Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - some of the many varied groups at a record Nova parkrun. Record breaking numbers at the Nova Prestatyn parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Nova parkrun. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Nova parkrun officials celebrated another record-breaking event last Saturday as some 327 entrants took advantage of the warm March sunshine over this 5k promenade course. The overall numbers were boosted by another large contingent from ‘Conwy on tour,’ members, in addition to numerous athletes from  St Asaph City Striders  from their Stride to 5, challenge team, and many others from the  Your Way, Your Move Against Cancer , squad. The event also welcomed 80 first timers from 33 different clubs, and they recorded 44 new PB times. The first finisher overall was Prestatyn Running Club’s, VM45 athlete  Stephen Skates  in just 18 minutes and 12 seconds, but it was a very close finish against runner-up  Gareth Griffith,  despite a new PB...

CONWY PARKRUNNERS ON THEIR TRAVELS AT PENRHYN CASTLE... Photographer and Welsh Master Michael (Pat) Finney was on hand to produce a photo special at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun last Saturday. Pictured above (*The start of the parkrun), and (*below), a large contingent of Conwy parkrunners went. on tour to Penrhyn. *Pictured (*above and below), some great action shots from Penrhyn parkrun.          *This is the link to the full report about the Penrhyn Castle parkrun on 15/3/25. Don Hale Blog: Conwy parkrunners on tour at the Penrhyn Castle ..... https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025/03/conwy-parkrunners-on-tour-at-penrhyn.html?spref=tw

*Pictured above - Llandudno undertaker and keen runner Tristan Owen will be competing in the Manchester Marathon for the Rotary Club'a charity appeal. Tristan Owen will be running in the Manchester Marathon and he is fundraising for the Rotary Club’s Community Chest Fun Appeal.   This is another special community-based story within a new series of unique features looking at the life, careers, hopes and ambitions, of many talented and dedicated athletes, sports people, and fundraisers within North Wales. *Tristan is shown (*above), second  from the left with his team mates.   Special sporting feature: Introduction by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   This latest feature highlights the determination of a well-known local undertaker, businessman, and charity fundraiser  Tristan Owen , who first began his running journey about 18 months ago, after taking part in the  Conwy parkrun . Since then, the under-taker has fast become an over-taker, recording...

*Pictured above - Runners approach the finish at Conwy parkrun with their refections highlighted in the usual puddles on the course. Bright and sunny for St David’s Day penultimate parkrun at Conwy... Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Bethan Wyn Roberts. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co,uk It was a beautifully sunny morning at Conwy parkrun last Saturday for St David’s Day, as 246 athletes, with some in fancy dress, took part in the penultimate event – at least for the time being - over this picturesque 5k course. Extensive construction work is now expected to commence from 8th March onwards, and for a period of about 14-weeks which will temporarily impact on part of the existing parkrun and riverside route, from near the RSPB Nature Reserve to the Conwy Cob access bridge. An alternative course is currently under consideration for this outstanding period, but meanwhile, and until any other details are confirmed, entrants from many parts of the country,...

*Pictured above - Jonathan Kettle who was the first NWRRC member home. Another fast and well attended event at the Conwy parkrun swamp! Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was another good turn-out at Conwy parkrun last Saturday due to a large number of visiting athletes, but the conditions underfoot were horrendous once again, with another swamp-like 5k course for the 300 plus entrants. Despite the waterlogged and challenging route, the first twelve finishers all dipped under the twenty-minute mark, with SW20 runner  Andrew Moore  the first man home with a new PB of 16 minutes and 27 seconds. The second placed finisher was visitor VM40  Aaron Saxton  (Manchester Tri Club), who was pleased with his debut time of 17.41, with fellow VM40 athlete  Frazer Slade  3rd with another PB of 17.52.  The first two female runners were both teenage visitors, with JW15-17  Cara Scott , the first lady in ...

*Richard Scamans (*above), was the first NWRRC member back at Conwy. Almost tropical at Conwy parkrun after weeks of freezing conditions...plus other results... Report by Don Hale,   There was a good mix of travelling club and social runners at Conwy parkrun last Saturday for a half-term encounter, with temperatures appearing almost tropical at just 4 degrees, following a long period of freezing conditions and strong winds. Iain Burgess  celebrated another outstanding performance as the first finisher overall on this usual puddle-filled 5k course in just 18 minutes and 35 seconds, with debutant  Ewan Gibb  ( Saltaire Striders ), pressing Iain all the way home in 19.19, whilst  Jack Callaghan  ( Betsi Runaways ), was 3rd in 19.43. The first female finisher  was SW20 athlete  Llio Owen  (15th overall) in 21.38, with SW30  Elisha Price  (33rd), and the 2nd female in 23.40, and VW40  Claire Kelly  was 3rd (38th), in 24.02. The...

*Pictured above - Steve Bozier was back to form at Conwy parkrun. Back to a cold splash and dash at Conwy parkrun for visiting athletes...plus other results. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Conwy parkrun finally got underway again this week following a series of weather affected postponements, and this week it attracted many visiting athletes from across the UK in readiness for the Nick Beer 10k race the following day. The first two finishers overall were  John Gardner  and  James Jones  in this famous 5k splash and dash event through the puddles from the RSPB Nature Reserve, with both men recording new PB times.  VM35 runner John enjoyed a great run in just 19 minutes and 33 seconds, with NWRRC SM30 runner James also celebrating with a new PB of 20.10, whilst visitor  Harry Kelly  (Sports Feet), was satisfied with a time of 20.50 on his course debut. North Wales Road Runners  entered eig...

*Pictured above - all round fell racer Karl Morris enjoyed a double date. Karl Morris completes two runs in a day including the tough Conwy Fell Race...plus other results... Report by Don Hale.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com *Fell runners are shown tackling the tough climb up Conwy Mountain. North Wales Road Runner Karl Morris took part in the annual Conwy Fell Race on Saturday afternoon just a few hours after competing in the 5k Nova parkrun at Prestatyn.  Described by the organisers as ‘a great fell race in the Conwy mountains,’ this gruelling course followed a 5-mile route, which included an initial 500m climb, and a further 1650ft of elevation, which started and finished at Conwy Cricket Club, and attracted 112 hardy and mixed ability athletes. Despite the challenge of two events in a day, Karl, a popular all-round endurance, fell, and road running athlete, completed this tough course with flying colours, and he ran home in 69.43 to finish in 77th place. *The over...