Don Hale Blog

*Adam Lemalle (*above) was the first NWRRC club runner at Conwy parkrun. Fast times and a good turn-out at Conwy parkrun despite the cold and blustery conditions... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmasterathletics.co.uk   Despite a bitterly cold day, and a strong blustery wind, nearly two-hundred entrants still braved the elements and recorded some fast times over the challenging but relatively dry 5k course at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning. The event once again attracted a large number of visiting club and social runners from across the UK and Ireland, as part of an early Easter break, and plaudits were again handed to NWRRC member and parkrun volunteer  John Hatton , for his sterling efforts to help improve part of the start area. GOG Triathlete  Simon Cole  was the first runner home with an impressive time of just 17 minutes and 35 seconds to additionally win his VM40 age cat, and at the time of writing, the second placed runner remained unknown, b

*Jonathan Kettle (*above) won a NW Regional 10k gold medal. Five gold medals for the Road Runners at Caernarfon 10k during the Regional Championships. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was bright and breezy last Sunday for just over two-hundred runners at the Caernarfon 10k race, which also included the North Wales Regional Championships, where NWRRC collected five prestigious gold medals. The conditions allowed for a fast encounter with many runners recording personal best (PB) or much improved chip times, with the event eventually won by  Scott Nixon  (Wrexham AAC) in 33 minutes 31 seconds, with  Gavin Stuart  (Cybi Striders) 2nd in 33.53, and  James Yarwood  (Wrexham AAC) 3rd in 34.05. The first female athlete was  Alison Campbell  in 36.43, and she was followed by  Amie Smith  (Cheshire Dragons) in 38.47, with 3rd place,  Anna Drinkwater  (Eryri Harriers) finishing well in 39.48. North Wales Road

*Martin Green (*pictured above right) in the pack at the Sale Sizzler. Road Running trio ran fast at Sale Sizzler 5k. Report by Don Hale . https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Three members of North Wales Road Runners competed in the Sale Sizzler 5k race last Thursday night which included a quality field of 642 elite and top cub runners. Martin Green  enjoyed another great run and finished 37th overall and he was 3rd in his MV45 age category in a fast chip time of 16 minutes and 19 seconds.  Will Williams  continued his excellent form in 87th place, and he was 4th in his MV50 cat in 17.35, with  Jamie Tharme  223rd in 20.24. This popular summer event again attracted a massive field and incredibly there was only a matter of a few seconds between the top nine athletes, with the first twenty-seven runners all dipping under sixteen seconds.  The overall race was won by  Nicholas Barry  (Sale Harriers) in 15.00, with  Thomas Charles  (Chorlton Runners) 2nd in 1

*Runners wanted for the club relay in August - pictured is Helen Hannam (*above left) with Nicola Wylie. North Wales Road Runners - Summer Relay. The NW Road runners will be staging their Summer Relay on the prom early next month - Tuesday 1st August.  Meet near the Cenotaph at 6.30pm with the relay to start at 7pm, followed by free sausage and chips at the RAOB Club on Madoc Street Llandudno. The relay will be made up of teams of 3 club members per team, with the 1st leg being 1k, 2nd 1 mile, and the final leg 2.5 miles approx. So that arrangements can be made, please confirm in the comments (or by FB messenger) your attendance by the 25th of July.  To arrange the teams, we could also do with knowing your most recent 5k times. Please also confirm any dietary requirements and any guests attending with you for food.        *Flashback to some previous relay action on Llandudno prom (above l-r) Josh Keogh, Kay Hatton and Richard Eccles.

*Some of the NWRRC members at the Llanrug 5k race last Wednesday night (*pictured back row l-r), Stuart Culverhouse, Gwennan Charlton, Rachel Morris, Karl Morris, Martin Green, Ben Hudson, Sion Thomas, Cai Roberts and Jonathan Kettle. And (*front row l-r), Cheryl Frost, Kay Hatton, Sarah Hudson, Kelly Alford, Vicky Taylor and Hannah Griffith. Fast dash in the heat for 200 runners at the Llanrug 5k race. Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Lesley Goodson.   It was another bumper turn-out and another very hot and heavy evening for nearly 200 athletes at the Llanrug 5k race last Wednesday night. Following a fast and relatively flat course around the village, the event attracted a large contingent of top club and social runners, with many additionally recording personal best (PB) times despite the challenging conditions. The race proved to be a very fast dash to the finish with local athlete  Adam Jones  (Eryri Harriers) eventually taking the plaudits as the first man home in just 15 minute

*Gethin Wyn Jones was the first NWRRC finisher at Conwy. Close finish for athletes at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   Just over 200 runners took part in last Saturday’s Conwy parkrun, with the leading pair of elite athletes battling all the way for the top-spot, and they were only separated on the line by just one second over this challenging 5k course. Rivals  Adam Jones  and  James Yarwood  (Abergele Harriers) raced nip and tuck throughout, with Adam eventually finishing 1st, with a sprint finish, in a very fast time of 16 minutes and 57 seconds, with James, despite recording a great new PB, having to be content with 2nd place in 16.58.  In another quick dash event, the first nine runners all dipped under the 20-minute barrier, and three out of the first four finishers recorded new PB times.  North Wales Road Runners  only entered four members this week due to several fixture clashes but still recorded three podium age cat places, including two excellent

Steve Forsyth (*above) led the club team at Helena Tipping 10k.  Road Runners celebrated great performances at Helena Tipping 10k and at Dolgellau 5-mile races. Report by Don Hale. Several NWRRC members braved the heat and made the journey to Wrexham last Sunday to take part in the popular  Helena Tipping 10k race. *Pictured (*above left) Steve Forsyth and (*right) Will Williams at the 10k. Many celebrated fast times including Steve Forsyth , who was the first club man home in 30th place in just 34.47, and club colleague  Will Williams finished  126th in 39.45, with  Gethin Wyn Jones  160th in 41.46, and  Jamie Tharme  264th in 46.08.   *Pictured above - some NWRRC members at the Helena Tipping 10k (l-r) Kevin Higgins, Kelly-Marie Alford, Mandy Owen and Cai Roberts. Cai Roberts  continued his good form in 302nd place in 48.45, with  Kevin Higgins  impressing again in 388th spot in 54.28. And  Kelly-Marie Alford  ran well to finish 393rd in 54.53, with  Mandy Owen  building back her fit