Don Hale Blog

(Pictured above) Martin Green in NWRRC vest dipped under 16 minutes and claimed new personal best time in the "Fast 5k" race at Wigan. Paul Freary is at the head of the pack Report by Don Hale. Photographs by John Earlston. North Wales Road Runner Martin Green recorded an incredible personal best time (PB) at Wigan last Tuesday night in a high-quality 5k race, and just dipped under 16 minutes for the very first time. This event marked a fabulous performance from Martin who quickly hit top gear and accelerated away from the “Green” flag and burnt some rubber on the five-lap, Three Sisters go-cart track, to register an official time of 15 minutes 59 seconds.  Martin accelerated from the "Green" flag on the Three Sisters go-cart track It was a proud moment for the talented veteran athlete and marathon star, who later confirmed: ‘It was a “Fast 5k” event and included 5 x 1k laps, which was ideal. A PB, and my first time under 16 minutes. I was well chuffed to be honest,...

 *Kelly-Marie Alford and Cai Roberts in Heaton Park Deserved podium place for Kelly at Heaton Park half-marathon Report by Don Hale. North Wales athletes Kelly-Marie Alford and her partner Cai Roberts crossed the English border to Heaton Park in Manchester on Sunday to take part in a “live” half-marathon event where Kelly claimed a deserved age-related podium place. In a popular race that would still be prohibited in Wales due to current Covid-19 restrictions on running events, Kelly battled the weather and a series of challenging hill climbs to earn a silver medal position as 2nd in her F35 age category. The half-marathon was part of a welcome three-race programme, including both a 5k and 10k, and recording nearly 800 finishers in total  Despite a lack of endurance training and race fitness, both Kelly and Cai, who were representing NWRRC, ran well and enjoyed their first major race competition for over a year, with Kelly running home in 2 hours 8 minutes 39 seconds....

*Josh Keogh won his 'Senior Man' age category at the Welsh one-mile championships Josh celebrated top-three finish and Welsh age category title *Report by Don Hale. Most photographs by Steve Jeffery. North Wales Road Runner Josh Keogh celebrated a great performance in last weekend’s Welsh Athletics one-mile virtual championships, finishing 2 nd  overall, with two other club runners claiming podium positions in their respective age groups. Staged as an unusual out-and-back race, and held over three days amidst very difficult weather conditions, the race proved to be a very close encounter, as Josh finished just 14 seconds behind the eventual winner Alex Jackson (U20M) from Cardiff AC, who ran home in an incredible time of just 4 mins 39 seconds. Josh though, added the Welsh 'Senior Man' title to his excellent top-three placing, recording a great time of 4.53, and secured 2 nd  spot by a mere 5 seconds ahead of 3 rd  placed rival Nic Brook from Eyri Harriers, who was 1 st...

                                                                       Stuart Culverhouse Two North Wales runners claim age category wins North Wales Road Runners claimed several age-related podium places in last weekend’s Kidsgrove virtual 10k and 5k races, which attracted over 500 athletes, despite an extended spell of icy weather and extensive Covid-19 restrictions. Stuart Culverhouse and Kevin Slattery both won their individual age categories in the 10k challenge, with Stuart having a fine run to finish 7 th  overall and 1 st  M45 cat winner in 42 mins 43 secs, and Kevin completing a fantastic performance to win his M65 cat in 17 th  place overall in 45.21. In addition, charity fundraiser Llinos Davies from GOG Triathlon finished in 163 rd  place overall and was the 7 th  F60 runne...

Spanish runners claim North Wales vests during club challenge They say the camera never lies, and at first glance it would appear that several members of North Wales Road Running Club have abandoned the current freezing temperatures to enjoy some welcome Spanish sunshine…but rest assured Covid restrictions have NOT been ignored, and the photographs simply relates to members of the Fondistes Running Club, near Barcelona, who proudly wear the vests of their rivals after claiming prizes from the recent International relay challenge. Pictured (above and below), members of the Fondistes Running club in Spain. Members of the Spanish athletic club should have come to Wales last summer for a friendship exchange, but plans were suddenly curtailed due to the worldwide pandemic.   NWRRC club chairman Kevin Slattery therefore organised a 5k inter-club relay at the end of last year, with mixed gender and ability teams representing both clubs. The event proved a huge success with forty athletes ...

                                   The genuine detectives' office at Manchester Town Hall SHERLOCK HOLMES, DYNAMITERS, FOREIGN AGENTS AND ROGUES The perils of old Manchester & London  Report by Don Hale The period shortly before and after the turn of the 19th century coincided with the fictional publications of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who depicted his hero as the super sleuth Sherlock Holmes, and his able assistant Dr Watson.  Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - the creator of the Sherlock Holmes character His work was extremely topical, and although at times it was criticised by senior Manchester Detective Jerome Caminada, he often included important references to the ‘Dynamiters’ and ‘Foreign Agents,’ and Holmes regularly pitted his wits against the admirable Inspector Lustrade at the new Scotland Yard.                           ...

Self Education for the Police 1899 - A unique guide to Victorian Policing: Reproduced by Don Hale: Introduction This is a fascinating document unearthed by accident from the archives of my great grandfather’s personal effects, which had lain hidden and unseen for well over 100 years. He was a former soldier who left the services to become a police constable, sergeant, detective sergeant, detective inspector, chief inspector and finally the youngest ever superintendent of Manchester Police. The content of this document is based upon the copy found within the faded notes of Self Education for the Police, which became known as the ‘Bobby’s Bible,’ and contained all the information required for a police officer to do his duty. The unique book contained a host of question and answers, tests and a sort of template so that each officer could be guided into the appropriate course of action. Policing and living costs c1900 Police wages: A police constable around 1900 would earn about £67 per ye...

                                  An old lady newspaper seller Old Manchester & the Industrial Revolution Report by Don Hale. Manchester, like so many other major cities throughout the country was completely transformed by the Industrial Revolution. It led to the rapid construction of canals, railways, housing, and scores of factories - many were built close to rivers and made extensive use of waterpower.   The city soon became a magnet for people seeking accommodation and work. And part of this labour force included many Irish immigrants, who started to arrive in great numbers from about 1852, followed by the Italians in1865, and numerous other foreign workers. The unprecedented growth of cotton mills and the increasing demand for additional labour continued to swell the population of Manchester.  In 1811, the regions census figures showed a population of 79,459; and by 1838 it had more t...