Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - Welsh indoor record holder Dave Gardner at a previous event. Welsh  Masters Indoor Field Events championships at College Cambria on 1st February. www.donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Rod Davies, a director of Welsh Masters Athletics has confirmed details of the Indoor Field events Championships on 1st February 2025. *Entries are now open and can be made via the link below: https://bmaf.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2025/GBR/wmalifec25/ Venue: Coleg Cambria, Deeside Stadium, Connahs Quay, Deeside, Date: 1st February 2025. Events: Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump, Pole Vault, Shot Putt. Entry fees: £10 first event, £8 each for others. Entry link:   Home | Welsh Masters Indoor Field Champs https://bmaf.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2025/GBR/wmalifec25/

Three WMAL members set four new indoor track records. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Chris Pruski, the records co-ordinator for Welsh Masters Athletics Ltd (WMAL), has just handed out four new Welsh Masters’ record certificates to three exceptional athletes after their times were noted and later verified. They include Cardiff AC W35 athlete  Samantha Gamble  who achieved two separate records in the 60m and 400m events, in addition to M35 athlete  Michael Dickens  (Telford AC), who created a new record in the 60m, and M55 athlete  Geoff Brimble  (Newport Harriers), who also claimed a new record for the 3000m. Samantha’s  WMAL records were set at the Indoor 200m race on 25/2/24 at Lee Valley of 27.55i, and for the 400m at Nuneaton of 60.89 seconds on 31/7/22. Michael Dickens  set his 60m indoor record in Torun, Poland, on 27/3/23, with a time of 7.23 seconds, whilst  Geoff Brimble ...

Welsh Masters Sprint events confirmed for 26th January at Cardiff Indoor Centre...and see details for 12th Jan meeting. Introduction by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk URGENT UPDATE:  It has now 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 the 800m and 1500m championships. *Also, please note:   Brett Davis ,  a Director of   Welsh Masters Athletics Limited, has confirmed some important updates to other varied indoor meetings: * The 800m and 1500m events on the  12th January  are available to enter now. * Sprints will now be included with the meeting on the  26th January. Brett Davis, has additionally confirmed this week:  Hi all,  I’ve had the nod that the sprints meet on 26th January  is due to go live this week (or later based on previous go live dates). Having seen th...

*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...

The British Masters International Cross-Country races in Belfast. Report by Ifan Lloyd. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   The British Masters cross country international is my most cherished cross-country event of the year. Always an honour to represent my country and wear the red of Wales.  And a very special day it was in Belfast last Saturday to take first place and gold in the men 65-69 age category. It’s taken 25 years since my first race in this event back in 1999 to win an individual gold medal.  I had always aspired but never quite achieved. It was also special to compete against such great athletes in my race. It doesn’t get easier as you progress up the age categories!          *Pictured above and right, Welsh Master Ifan Lloyd with his medal and shown tackling a large hill at the Belfast cross country races. A special shout out to my team-mates from Wales: Gordon Jones, Dave Watson, and  John Foster...

Report and results round-up from the Richard Burton 10k. Details from David Gibson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   The Richard Burton 10k run in early November in the Afan Valley near Port Talbot is a bit of a cult event with a special valley flavour but attracting top club runners from throughout South Wales.  The race is one of the oldest of its type having started in 1982 as a fun run in remembrance of three lads who died in a car crash whilst travelling from Cwmafan to Swansea. In 1983 Richard Burton CBE was asked if he would allow the race to be named after him, which he agreed to. The atmosphere and local support are just two aspects that make it a great event. The circular course has some serious climbing early on compensated by an exhilarating downhill return from Pontrhydyfen to the finish in Cwmafan. Two unique aspects are the Welsh Slate coasters instead of medals along with a Welsh cake for all finishers.   The category firs...

  *This is a photo of Tony Crocker taken by Roger Garland, proudly wearing his “GB Veterans” tracksuit top, having just secured the European M75 High Jump title at Ancona in Italy in 2016. Special tribute to the late veteran athletic champion - Professor Anthony (Tony) Crocker - RIP. Report by Roger Garland.   It is with sadness that I am writing to inform you of the recent death of Tony Crocker.  Tony was an exceptional “Vet” athlete for many years as a member of the Droitwich Club and MMAC, still holding no less than eight MVTFL records across four disciplines and several different age categories. He was also very successful at Regional, National, European, and World Championship level, winning a hatful of gold medals whilst setting records within Great Britain and overseas.    Although the start of his athletics career pre-dated Power of 10, the amazing performances later in his career are very well documented.    We ow...

*Picture above - Deganwy Dash race organisers John Hatton and Carla Green John and Carla’s Deganwy Dash voted the ‘Best Sporting Event of the Year,’ and raises thousands for Children's Cancer Charities. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   The Deganwy Dash was voted the Best Sporting event of the year within Conwy County at the annual Conwy Sports Awards last Friday night at Venue Cymru. Well organised by  John Hatton  and  Carla Green  from  North Wales Road Runners , this popular annual 5-mile race from Deganwy Quay to the RSPB Nature Reserve, and back via Conwy Cob, always attracts over 350-plus mixed ability runners who raise thousands of pounds for charity. The main charity includes generous donations to Children’s Cancer charities, and for the past few years it has been run in memory of a young local student Rohan Ingley, who sadly lost his life due to cancer, and has been known as 'Rohan's Run.' Award...

*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...

*Jonathan Kettle (*above), led the NWRRC team home at Conwy parkrun. Hot pace and personal best times despite a cool morning at Conwy parkrun... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was a cool, dry, and crisp day at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning, yet several elite runners set a hot pace right from the start and their efforts encouraged many of the three hundred plus other club and social runners to record some excellent personal best times. Jonathan Kettle  from  North Wales Road Runners  just missed out on a top three placing, but he was pleased with 4th spot and won his VM50 cat in a very competitive section with a fine run in 18.43.  He led home a strong team of fourteen members with  Will Williams  also in good form and claiming 7th place in 19.32, and 2nd in the same cat as Jonathan. Stuart Culverhouse  had another consistent performance in 12th place in 20.16, with  Steve Mason...

URGENT APPEAL TO HELP SAVE MENAI TRACK AND FIELD CLUB FROM FOLDING... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Georgina Seguin from the Menai Track and Field club, and an active member of the NW Cross Country League, is urgently appealing for support from the North Wales community to help save the club from folding! She confirmed this week: “Menai track & field is a successful NW athletics club with over 170 juniors and 20 seniors, but unfortunately due to lack of volunteers the future of the club is uncertain. We need to fill key committee roles within the club including chair, treasurer, secretary, plus a number of other roles. “Without these roles the club cannot run. If anyone is interested in becoming involved with the club, whether it be on an advisory basis, or as chair, please reach out to me.  “We are looking for any ideas and suggestions about how we can run going forwards and are open to any potential opportunities i...