Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - super vet Dave  Gardner, who won gold at Deeside. North Wales athletes performed well at prestigious Indoor Championships... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Three top veteran athletes hit good form at two different Indoor Championship events last weekend, with North Wales Road Runner Steve Gardner crossing the Pennines to compete for the Welsh Masters on the track in the 3000m, whilst his father Dave struck gold in the shot putt event at Coleg Cambria, Deeside, alongside Paul Brooks, who also won gold in his own respective age category. Steve however, despite an excellent performance in Sheffield, said he was slightly down on his best time for this distance, but admitted to facing some stern competition, from rivals.   *Above left - Steve and Dave Gardner, and (*right) Paul Brooks. After the event, Steve confirmed:  “I competed in the British Masters Indoor Championships last Sunday. It was a very strong MV60 age category held...

*Steve Gardner and his father Dave are pictured above. Welsh Masters record breaking trio received their certificate recognition awards this week. Report by Don Hale https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Three Welsh Masters veteran athletes received official certificates this week to confirm they have recorded some new national records at recent track and field events. The roll of honour includes two  North Wales Road Runners  in father and son athletes  Dave and Steve Gardner,   and David Williams  from the  Guildford and Godalming club. Dave celebrated a new record in the indoor shot putt competition held at Coleg Cambria, Deeside, on 11th January this year, with an impressive throw of 7.26m to win his M85 age cat, whilst his son Steve competed at the National Indoor Athletics Centre in Cardiff on 12th January, and he won his M60 cat in the 800m indoor track race in 2 minutes 20.89 seconds. David Williams was another...

Welsh Masters Indoor Championships at Cardiff January 2025. Men’s 800m results Dan Schofield M35 Guest Gold  2:10.77 Gavin McCaugherty M40 Guest Gold 2:13.53 George Daly M45 Guest Gold 2:16.29   Steven Gardner M60 Gold 2:20.89 Brett Davis M60 Silver 2:24.34 Women’s 800m results   Tania-Cyrena Cyrus W35 Guest Gold 2:27.35 Georgie Dobbs W40 Gold 2:23.50 Men’s 1500m results Oliver Williams M35 Gold 4:05.19 Richard Davidson M45 Guest Gold 4:45.36 Matthew Hurford M50 Gold 4:57.35 Adrian Lewis M50 Silver 4:58.09 David Williams M60 Gold 4:45.50 David Bedwell M70 Guest Gold 5:23.14 Women’s 1500m results Kirstie Booth W45 Guest Gold 4:43.10   *Read about Steve Gardner's result at Cardiff: Don Hale Blog: Gold medals for father and son Dave and Steve Gard... https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025/01/gold-medals-for-father-and-son-at.html?spref=tw

*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...