Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - some of the NWRRC team at the Anglesey races (l-r): Stuart  Culverhouse, Mike Hayton, Rob Fryer, and Don Hale. NW Road runners celebrated age cat wins at Anglesey half-marathon and 10k races. *Adam Lemalle and Kevin Slattery are pictured (*above) at the start of the half-marathon race, and (*below left), Alastair Canaway (*left), with Don Hale close to the finish of the 10k. (*These superb images courtesy of Mel Parry photography). Tel: 07810 161614. 01248 852944. Email:  Email:  dmelparry@gmail.com     Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was a bumper turn-out at the Anglesey half-marathon and 10k races last Sunday with over 1,100 runners taking part in this tough and very challenging course on an unusually bright and sunny morning. North Wales Road Runners  entered five athletes in the half-marathon event, with a further six members competing in the 10k, and once again they celebrated with an excellent M65 age cat

British Masters Cross Country championships https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk RHUG FARM, CORWEN, DENBIGHSHIRE,  NORTH WALES LL21 0EH, CORWEN 16 MAR 2024. BMAF Cross Country Championships -Rhug 16 March Bernie Jones, the secretary of the NW Cross-country league, is urging local runners to enter the British Masters championships at Rhug, near Corwen. The BMAF Cross Country Championships are being held at Rhug on 16 March and is a great opportunity for all North Wales athletes over 35 years old to try and win a medal in their age group at these British Championships which are being held on our door. You DO NOT have to be a Masters member; anyone over 35 is eligible to enter. Let’s see some North Walians get amongst the medals. Entry via the following link: https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2024/GBR/bmaf-xc/ Contact Details: bmaf@opentrack.run Please contact the organiser, not OpenTrack, for all queries. https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2024/GBR/bmaf-xc/?f

Sad loss of outstanding Welsh Master athlete Glyn Pugh. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Rod Davies from Welsh Masters Athletics has confirmed some important news. He has confirmed: “We have a rather sad post for the website. One of our throwing stalwarts, Glyn Pugh, has passed away. This is our statement from WMAL.” Welsh Masters Athletics are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Glyn Pugh of Rhondda AC on Tuesday 20th February. As well as a dedicated supporter of WMAL. including representing the club in inter area matches over the years, he was a well-respected lynchpin of Rhondda AC and of Welsh Athletics in general, especially the throws.  He will be greatly missed by his many friends in Masters Athletics. Somehow the throwing events will not be quite so much fun. Our thoughts go out to his many friends, his family, and those at the King George Track for which he worked so hard. *A full obituary can be found on the Welsh At

*Gold medal winner Juliet Sidney (*above) at last week's championship The 'Pocket Rocket' struck gold in the British Masters indoor sprint events at Lee Valley. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   The ‘Pocket Rocket’ in the impressive form of Juliet Sidney, the popular website chief of Welsh Masters Athletics, was on fire at the British Masters Indoor championships last weekend, at Lee Valley, despite feeling somewhat under the weather, where she still struck gold in her sprint events. *Pictured above - Fiona Steele (*left),  and Juliet Sidney jump fo joy at the Lee Valley indoor centre, and (*below), back on top of the podium for another gold She explained:  “A great day at the British Masters Indoor Champs. W55 200m gold. Struggling with a cold but really happy with my race. Good catching up with masters, friends, and competing, and a seasons best time too!  “A double British Champion w55 60m, and 200m. One very happy poc

*Will Williams (*above), ran flat-out to finish second at Conwy. Perfect conditions for Will Williams amidst a bumper half-term crowd at Conwy parkrun...plus other results. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Conditions were almost perfect at Conwy parkrun this week with a remarkably dry course after several weeks of swamp-like conditions underfoot, with nearly 300 mixed ability club and social runners enjoying this picturesque 5k course. Boosted by the half-term holidays, organisers welcomed entrants from across the UK, and North Wales Road Runner  Will Williams , had to run flat-out to secure 2nd place overall, and he won his VM50 age cat, during another fast-dash event.  Will finished in a good time of 18 minutes and 54 seconds, but he was only 13-seconds ahead of the 3rd placed finisher, visitor  Richard Pollitt  (Horwich RMI Harriers), who won his VM45 cat in 19.07. The first male finisher was  Dave Hughes , who recorded a new cou

Parkrun boss finally makes a belated statement about the latest controversy to remove important record! But is it just a smokescreen to cover up a previous row over transgender athletes? By Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It's taken about a week for Russ Jefferys, the CEO of parkrun global to belatedly make a statement about last Thursday’s controversial decision to remove male and female, first, and fast finishers, plus age grades, and age category records from their website. It is something that has naturally attracted strong debate up and down the country, and no doubt at numerous parkruns across the world! But I still question whether this latest debacle is just a smokescreen to try to hide, and hence remove any existing records relating to transgender athletes! Parkrun came into being many years ago following a great idea by several like-minded runners, who organised a timed 5k run in their local park, and so from a small acorn, a