Don Hale Blog

*Rhos run director Dougie Graham at the front with some of the volunteers Fast runners dazzled in the sun at Llandrillo yn Rhos..plus some other NW parkrun results. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026   The bright sunny weather and a fast course attracted plenty of top club athletes to the Llandrillo yn Rhos 5k parkrun last Saturday with five out of the first six finishers all recording times of under 18 minutes! James Yarwood  (Wrexham AAC) was the first finisher overall with a new course PB of 16 minutes and 29 seconds, with visitor  Armon Williams  second in 17.17,  Gareth Griffith  third in 17.27, and veteran  Martin Green  (Meirionnydd RC) a narrow fourth in 17.36. It was a similar story for the ladies with  Beatrice Cordingley  (Sale Harriers) taking the first female spot with an excellent run, and a new course PB in 20.00 (18th overall), with visitor  Lizzie Slater  (South Che...

*Pictured above - some of the Llandrillo yn Rhos Run Directors team at the St David's Day weekend event last Saturday, and (*below) the start at Rhos parkrun. Fast times without the sand at the popular St David’s Day weekend event at the Rhos parkrun... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 The St David’s Day weekend attracted a large number of mixed ability athletes to North Wales parkruns last Saturday morning, where once again, numerous fast times were recorded. The hard work of Richard Peevor and his great support team of Run Directors and volunteers ensured the  Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun  went ahead as planned, after persuading the council to help clear plenty of sand from parts of the course and ensured all essential safety measures were implemented. This popular event now seems to attract the best of the best in terms of club, top juniors, and/or elite athletes, along with social walkers and runners from a number of respected ...

*Pictured above - Martin Green with young rival Tom Vale at Conwy. Milder weather  and a half-term boost at many NW parkruns. Report by Don Hale .  Most photos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   The milder weather last Saturday morning and the fact that it was half-term attracted plenty of visiting athletes to the various parkruns around North Wales, with numerous personal best times recorded.  Visting athlete Ed Slaughter  (Porthcawl Runners) was the first finisher at the  Llandrillo yn Rhos  parkrun with a fast dash of just 16 minutes and 42 seconds, and he led home two other equally talented and fast rivals and course debutants in  Martin Sutherland  (Woking AC) in 17.05, and  Alex Compton  third in 17.46. The first ten finishers all dipped under18-minutes, with another visitor in  David Withers  (Southville RC) taking the fourth place with a good run in 17.46, just ahead of  Simon Cole  (GOG T...

*Some members of the hardworking team of volunteers (*above) at a bitterly cold and windswept Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday with RD Dougie Graham in the blue vest. Freezing cold gale force winds proved a challenge for parkrunners...and for the hardy volunteers and marshals. Report by Don Hale. Conwy photos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com   It was a very stormy and rather windswept morning across much of North Wales last Saturday as many hundreds of parkrunners battled gale-force and blustery headwinds during their challenging 5k workouts. At  the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun , it proved a particularly tough battle along the seafront to Colwyn Bay and back from Rhos for over 2k on the outward leg, against freezing temperatures, and a swirling, gusty wind, plus a sandy course, but it was pleasing to note that so many plaudits were deservedly given en-route and afterwards, to the hard-working team of RD’s, marshals and volunteers. Despite all the handicaps, a...

*Steve Gardner (*pictured above) finished 7th and won his VM60 age cat Milder conditions, plus another major local race, boosted parkrun numbers...and parkrun results round-up... Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   The Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun proved a magnet for visiting athletes once again, which this week was boosted by hundreds of people travelling to the area for the Twin Piers 10k race held later that day. Thankfully, the weather conditions were much better than in recent times, with bright sunshine and milder temperatures, that probably inspired a flurry of personal best (PB times) and proved an ideal warm-up for the afternoon event. The first three male finishers at Rhos were all first timers with  Tony Coyne  (Belle Vue Racers) the first man home on his course debut with a great performance in 17 minutes and 56 seconds. He was followed by  Mickey Armstrong  in 18.21, and  Danny O’Reilly  (Chester Tri Club) in 18.36. The first...