Don Hale Blog

 *Will Williams (*above) enjoyed a good run at Newborough Forest. New Year’s Day results from Newborough and Somerset. *Pictured above - Steve Mason and Tom Aindow. *Newborough:   Will Williams  and  Steve Mason  from NWRRC took part in the New Year’s Day parkrun at Newborough Forest last Wednesday morning. Will finished well in 5th place overall in 20.04, and he won his VM50 age cat, whilst Steve enjoyed a more leisurely walk around the course, and he was 338th in 55.07. *The 1st finisher at Newborough was JM15-17 teenager  William Delamere  in a fast time of just 17 minutes and 11 seconds, with SM25 athlete  Dean Horrell  2nd in 18.58, and SM30  Oscar Hardy  3rd on his debut in 19.11. * Anna Drinkwater  (Eryri Harriers) was the 1st female finisher (4th overall), and she won her SW25 cat in 19.55, with  Emma Alofs  (Cybi Striders), 2nd (13th overall), with a new PB of 21.05, whilst JW11-14 youngster  Lucy Dela...

*Pictured above - Martin and Carla Green at Conwy parkrun. Cold, wet, and windy at Conwy parkrun - with tributes paid to fallen athlete Rob Porter. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was back to the cold wind, rain, and numerous puddles on the Conwy 5k parkrun course last Saturday as two-hundred mixed ability athletes returned following a few weeks of stop, starts, and cancellations due to various storms. This week’s event also paid tribute to former regular parkrunner Rob Porter , who sadly lost his life whilst taking part at a similar event at Conwy almost exactly 5-years ago. North Wales Road Runners  entered thirteen members with  Martin Green  leading the team home in 6th place overall, and he was 2nd in his VM50 age cat in 19.32, but it proved a real battle of Wills for the next placings with  Will Evans  and  Will Williams  in close pursuit, and they finished just a few seconds and in c...

*Pictured above - birthday boy Kevin Slattery celebrated his 70th birthday at Conwy parkrun with a superb run, and he won his new VM70 age cat. Six age cat wins for the Road Runners at a mild Conwy parkrun...and special celebrations for Kevin Slattery. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   North Wales Road Runners turned out nineteen members this week on a very mild morning, but on puddle-filled course from the RSPB Nature Reserve, which again attracted a generous attendance of nearly three-hundred mixed ability and social runners. Steve Mason  led the NWRRC team home in 5th place overall as they claimed six age cat victories, including his own VM50 age cat win in 18 minutes and 56 seconds.  Birthday boy  Kevin Slattery , the club chairman, celebrated his both his 70th birthday, and winning his respective, and new VM70 age cat, after finishing 12th overall in 21.43, and this week he was joined in the parkrun by his son...

*Pictured above - Michael Finnie - back on track at the Indoor 60m race. Veteran track sprinter Michael Finnie won his age cat at the Indoor 60m dash ...plus other race results. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   NWRRC veteran track athlete Michael Finnie won his M65 age cat at the North Wales Indoor Open 60m dash at the Deeside Indoor Athletics Centre at Coleg Cambria, Deeside, last Saturday. He braved the challenging weather conditions en-route caused by Storm Bert, to take part in the sprint event, and he was just a fraction of second down on his previous best time, but said he was still pleased with his fine result of 11.23 seconds. After the event, he admitted that unfortunately the road conditions had restricted the number of competitors, but confirmed: “Not bad, since I haven’t been able to train much due to weather and flu the past week. I think I was a quarter of a second slower than my best.” Michael is hoping to improve...

*John Hatton (*above left), with Sharon Buckley at the Conwy half-marathon. Proud moment for athletics coach John Hatton and a popular former community midwife Sharon Buckley. It was a proud moment this weekend for athletics coach, MC and promoter, John Hatton as he saw his new running protegee  Sharon Buckley – a well-known former North Wales midwife - cross the finish line at the challenging Conwy half-marathon with a remarkable time. John, who is heavily involved with North Wales Road Runners , Conwy parkrun , and is also a keen supporter and promoter of a host of charity events, confirmed: “Over the last 6 months I have been training Sharon, who is 60, to run her first half-marathon which she did today in 2.34.17, which is a fantastic achievement. “Sharon was a highly respected midwife in North Wales, and at one time she received an award as the top midwife in the Betsi Cadwalader Health Board for her dedicated service to the community.” *John Hatton was on hand last ...

*Pictured above - some members of the North Wales regional team. Three Road Runners ran well in the Inter-regional cross-country champs at Newtown. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Three North Wales Road Runners competed well in the Inter-regional cross-country championships at Dolerw Park, Newtown, last Saturday, and each recorded some excellent times, with one member even winning a prestigious team medal. Cheryl Frost, Kay Hatton  and  Steve Gardner  were selected to represent the  North Wales regional team  in the Senior Women and Senior Men’s Masters races, following some promising results in recent NW Cross-country league meetings.     *Steve Gardner (*above left), with Cheryl Frost and Kay Hatton. And at the weekend   Cheryl  formed part of a successful five-women squad that packed well and clinched the 3rd team spot in the Senior Women and Master Women’s race, finishing 105th o...

*Pictured above - the Cardiff Indoor athletics arena. Welsh Masters Indoor Championships at Cardiff on Sunday 12th December...entries now available..,.plus news of track races for 12th January 2025. Introduction by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk URGENT UPDATE: It has just been agreed and confirmed by Welsh Masters Athletics officials that the forthcoming meeting in Cardiff at the National Indoor Athletics Centre on 12th January will include our 800m and 1500m championships.   *Also, please note:   Brett Davis ,  a Director of   Welsh Masters Athletics Limited, has also confirmed some important updates to some other varied indoor events:   * The 3000m championships on the  15th December  is still taking entries. * The 800m and 1500m on the  12th January  will be available to enter any day now. * Sprints will be covered at the meeting on the  26th January. * We will be considering if we have any...

*Pictured above - Jonathan Kettle ran well on his return to parkrun. Lots of half-term visitors and mixed ability athletes at Conwy parkrun...plus other results. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Conwy parkrun attracted the usual mix of half-term entrants, visitors, and both social and club runners to another sunny but cool morning at the RSPB Nature Reserve. The  Road Runners  had a dozen members involved with  Jonathan Kettle  making a welcome return after a holiday break, and he finished 4th overall and won his VM50 age cat in just 19 minutes and 10 seconds.  Colleague  Will Williams  tried to chase Jonathan down, and he was just one place and twenty-three seconds behind him in 19.33, and he 2nd in the same age cat.  Steve Mason  finished 24th in 22.09, and  Karl Morris  was 28th in 22.19.  Sion Thomas  finished in 39th place in 23.05, with  Tony Price-Jones...