Don Hale Blog

*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

Will Williams tackled the gruelling cross country course at Dolgellau. Mud, wind, and rain at a very muddy cross-country race at Dolgellau... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Lesley Goodson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Three Road Runners braved the strong blustery winds, rain, and heavy mud at Dolgellau this weekend during the latest fixture within the Grand Prix Express, North Wales XC league. Will Williams  ran well in the  Senior Men’s race  and finished well in 38th place overall amongst 125 starters, and he was 3rd in his MV50 age cat in 36 minutes and 19 seconds. Will later said: “ I really love cross-country. Always a great atmosphere.” The race was won by  Matthew Collins  (Oswestry Olympians) in 30.11 and he won his SM age cat.  Janos Vranek (Aberystwyth University) was 2nd in 30.22, with  Rhodri Owen  (Meirionnydd) 3rd in 31.11.  Emyr Davies  competed in the over 65’s race and won his M80 age cat in 29.25, finishing 15th overall, with  Roge

*Ben and Sarah Hudson are pictured (*above) after their double marathon. Liverbird Double Marathon challenge for Ben and Sarah over New Year... plus other festive race results. Report by Don Hale.   North Wales Road Runners Ben and Sarah Hudson celebrated the New Year in their own unique style by competing in the Liverbird Double Marathon on Merseyside. Both events, well organised by GB Ultras, included the full marathon distance run on consecutive days, with the first race held on New Year’s Eve, quickly followed by the second race on New Year’s Day. The ultra-enthusiastic pair braved gales, and heavy rain, during their first encounter which followed an out and back lapped course from the Merseyside Police Club at Aigburth, Liverpool, and followed a relatively flat course adjacent to the windswept River Mersey.  Despite the conditions and this gruelling challenge, they were both pleased with their day one results, with Ben finishing 19th overall, and he was 3rd in his M45-49 age categ

*Morgan Kendall (*above) pictured at his recent Conwy half-marathon victory continued his excellent form at the Conwy parkrun. Hot pace set by Morgan Kendall at cool and breezy Conwy parkrun...and four age cat wins for NWRRC. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was cool, with very breezy conditions at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday, but it was good to see talented local athlete and student Morgan Kendall set a hot pace from the start of this 5k event despite some tough opposition. Returning home from  Durham University  for the festive holidays  Morgan , representing (Durham City Harriers), maintained his top form and gained a narrow victory over rivals  James Smith  (Menai T&F), and  Harty Woodford .  He recorded another excellent time of just 17 minutes and 14 seconds to win his SM20 age cat, and finished just 9-seconds ahead of James, who claimed 2nd place in the same age cat as Morgan in 17.25, with

*Richard Scamans (*above) ran well at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun. Road Running trio on their parkrun travels. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Three North Wales Road Runners went on their travels last Saturday to enjoy a couple of parkruns at different venues due to the early cancellation notice at Conwy.  Steve Mason  performed well on his debut at the  Alexandra parkrun  at Moss Side, Manchester, and he finished 23rd despite a fast time of 19 minutes and 38 seconds. Meanwhile,  Will Williams  and  Richard Scamans  both ran in the  Penrhyn Castle parkrun , where Will won his VM50 age cat, finishing 8th overall in 18.50, with Richard 35th in 23.54. After his run Will Williams admitted : “Not feeling it this morning and didn’t give it my full effort. No races for few weeks, so didn’t really have the motivation to go to the pain cave, but still a decent threshold effort.” *Pictured left Steve Mason, Will Willi

Will Williams (*pictured above) on top form at the latest cross-country fixture at Shrewsbury. Road Running trio at another successful cross-country event at Baschurch, near Shrewsbury. Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Lesley Goodson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Three members of NWRRC travelled to the PGL Centre at Baschurch, near Shrewsbury, last Saturday afternoon, to take part in the latest highly successful cross-country fixture within the North Wales XC League. Will Williams  celebrated a podium result after claiming the 2nd spot in his respective MV50 age category following a determined run in the Senior Men’s race, finishing 49th out of 177 quality club entrants in a very respectable time of 30 minutes and 4 seconds.  Cheryl Frost  and  Kay Hatton  competed in the Senior Women’s event, which also attracted 158 top club athletes, with Cheryl 78th in 25.21, and 4th in her FV55 age cat, whilst Kay was 88th in 25.43, and she too finished

*The Welsh Athletics Masters team (*pictured above) at the Glasgow international XC. Road Running duo celebrated team success at International cross-country race in Glasgow. Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmasters.co.u k Two veteran North Wales Road Runners formed part of the Welsh Athletics  Masters team that competed well at the  British and Irish Masters Cross-Country International staged at Tollcross Park, Glasgow on Saturday. Martin Green  ran in Race 4 for athletes aged between M35-49, and he finished in 78th place in 29 minutes and 21 seconds and was 27th overall in his individual M45 age category. And his club colleague  Will Williams  made his Welsh Athletics Masters XC debut and ran in Race 3 for athletes between M50-64, and he was very pleased with his overall performance finishing 45th in 30.09, and 25th in his M50 age cat. *Martin Green (*above left) with Will Williams. After the race, Martin Green  said:  “ It was a very high standard as usu

*Martin Green (*in yellow vest) leads out the runners at Conwy parkrun. Busy parkrun at Conwy as visiting entrants negotiated the puddles...plus other race results at Tooting and Hyde Park. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It proved to be another busy half-term parkrun at Conwy again last Saturday despite many athletes taking part in the Eryri Marathon and other competing fixtures, but the Road Runners managed to turn out ten members and collected three 1st place age category wins, four 2nd places, and one third. Some 239 runners enjoyed the challenge of negotiating this problematic 5k puddle-filled course, which attracted mixed ability entrants from across the UK.  One such athlete was  Seth Kirby  (Steel City Striders RC), who was the first runner back on his course debut in 17 minutes and 48 seconds to additionally win his SM30 cat.  Dave Hughes  claimed the 2nd spot and won his VM35 cat with a PB in 17.5