Don Hale Blog

*Steve Mason (*pictured above) was the first NWRRC member back at Conwy. Fast times and top placings for visiting athletes at Conwy parkrun...plus other results on the road... Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Conwy parkrun welcomed plenty of visitors to last Saturday’s event with the first male finisher, and the first three female placings, all recording some excellent times on their debuts. All three top female finishers were debutants, including  Nancy Connolly  (University of East Anglia Triathlon Club), who was the 1st lady (40th overall) in 22.50, and she also won her SW25 cat, with  Rebecca King,  2nd, (52nd overall),   and the winner of her VW35 cat in 23.54, whilst  Ellie Robinson  (West Cheshire AC) claimed the 3rd place in 24.20 (59th overall) in 24.20 and won her VW50 age cat. North Wales Road Runners  only entered nine members due to other commitments, but they still claimed four podium plac

*Pictured above - Nuneaton Running Track. Inter Area Challenge 2023:  Representing Welsh Masters at Track & Field at Nuneaton on 6th August. News update from Brett Davis.  Would you like the opportunity to represent Welsh Masters’ at Track and Field?  The next inter-area event is outdoors and is on 6th August in Nuneaton. We are really keen to field the strongest Welsh Masters’ team that we can, and we know that we have a lot of talent around here. We did brilliantly during the indoor event in February, and it is time to build on that success. To do that, we need to have the largest pool from which to select.  Selection will be made over the next few weeks and will be based on recent results on power of 10 (2021, 2022, 2023). We would like to get the provisional women’s team out at the end of June so that people can make travel arrangements.  The provisional men’s team will be ready by mid-July. For those events where there are no current performances on power of 10 then we will be

  TOP NORTH WALES RANKINGS AFTER TELFORD 10K. Special report by Paul Brooks (*Pictured below).   Congratulations to  Tom Wood  (Eryri/Oxford Uni), who is now ranked #6 in the NWRAC all-time 10km lists and #5 in the senior men's lists for his 30:12 at the Telford 10km last weekend. He also has a 14:40 5km which ranks him #7 in the all-time list and #5= in the senor men's lists.  Here's the top 10 all-time 10km NWRAC men's list up to and including yesterday: 1 Charlie Hulson Liverpool Telford 2018 00:29:12 SM 2  Andrew Davies  Stockport Valencia 2022 00:29:39 M40  3  Rob Samuel  Eryri Chepstow 2021 00:29:46 M35  4 Ian Pierce Tipton Cardiff 1999 00:29:50 SM  5  David Mountford  Deeside Manchester 2012 00:30:03 SM  6  Tom Wood  Eryri Telford 2022 00:30:12 SM  7  Russell Bentley  Black' & B Derby 2012 00:30:14 SM  8 Iolo Hughes Meir'dd Telford 2015 00:30:36 JM  9=  Ryan Davis  Wrexham Telford 2022 00:30:50 SM  9=  Alun Vaughan  Eryri Manchester 2005 00:30:50 SM h

MILLENNIUM ODYSSEY – a review of Belgrave Harriers’ 21st Century Road & Country – By WVL Cockerell.   Report by Don Hale https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk *This is an interesting book about a thletics and athletes that might appeal to anyone interested in the sport. It is packed with facts, figures, features and a host of fascinating details about one of the top UK clubs. Runner, writer, sports coach, and experienced athlete Will Cockerell has just published an exciting new book documenting the various ups and down of life at Belgrave Harriers, one of the UK’s top running clubs.  It is packed with facts and figures, historical features, and memorable individual profiles, which offer a feast of entertainment for all running enthusiasts. His 276-page book is available now in full colour and is packed with loads of photographs, records, and data from numerous exciting races dating back some 50-years. Published in North Wales by  Coast and Country  it is

