Don Hale Blog

  *Steve Mason led the NWRRC team home at the Conwy parkrun. Anniversary parkrun success at Conwy despite tough weather conditions and challenging course... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   There was a tremendous turn-out of some 200 mixed ability entrants at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning, and they all helped to celebrate their 8th anniversary, despite very wet and blustery conditions. Many runners additionally wore unique themed costumes for this special birthday event but later probably wished they had also taken their wellies to help cope with this challenging and puddle-filled 5k course. GOG Triathlete  Simon Cole  was the first runner home overall, and won his MV40 age cat in just 18 minutes and 23 seconds, with  Aled Hughes  2nd, and just twelve seconds behind Simon in 18.35. NWRRC’s  Carla Green  was the 1st female runner and the VW50 cat winner in 22.33, with  Lizzie Irvine  (GOG Triathlon) 2nd in 23.41, and  Katie Cotton (Long Eaton) 3rd in 23.54.  *Ste

*Carla Green (*pictured above) enjoyed a great win at Tatton Park. Carla Green beat Tyson Fury to the punch with a great victory at Tatton Park 10k race. Report by Don Hale.   North Wales Road Runner Carla Green stormed home to claim the prestigious 1st female prize at the Tatton Park 10k last Saturday and finished almost a minute and a half ahead of her nearest rival – and over eleven minutes ahead of World heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury! Carla, who battled with injury problems last season, put in a gritty, and determined performance in very wet and rainy conditions around this spectacular course, and was delighted by her win and her VW50 age category victory in a fast time of 41 minutes and 9 seconds. She finished 23rd overall and didn’t pull any punches, competing against some 550 quality entrants, which included the World heavyweight champion  Tyson Fury , who is 6 feet 9 inches tall, and weighs about 19 stone, together with his boxing brother  Tommy . The celebrity duo use

Bumper turnout at Conwy's New Year’s Eve parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. It was a bumper turnout at the New Year’s Eve parkrun at Conwy despite the rather damp conditions, and a very heavy, and waterlogged course. The event attracted 243 mixed ability runners from various parts of the UK, and debutant  Harry Standing  was the first finisher in just 18 minutes and 4 seconds, which was just a few seconds ahead of last week’s teenage age cat winner  Morgan Kendall  aka  Bananaman  in 18.13 and visiting athlete  Jack Cooper  (Trafford AC) with a new PB of 18.21. The first female finisher was  Anna Drinkwater  (Eryri Harriers) in 19.32, with  Amie Bagnall  (Cheshire Dragons) 2nd in 19.44, and debutant  Anna Burt  3rd in 21.41. Ten North Wales Road Runners  were involved in the New Year’s Eve parkrun at Conwy and claimed seven podium placings including five age cat wins.  Josh Keogh  (*pictured above) was the club’s first finisher and made a positive return followin

*Martin Green (*above) ran well at Conwy parkrun. Hot pace on a cold day at Conwy parkrun...plus success for trio at Ruthin parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   One hundred and fifty mixed ability runners braved a cold but clear morning at Conwy parkrun last Saturday where a trio of North Wales Road Runners claimed three out of the top four finishing places. Josh Keogh  continued his recent domination of this challenging 5k event and this week, apart from being the 1st runner home, he also set a hot pace and recorded an incredible new personal best time of just 17 minutes and 1 second to win his SM30 age cat. Josh  led a team of eleven NWRRC club members, who recorded nine podium places overall including four wins, three second, and two third place finishes.  Martin Green  was 2nd in 17.56, and he won his MV45 cat, but he was pushed all the way by  Matthew Baker,  who was just one second adrift in 3rd place in 17.57, with Martin’s club colleague  Steve Mason  4th, an

*Steve Mason enjoyed another good run at the Conwy parkrun for 4th place overall. Seven age cat wins at Conwy parkrun for the Road Runners...plus other race results from  Wilmslow 10k and Betws trail races. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   The Road Runners enjoyed another good day at Conwy parkrun last Saturday and celebrated with an amazing seven age category victories. Josh Keogh  repeated his fine win from last week with another solid performance to run home in 1st place yet again in 17 minutes 37 seconds, to additionally win his SM30 age cat, with tourist athlete  Jack Chubb  (Watford Joggers) taking the 2nd spot in 18.14, and teenager  Oscar Evans  (Vegan Runners) finishing 3rd in 18.30. Ten NWRRC members took part and collected eight podium places including seven age cat wins.  Steve Mason  gave the top three runners a good chase however, but eventually he had to settle for 4th place overall in 18.45 but won his MV45 cat. Carla Green  (*pictured left) finished in 14

*NWRRC athlete Josh Keogh was the first man home at Conwy parkrun. Six of the best for the Road Runners at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   North Wales Road Runners celebrated nine podium places including six of the best age category winning times at a bright and sunny Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning. Josh Keogh  gave the club a great start with an outstanding performance to finish as the first athlete back home to win his SM30 age cat in just 17 minutes and 14 seconds.  The talented fell runner led a team of eleven club members over another puddle-filled 5k course which also greeted a wealth of fellow runners from across the UK, who had travelled to make a special weekend of competition including the Conwy half-marathon the following day. Many of the parkrun finishing times probably reflected the preparation needed for the tough challenge around the Great Orme just 24-hours later. *Steve Mason (*above left) with Will Williams. Josh  was follow

Welsh athletes starred at Dublin International cross-country champs. Report by Don Hale.   A large contingent of Welsh athletes travelled to Ireland last Saturday to take part in the 33rd British & Irish Open International Masters Cross-Country Championships which this year was held at Santry, near Dublin. Nearly four hundred elite athletes from five competing nations took part in this spectacular event which attracted entries from male and female club runners aged from 35 to 75 plus. North Wales was well represented with runners from NWRRC, GOG Triathlon, Prestatyn, Eryri Harriers, Wrexham, Buckley, and many other top local clubs involved in a series of very competitive races over varying distances. Road Runners   Martin Green  and his wife  Carla   Green both ran well, yet this dedicated duo appeared slightly disappointed by their results. Martin though finished a highly credible 26th in 30.13 in his M45 race, with Carla 14th in her W50 age cat race in 24.31. *Martin Green (*red