Don Hale Blog

*North Wales athlete Steve Gardner (*above) in the 1500m steeplechase race. Four new Welsh records by father and son at the NW Track & Field open meeting at Deeside... Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Father and son Dave and Steve Gardner celebrated once again after breaking four Welsh Masters records at the first outdoor event of the season, during the North Wales Endurance Track and Field open meeting, held at the Deeside Stadium, Connah’s Quay, on 4th April. Super veteran Dave competed in the javelin and the shot putt events and he won his M85 age category in both mixed age competitions to add to his many other previous and prestigious Welsh Masters Athletics championship victories and records.  In the Javelin, his winning throw was 15.32m, and in the shot event he recorded another successful throw of 7.19m. Steve meanwhile competed in the 1000m and in the 1500m steeplechase races, and he too won his M60 age cat in both events and smashed two...

Great performance and possible new record for Ifan Lloyd in 20-mile race... Report by David Gibson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Swansea Harrier Ifan Lloyd ran at Merthyr Tydfil in the San Domenico 10 and 20-mile road race event on 30th March and probably set a new M65, 20-mile UK record.  The route was a five mile out, and five mile back, on the Taff Trail path from the Merthyr Tydfil Leisure village, with a deceptively steep climb at around 4.5 miles. The 20-mile race repeated this for a second time. Ifan's race went to plan. His target was 2hrs10min, and he finished just under this in 2 hrs 9 mins and 44 secs, to take first position in the men 65+ age category. Pace at 4min/km was the same as his average in the World Championship M65 winning Bucharest marathon last October when he was in better shape. The previous was 2hrs 15 mins and 55 seconds. There was the added bonus of scoring for Swansea Harriers to take the team race alongside Dewi Griffiths (who had a superla...

Tri Hard Harriers Women Triumph in the West Glamorgan Cross Country League... Report by David Gibson. *Pictured above - the last race.   The final 4.7-mile race of five fixtures was held at Amman Valley Trotting Club, Tairgwaith on Sunday 25th March. The series, which is for South Wales club teams, is held on different courses in west Wales providing a variety of challenges to participants.   The women’s title was won by the Tri Hard Harriers team, who were only promoted to the top division this season, beating Run4All Neath Blacks and 3Ms Gorseinon RR.  Team captain Stephanie Gibson proved to be the class of the field by winning all five events and was ably supported by Teresa Penhorwood who was joint second and Alice Mayo who finished in the women’s top 20. The men’s title was won by Neath Harriers with Run4All Neath Blacks in runner up spot and Swansea Harriers in third. Individually, Scott Williams and Iestyn Evans - both of Neath Harriers were first and second ov...

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

*Runners cross the Menai Suspension Bridge during the Anglesey races. Charity boost with the Bridge back at the Anglesey half-marathon and 10k races... Report by Don Hale. Anglesey are  photos courtesy of John Hatton. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Nearly 1,400 runners were finally able to take part in either the  Jones O Gymru Anglesey Half Marathon, or the optional 10k  races  over the famous Menai Suspension Bridge last Sunday morning, which was included within the route once again for the first time in several years due to essential maintenance work on this iconic attraction. Tagged by the event organisers  Always Aim High , as the most beautiful half marathon in North Wales, much of the course offered spectacular views across Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park and attracted both club and social runners from all over Wales and the UK. The race also supported A lder Hey Children’s Charity  which cares for 450,000 babies, children and young people a...

*Pictured above - the  tough climb for runners at the Pipe Dream race. Winner Gavin Roberts broke V40 record at the Dolgarrog Pipe Dream fell race... Report and photos courtesy of race official Craig Jones. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Last Saturday (St David’s Day, March 1st) saw the very  successful  completion of the challenging  21st Dolgarrog Pipe Dream fell race, and the first counter of the North Wales Series.  It was a record turnout, with 139 runners in total. The weather was perfect, with sunny skies and no wind, and a course that was ideal underfoot. Gavin Roberts  ( Calder Valley ), won overall, breaking the V40 record, taking 44 seconds off the mark set by Math Roberts last year. Gavin ran home in 33.26. Placed third overall by the top of the steps, he overhauled the front two to take the lead and the win.  Kieran Wynne-Cattanach  was 2nd in 34.05, with  Rhys Jones  ( Hebog ) 3rd in 34.31. The ladies race was won ...

*Pictured above - Runners approach the finish at Conwy parkrun with their refections highlighted in the usual puddles on the course. Bright and sunny for St David’s Day penultimate parkrun at Conwy... Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Bethan Wyn Roberts. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co,uk It was a beautifully sunny morning at Conwy parkrun last Saturday for St David’s Day, as 246 athletes, with some in fancy dress, took part in the penultimate event – at least for the time being - over this picturesque 5k course. Extensive construction work is now expected to commence from 8th March onwards, and for a period of about 14-weeks which will temporarily impact on part of the existing parkrun and riverside route, from near the RSPB Nature Reserve to the Conwy Cob access bridge. An alternative course is currently under consideration for this outstanding period, but meanwhile, and until any other details are confirmed, entrants from many parts of the country,...

*The Welsh Masters Athletics relay team -  Ian Broadhurst, Andy Weetman, Michael David Smith and Brett Davis. *Andy Rushbrook and Peter Hawney after their shot put comp etition. Welsh Masters Athletics - Results and photos from the EMAA Inter-area indoor event Lee Valley... https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Thanks to some members of Welsh Masters Athletics, I have included some photos and reports from last weekend's English Masters Athletic Association (EMAA) competition at the Lee Valley indoor stadium. This event included the Inter-area challenge championships. My thanks to Brett Davis and members of Newport Harriers for the contents. The results can be viewed on the following links.  https://www.thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=673430 https://bmaf.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2025/GBR/emaa-inter-area-indoors/event/ Brett Davis, a top international competitor, and a director of Welsh Masters Athletics said: "The results are still provi...