Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - the NWRRC relay team and supporters on Llandudno prom. Hot pace on a warm night for the club relay teams. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Members of North Wales Road Runners took part in their annual team relay challenge last Tuesday night on Llandudno promenade amidst glorious sunshine and very warm conditions. Eighteen runners competed in six teams of three, with their previous average times over 5k estimated to help equalise the competition. The event, which included each runner targeting a specific distance, was well organised by  Carla Green , with support from  John Hatton ,  Elizabeth Driscoll and others , was eventually won by a team consisting of  Gwennan Charlton, Molly Evans, and Kevin Slattery , who finished in an overall time of 28 minutes and 34 seconds. The runners-up team included:  Mark Davies, Richard Scamans, and Molly Evans in a combined time of 28.34,  with all the team finishing quite close...

*Bright sunshine and another great attendance (*above) at the Nova parkrun start. Good weather provided a tourism boost at many NW parkruns. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Malcolm. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   The good weather and the start of the main holiday season provided bumper attendances at most of the local parkruns in North Wales last week, with many reporting multi-elite, club, and social runners attending from all parts of the UK. The firm ground and a generous selection of venues to choose from also enhanced numerous personal best times (PBs), with many visiting athletes determined to make an impact on their course debuts, with Penrhyn, Nova, Nant y Pandy, and Newborough Forest, enjoying a surge in popularity. *Prestatyn:   It was another bumper holiday crowd at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn with visiting athletes claiming the first two places including  Phil Banton , who made a successful debut in 18.57, with  Chris Morgan  (Brighton Phoenix) t...

*Pictured above - the start of the Caernarfon 10k race last Sunday. Course record smashed at the Caernarfon 10k race. Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Lesley Goodson, Chris Yorke and Mick Hall. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com *Some members of the NWRRC team at the Caernarfon 10k (l-r): Back row - Mike Hayton, Ben Hudson, Rob Fryer, and Stuart Culverhouse, and (front row) - Carla Green, Kay Hatton, Cheryl Frost and Sarah Ferguson Hudson.   The conditions were perfect last Sunday as a star-studded line up of elite and top club runners at the Caernarfon 10k race set a fast pace right from the start, with the course record later smashed during an exciting event, which also included an Inter-Counties championship match. Race organiser  Chris Yorke  from  RunWales  confirmed: “Well done to everyone who completed in today’s Caernarfon 10k. Wow what a race on this super-fast 10k course! The top 3 runners all broke the course record! with  Swansea Harrier ...

The Amazing success of Welsh Master IFAN LLOYD (*pictured above): Special report courtesy of Bernie Jones. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com One of Wales and Great Britain’s top masters. A privilege to put the questions to him and share his story with everyone. Take the time to read the story - it’s well worth it.   Ifan Lloyd is one of Wales’ most respected athletes competing at all distances from track all the way up to ultra marathon.    He has achieved success over many, many years and here he tells us a little about his running career. *Read full spotlight below.  https://tinyurl.com/Masters-Spotligh-Ifan Read some of my  previous blog articles about IFAN  LLOYD: *Welsh Master Ifan Lloyd tells of his drama in the Comrades Marathon..and WMAL duo faced England. By Don Hale: don hale blog: 23/06/2025. Don Hale Blog: Welsh Master Ifan Lloyd tells of his drama in the ... https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025/06/welsh-master-ifan-lloyd-tells-of-his.html?spref...

 *Pictured above - Bernie Jones (*centre) with Ian and Amanda Broadhurst. Welsh Athletics Award of Honour presented to Ian and Amanda Broadhurst... https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com Special report and photos courtesy of Wrexham AAC President Bernie Jones. The Welsh Athletics Award of Honour were presented to Ian and Amanda Broadhurst during the Northern league at Queensway by Wrexham AAC Club President Bernie Jones. Amanda has been a member of Wrexham since she was 13 and has served the club with distinction as an athlete and coach. A versatile athlete who won the Welsh U15 Pentathlon; U17 & U20 Heptathlon; and Welsh Senior Heptathlon in 1990 Amanda has continued to serve her club well.  She has represented Wales and Great Britain and has medalled at Welsh, British, European and World Masters Championships across a variety of events. She generously gives her time to coaching the current and next generations not only for club members but athletes across Norrh Wales. Amanda i...

*Pictured above - the NWRRC trio each won their respective age categories at the Nant y Pandy parkrun, (l-r): Carla Green, Mike Hayton and Kay Hatton. Hat-trick of age category wins for NWRRC trio at Nant y Pandy parkrun...plus other results... Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Three NWRRC members each won their respective age categories at the Nant y Pandy parkrun on Saturday morning. Carla Green finished well as the third female athlete in 24th place in 23.53, and she also won her VW50 age cat. Veteran  Kay Hatton  was also in top form, and she won her VW60 cat in 26th place overall with a new course PB in 24.40, and master vet  Mike Hayton  was 112th, and he won his new VM75 age cat on his debut in 31.55. *Nant y Pandy:  *The first finisher at  Nant y Pandy parkrun  was SM20 athlete  Sam Gunning , with a PB in 17.11, with  Joel Chick  second on his debut in 17.33, and visitor  Nathan James  (...

*Pictured above - runners at the start of the CybI Coastal Trail Marathon. Runners completed the tough Cybi Coastal Marathon for RNLI teams. Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Over two hundred very determined and experienced trail and endurance athletes took part in the Cybi Coastal Trail Marathon last weekend which helped to fundraise for two exceptional RNLI teams. This extraordinary 25k event, which both started and finished at the  Holyhead RNLI Station , took competing runners along one of the most scenic routes on Yns Mon, and followed a very challenging course  along the stunning Ynys Cybi coastal trail, which is also forms part of the Welsh Coastal Path. RNLI c oxswain Mark gave one of his crewmen, Reece, a good luck handshake as he set off, before the procession of runners then headed  towards Penrhos, before tackling the undulating coastal path.   From there, athletes crossed through stunning locations such as Silver Bay,...