Don Hale Blog

*Steve Gardner (*above), finished well at Conwy and won his age cat. Good turn-out at Conwy parkrun for the last event of year...plus other results. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   There was a good turn-out of over three-hundred mixed ability entrants at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning for the final event of 2024, with many club and social athletes travelling from far afield. Thankfully, the weather was near perfect, which was in stark contrast to the previous week, and it remained a good festive atmosphere as runners looked forward to the New Year celebrations. North Wales Road Runners  entered thirteen members and recorded four age category victories and two new course PBs. Gold medal winning track athlete  Steve Gardner , fresh from his success in the Welsh Masters indoor 3000m championships, made a rare parkrun appearance and led the team home in 8th place overall with a new PB of 19 minutes and 11 seconds, to win his VM60 cat. Steve was clo...

*NWRRC members are pictured above with their trophies. (*Photo John Hatton). Glittering annual trophy afternoon for North Wales Road Runners... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   It was a glittering afternoon of trophies and celebrations for members of North Wales Road Runners at Colwyn Bay Cricket Club last Sunday following the club’s annual festive handicap race at Rhos on Sea. Kay Hatton  was this year’s MC, ably assisted by her colleague  Cheryl Frost,  with all the prizes awarded following an excellent carvery lunch.  One of the very first awards went to Mike Hayton and Kay Hatton , who were the winners of the earlier Christmas handicap  race at Rhos on Sea. *Club veterans Mike Hayton and Kay Hatton (*above), were the Christmas handicap race winners from earlier in the day The first male awards  went to the individual group winners and included: Group C –  Rob Fryer , and runner-up  Daniel Hennell .  Steve Mason ...

*Pictured above - birthday boy Kevin Slattery celebrated his 70th birthday at Conwy parkrun with a superb run, and he won his new VM70 age cat. Six age cat wins for the Road Runners at a mild Conwy parkrun...and special celebrations for Kevin Slattery. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   North Wales Road Runners turned out nineteen members this week on a very mild morning, but on puddle-filled course from the RSPB Nature Reserve, which again attracted a generous attendance of nearly three-hundred mixed ability and social runners. Steve Mason  led the NWRRC team home in 5th place overall as they claimed six age cat victories, including his own VM50 age cat win in 18 minutes and 56 seconds.  Birthday boy  Kevin Slattery , the club chairman, celebrated his both his 70th birthday, and winning his respective, and new VM70 age cat, after finishing 12th overall in 21.43, and this week he was joined in the parkrun by his son...

*Picture above - Deganwy Dash race organisers John Hatton and Carla Green John and Carla’s Deganwy Dash voted the ‘Best Sporting Event of the Year,’ and raises thousands for Children's Cancer Charities. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   The Deganwy Dash was voted the Best Sporting event of the year within Conwy County at the annual Conwy Sports Awards last Friday night at Venue Cymru. Well organised by  John Hatton  and  Carla Green  from  North Wales Road Runners , this popular annual 5-mile race from Deganwy Quay to the RSPB Nature Reserve, and back via Conwy Cob, always attracts over 350-plus mixed ability runners who raise thousands of pounds for charity. The main charity includes generous donations to Children’s Cancer charities, and for the past few years it has been run in memory of a young local student Rohan Ingley, who sadly lost his life due to cancer, and has been known as 'Rohan's Run.' Award...

*Pictured above - the NWRRC runners at Porth Eirias (l-r), Mike Hayton, Carla Green, and Stuart Culverhouse. Road Running trio claimed podium places at Porth Eirias 10k race...plus other results. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   A trio of Road Runners took part in the Porth Eirias 10k race last Saturday morning and they all gained podium places and recorded some excellent results. Stuart Culverhouse  finished in 8th place overall in 41.24 and he was 2nd in his M50 age cat, whilst  Carla Green  was on top form again as the 1st female finisher, (11th overall), and she won her F50 age cat in 42.14, whilst master veteran  Mike Hayton  enjoyed another good performance in 99th place, and he also won his M70 age cat in 59.42. After the race Stuart Culverhouse confirmed : “Porth Eirias 10k. Chip time was one second slower than when I last ran this race 5 years ago, but my gun time was three seconds quicker today...

*Pictured above - some members of the NWRRC team at Holyhead (l-r) front row, Cheryl Frost, Carla Green, Gwen Charlton and Kay Hatton, and (*back row), Jonathan Kettle, Adam Lemalle, Rachel Morris, Rob Fryer, Iwan Evans and Steve  Roberts. The Road Runners won seven NW Regional Championship medals at the Holyhead 5-mile race. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   The Road Runners won seven prestigious North Wales Regional medals at the Holyhead Breakwater 5-mile race on Sunday, including four age category gold medals, and three third-placed bronze medals, in addition to celebrating three podium places in the main race. Jonathan Kettle  led NWRRC members home in hot conditions after finishing in 9th place overall with a chip time of 28 minutes and 58 seconds to win his MV50-59 age cat. He was followed by  Iwan Evans  26th in 32.07, and  Benjamin Brummitt  30th in 32.54.   *Jonathan Kettle (*above lef...

*Pictured above - super vet Sandy Johnston set a new record. Super vet Sandy Johnston set a new record at the Helena Tipping 10k at Wrexham. Report by Don Hale https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   *Pictured above - some of the NWRRC team at the Helena Tipping 10k race. It was a good turn-out at the Helena Tipping 10k race at Wrexham last Sunday with fifteen North Wales Road Runners in action, and they claimed four prestigious podium places Super veteran  Sandy Johnston  was perhaps the pick of the pack this week after winning his MV75 age cat with another outstanding display and a remarkable chip time of just 46 minutes and 18 seconds, finishing in 226th place out of nearly 700 entrants.  And Sandy’s time also set a new North Wales Regional record, taking 14-seconds off Emyr Davies’ previous best of 46.32, set in Caernarfon in 2019. Young  Harry Driscoll  actually led the team home in 78th place in 37.32, with  Carla Green...

*Pictured above - North Wales Road Runner Alastair Canaway. Conwy parkrunners greeted this week by warm sunshine and light winds...plus other race results... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   In stark contrast to the previous week, Conwy parkrunners enjoyed very warm conditions last Saturday morning with bright sunshine, light headwinds, and a limited number of puddles. Nearly 300 mixed ability club and social runners from all over the UK took advantage of the mild weather at the RSPB Nature Reserve to record some excellent new PBs, many fast times and some notable age category wins. North Wales Road Runners  had a good entry with some fourteen athletes in action this week and claimed three age cat victories, with four other members finishing in second places.  Alastair Canaway  made a rare parkrun appearance but ran well in 5th place overall, and he was 2nd in his VM35 cat in 18.59. Harry Driscoll  also enjoy...