*Martin Green (*pictured above) recorded a great time at 5k race. Fast times for club trio at Mid-Cheshire 5k race. Report by Don Hale.   Three Road Runners competed in the Mid-Cheshire 5k road race last Friday night which proved to be another ultra-fast event for a host of top club and elite athletes. Run over a course known for its speedy times and personal best results, the race attracted 848 finishers for this popular summer challenge. Just thirty-seconds eventually separated the first ten finishers, and incredibly, some twenty-eight athletes all dipped under fifteen-minutes! *Will Williams (*above left) with Harry Driscoll. Martin Green  was the first NWRRC man home in 124th place in a superb time of 16 minutes and 10 seconds, and yet he was 7th in his MV45 age cat.  Will Williams  was delighted with his time of 17.39 in 289th place, with  Harry Driscoll  364th following another excellent run in 18.52. The overall race was won by Adam Craig in just 14.09, with Kurt Taylor (Bristol

Billy Goat Challenge sporting logo could help boost funds for St David’s Hospice... Report by Don Hale.     www.eventclip.net    COUPON CODE: 45MBUAYZ   An innovative new Billy Goat sporting product that is both attractive and efficient is being offered for sale and could help boost funds for St David’s Hospice.  Inventor Mike Drage from EventClip has developed a special Snap-Lock device for helping to secure race and/or identification competition numbers to sports tops. This device will immediately replace the need for old fashioned safety pins, which not only leave holes, but can also damage expensive race material. Mike has not only invented this unique item, but he has also created some fascinating and colourful designs that can help to promote local clubs, organisations, charities, and sponsors.  *Pictured (*above) a couple of the many other exciting designs available. His firm offer a wide variety of other designs combining fun logos’ with animals, cities, races, and branding etc

*Good to see Charlotte-Rose Wilton-Jones back in action on the trail. Charlotte-Rose ran well at Llyn Brenig trail race Report by Don Hale.   Charlotte-Rose Wilton-Jones was the only NWRRC member at the challenging Llyn Brenig 9.5-mile trail race on Sunday, yet she performed very well finishing as the 9th female athlete. The race route included a picturesque trail which circumnavigated Llyn Brenig via the adjoining forest and travelled along the shoreline of the lake, with most of it run off-road on rough tracks.  It was officially described as a long-terrain trail race around Llyn Brenig Reservoir, which started and finished at the Visitor Centre. The talented North Wales athlete, who particularly enjoys endurance runs and trail running, continued her return to form, and finished 27th overall, and she was the 9th female finisher in a good time of 1 hour 16 minutes and 3 seconds. She also   finished 5th in her F30-39 age category. *The race winners included: 1st  Rhodri Owen  (Un) 55.3

*They think it's all over - it is now! Three exhausted but happy runners (l-r) Cai Roberts, Kelly-Marie Alford  and  Vicky Taylor after completing the NW half-marathon race last Sunday morning. Club athletes competed in tough North Wales half-marathon Report by Don Hale. Believed to be one of the toughest events in the country, some 138 endurance athletes took part in the re-scheduled North Wales half-marathon race last Sunday in mixed weather conditions. This incredible challenge started and finished on the beach close to the Mulberry Marina and crossed back and forth into the Snowdonia National Park.  Set between the mountains and sea near Conwy, this year’s race unfortunately attracted a reduced entry due to previous pandemic restrictions, yet all were treated to some spectacular scenery over a difficult course. North Wales Road Runners  had five members competing and although most found the route very hard, they all claimed to have enjoyed their venture.  * Steve Roberts perfor

  *( Pictured above ) The North Wales team at the Inter-County match in Llandudno last Sunday at the Nick Beer 10k race, against Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire. Back row:   Louis Lermite , Bryn Woodall,  Ricky Challinor ,  Ted Flynn ,  Scott Nixon  and  Martin Green   with team manager   Paul Brooks . Front row:   Jen Adams ,  Claire Wyn-Jones ,  Tracy Rogers ,  Rachel Shipley ,  Carla Green  and Amie Bagnall. Inter-Counties victory for North Wales team at Nick Beer 10k race Report by Don Hale   A team of twelve top athletes from North Wales took part in a scintillating Inter-Counties competition against rivals from Cheshire, Staffordshire, and Shropshire last Sunday, which was held in baking temperatures within the Nick Beer 10k Memorial race. The North Wales team claimed 1st place and were comfortable winners of the men’s race, with the women’s team narrowly beaten into 2nd position following a close-fought encounter. A team of six competed for honours amongst twenty-three ma