Don Hale Blog

*Thumbs up from NWRRC member Will Williams in the green vest. North Wales athletes raced the ‘Magic Triangle’ for Euro glory at the prestigious Pulford 10k race... Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of John Hatton. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com *Pictured above - the Pulford 10k race winner Logan Rees at the finish line.   A large number of North Wales athletes competed within a massive entry of over 600 elite runners last Sunday at the Pulford 10k, which was a qualifying race for the European Championships. Formerly known as the Cheshire Elite 10k, this prestigious event was staged on the legendary Pulford loop, known in running folklore as ‘The Magic Triangle,’ and is considered to be one of the fastest routes in the UK, and measured to World Athletics standards. The race was a high-quality event and consequently it attracted a star-studded entry and included some of the top runners in the country, who competed against each other in order to bid for international selection. De...

*Pictured above - some of the many varied groups at a record Nova parkrun. Record breaking numbers at the Nova Prestatyn parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Nova parkrun. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Nova parkrun officials celebrated another record-breaking event last Saturday as some 327 entrants took advantage of the warm March sunshine over this 5k promenade course. The overall numbers were boosted by another large contingent from ‘Conwy on tour,’ members, in addition to numerous athletes from  St Asaph City Striders  from their Stride to 5, challenge team, and many others from the  Your Way, Your Move Against Cancer , squad. The event also welcomed 80 first timers from 33 different clubs, and they recorded 44 new PB times. The first finisher overall was Prestatyn Running Club’s, VM45 athlete  Stephen Skates  in just 18 minutes and 12 seconds, but it was a very close finish against runner-up  Gareth Griffith,  despite a new PB...

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 just before the start of the Penrhyn Castle parkrun last Saturday are many members of the - Conwy on tour - contingent of runners. Conwy parkrunners on tour at the Penrhyn Castle ...plus other results... Report by Don Hale.  Photos courtesy of Michael (Pat) Finney, and Gwyn  Williams. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com With Conwy parkrun being out of action for about 14 weeks, a large group of over 30 members – and calling themselves 'Conwy on tour' - took part in the Penrhyn Castle parkrun, with another party attending the Nova event at Prestatyn. The conditions were ideal last Saturday morning with bright sunshine and a slight nip in the air, and at Penrhyn some 300 mixed ability athletes enjoyed the challenging and hilly course, which included two large laps and two small laps of the spectacular grounds and woodlands. One of the Conwy run directors,  Gwyn Williams (*pictured right) , who also ran and helped to rally the touring team commented: “Fantastic ...

*Pictured above - Llandudno undertaker and keen runner Tristan Owen will be competing in the Manchester Marathon for the Rotary Club'a charity appeal. Tristan Owen will be running in the Manchester Marathon and he is fundraising for the Rotary Club’s Community Chest Fun Appeal.   This is another special community-based story within a new series of unique features looking at the life, careers, hopes and ambitions, of many talented and dedicated athletes, sports people, and fundraisers within North Wales. *Tristan is shown (*above), second  from the left with his team mates.   Special sporting feature: Introduction by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   This latest feature highlights the determination of a well-known local undertaker, businessman, and charity fundraiser  Tristan Owen , who first began his running journey about 18 months ago, after taking part in the  Conwy parkrun . Since then, the under-taker has fast become an over-taker, recording...

*Pictured above - the start of the combined races on Colwyn Bay promenade. Unique triple races and NW 10 mile champs results from Colwyn Bay... Report by Don Hale.  Photos courtesy of John Hatton. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com It was a glorious sunny day at Colwyn Bay last Sunday morning for a unique triple event organised by RunWales which included races over 5, 10, and 20 miles along the promenade, with the 10-miler also doubling up as the North Wales Regional Championship challenge event. Some 168 athletes competed in the 5-mile race with  Tomos Roberts  (Meirionnydd RC), winning in a chip time of 26.04, with  Jack Webb  (Rotherham), 2nd in 27.24, and  Alex Cowin  (Penny Lane Striders), 3rd in 28.13. The first female was  Charlene Jacobs-Conradie  (Meirionnydd RC), in 31.05, and  Alannah Birtwistle  (Macclesfield), was the runner-up in 37.08, whilst  Stephanie Humphries  (Widnes), finished 3rd in 38.10.  Three N...

*Pictured above and below - the start of the final Conwy parkrun event for several months due to construction work on part of the course. Very busy final parkrun at Conwy as construction work is set to begin on the new riverside cycle trail from the RSPB site... Report by Don Hale.  Parkrun photos courtesy of Bethan Wyn Roberts, John Hatton and Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com Nearly 400 runners packed the Conwy parkrun course on a near perfect day last Saturday morning for an emotional final event for several months due to the start of some extensive construction work covering part of the existing 5k riverside course from the RPSB site. This latest parkrun therefore attracted a host of visiting club and social runners from across the UK, including representatives from Cardiff, Ripon, Oswestry, Widnes, Sandbach, Pitreavie, and Brecon, to name but a few. And there was also a large presence of some 26 travelling athletes from  Littleborough Runners , plus a generous co...