the facts about coping with everyday life. He is the founder and co-owner of a 25-year-old business that deals with energy saving and supplies equipment for heating and water supplies.  We are both members of  Strava , a running, cycling and sports website, pro...

  Welsh Masters and UK Masters Open Track & Field Competition...8th June 2025... Attention all Welsh Masters Athletics members and all UK Masters for the next major masters track and field events. Introduction by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co,uk   The Masters Open will be held for the third consecutive year on Sunday the 8th of June at the Yate Outdoor Sports Complex, BS37 7LB.   DATE & TIME 08/06/2025, 10:00   REGISTRATION DEADLINE 30/05/2025, 23:59 VENUE NAME Yate Outdoor Sports Centre ADDRESS Broad Lane (Behind Brimsham Green School) CITY & COUNTRY BS37 7LB   Yate, United Kingdom ORGANISER Yate & District Athletic Club   All athletes must be 35 or over on the day of competition and entries will be on a first come, first served basis. Any entries from athletes aged under 35 will be rejected and we look forward to welcoming you when the time comes.    Para athletes are welcome to enter thi...