Don Hale Blog

Conwy Parkrun plans to re-start next week despite row over new course, plus the start/finish areas... Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Conwy parkrun has been given the go-ahead to finally re-start next Saturday following many weeks of controversy and harsh criticism by volunteers, sponsors, runners and supporters, over plans to change the existing start and finish areas, and alterations to car parking facilities. In 2019, Conwy Parkrun received tens of thousands of public votes and was elected as runner up in the global World Cup competition of parkruns, due to their friendliness, and for its picturesque 5k riverside course. This popular parkrun though has been out of action since last March mainly due to an extensive 12-week multi-million-pound renovation and upgrading scheme, which included essential work to the latter part of the new national cycle route from the railway bridge to the RSPB nature reserve, which is part ...

*Four top female Welsh athletes at the Great North race (l-r): Emma Collins, Cheryl Frost, Kay Hatton and Carla Green. NW Masters on top form at the Great North Masters International 10k race. Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk *The Welsh team are pictured above at the Masters International race A strong team of top Welsh veteran athletes competed in the Great North 10k on Sunday amidst a massive entry of over 10,000 elite, club and mixed ability runners in this popular North-East challenge. The event also included a  Masters International Road Race  featuring age group teams representing Wales, England, Northern Ireland, and the UK Armed Forces. At the time of writing the enormous list of results was still awaiting full verification, and a further report may be added later, but several  North Wales  runners celebrated some amazing results with  Tomos Roberts  (Meirionnydd RC) finishing 7th overall in ...

*Pictured above - super vet Sandy Johnston (NWRRC) won his VM75 cat at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun last Saturday. North Wales parkrun round-up: Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael Finnie. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   *Prestatyn:  There was another good turn-out of 248 finishers at the warm but windswept  Nova Prestatyn parkrun  last Saturday, with local SM30 soccer star  Aaron Dodwell  recording a new course PB and sharing the exact time of 17.58 with JM15-17 Northern Ireland visitor and junior athlete  Matthew Lamont , whilst  Nic Brook  (Eryri Harriers) took the 3rd spot in 18.26. The first female finisher was  Anna   Drinkwater  (Eryri Harriers) in 19.16, (6th overall) with  club  colleague  Gemma Moore , hot on her heels with a new PB in 19.29, whilst  Eve Manifold  (Eryri Harrier) was 3rd with a new PB in 22.03.  *There were 248 finishers. Some Conwy on Tour members at Nova include...

*Pictured above - some of the NWWRC team at the Felinheli 10k race. Good turn-out for the midweek Ras Gwyl Felin 10k race. Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Kevin Slattery and Martin Green. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   The midweek Ras Gwyl Felin 10k attracted over three-hundred quality and mixed ability athletes to this popular annual event held on a humid but breezy evening. The first finisher overall was  Ifan Dafydd  in 32 minutes and 49 seconds, but he was well ahead of rival  Llyr Ap Gruffydd  (Eryri Harriers) over this undulating but spectacular course in 35.04, with  Steffan Sayer  (Menai T&F) a close third in 35.22. The first female finisher was  Emma Alofs  (Cybi Striders) in 41.34, with  Rachel Shipley  (Abergele Harriers) 2nd in 42.36, and  Mali Hughes  3rd in 42.50. *There were 321 finishers. *Carla Green (*above left), with Stuart Culverhouse and Kevin Slatte...

*The jubilant Welsh Masters team (*above) at the Swansea half marathon. Fifteen medals and a Welsh Record on a great day for Wales within the Swansea Half Marathon... Report and photos courtesy of the Wales team manager Bernie Jones. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   For the first time in a couple of years, the Master international events came back to Wales, and we were rewarded with a record number of top three finishers and a new Welsh Record by the ageless Swansea Harrier, Alan Davies, who broke his own M70 record with a great run of 81-51.    Phil Matthews, Parc Bryn Bach (M45), was first home in 5th place overall comfortably winning his age category. Along with Phil and Alan Davies. Welsh Athletes were first home in the M50 age group (Mark Jennings, MMRT) and M65 (David Warren, Cardigan).    There were also second places for Matt Rees, Swansea Harriers(M35), Dave James, Les Croupiers(M65) and David Gibson, Tri-Hard Harriers (M70).    In the Women...