Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts on his way to a  podium place. (*photo courtesy of Bill Scrivens). North Wales athletes win podium places at the dramatic World Championships. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk *Michelle Farrell (*above) on the podium with her trophy after finishing 3rd in the World Trail Running Championships last weekend.   Two exceptional North Wales athletes claimed prestigious podium places at the Xterra Snowdonia Trail Running World Championships last Saturday after braving the extremely high temperatures that later led to the stoppage of all five events on the mountain. The races started and finished at Llanberis and offered a number of exceptional challenges with athletes tackling varied distances, ranging from 10k to a marathon, and even a 24-hour ultra event, and attracted many of the best athletes from across the globe. The event organisers confirmed:  ‘ The incredible routes explore the trails, gorgeous pa...

*Pictured above - Steve Mason - who was the first NWRRC member home. Hot pace despite a bitterly cold morning at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com It was a very cold start for the first Conwy parkrun of 2025 as 247 mixed ability athletes tackled the puddle-filled, but picturesque 5k course, from the RSPB Nature Reserve last Saturday morning. Despite the freezing temperatures,  Iain Burgess  set a very hot pace as the 1st finisher in just 18 minutes and 36 seconds to win his VM35 age cat, and he was some 36-seconds ahead of his nearest rival, VM40  Richard Wilyman (GOG Triathlon), in 19.08, with SM25  Aaron Jones  3rd in 19.49. Llio Owen  was the 1st female finisher with a new PB of 21.23, and she won her SW20 age cat (13th overall), with VW40 athlete  Vicky Cole  (GOG Triathlon), 2nd (19th overall) with a fine run in 22.05, and VW35  Emma Stanley  claimed the 3rd place, (21st overall) in 22.15. North Wal...

*Pictured above - team manager Bernie Jones (*front left) with some members of the Welsh team at the Belfast races. NW Road Running duo performed well for Wales at the British & Irish International Cross Country championships in Belfast. *North Wales Road Runners Will Williams (*above left) and Karen Butler. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk North Wales Road Runners Will Williams and Karen Butler competed well in the British and Irish Masters International Cross-Country Championships at the Billy Neill Country Park, Dundonald, near Belfast last Saturday. Will performed well in his MV50 age cat on a rather hilly and challenging course despite only just recovering from injury and seemed satisfied after finishing 29th overall in thirty-three minutes and one-second. And plaudits were also given to NWRRC member  Karen Butler  who finished 16th in her VW65-75 age cat (24th overall) and she was the1st Welsh veteran athlete i...

Sandman Triathlon 2024: A Fierce Battle Against the Elements:   Race Report. Special report by Always Aim High Events.    https://alwaysaimhighevents.com/   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Last weekend marked the highly anticipated return of the Sandman Triathlon for its 14th year at the breathtaking Traeth Llanddwyn. This year’s event also played host to Stage 5 of the Welsh Triathlon Super Series, where fierce competition unfolded as athletes vied for the sprint title. The weather didn’t cooperate this weekend, with strong gusts and heavy sea swells forcing us to cancel the swim leg on both days. Sunday then greeted us with torrential rain. However, the athletes remained in great spirits, and the challenging conditions made for a tough but fitting conclusion to the 2024 Adventure Series.   SATURDAY The day began with dry weather, but strong gusts prompted an early decision to cancel the swim leg for the Sprint competitors. Instead, they tackled a 2.2k ...

Anglesey Trail half-marathon and 10k...Sunday 10th Nov 2024. Sunday 10th November 2024.  Newborough Forest, Anglesey: https://alwaysaimhighevents.com/ https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com The Anglesey Trail Half Marathon & 10k is set in the beautiful surroundings of Newborough Forest, Anglesey.  The course takes you through the trees onto the stunning Llanddwyn Island and onwards to beautiful winding woodland trails which once hosted the Commonwealth Mountain and Ultra Distance Running Championships.    You’ll catch glimpses of the Llyn Peninsula and the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia) amongst other incredible views. With loads of single-track forest trails, quiet forest views and sandy running trails, there is something for everyone in this race.    The course loops round to bring runners back to where they started and a hero's welcome from the spectators on the finish line.   https://alwaysaimhighevents.com/

The Eirias Triathlon and Duathlon -  New 2025 event for Always Aim High... https://alwaysaimhighevents.com/ Latest news and updates:  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   We are thrilled to announce the addition of a new pool triathlon and duathlon to our 2025 event calendar: the  Eirias Triathlon and Duathlon.   Traditionally, our season kicks off with the  Harlech Sprint Triathlon and Duathlon , a beloved event in the town of Harlech for over 20 years. However, following the closure of the Harlech pool earlier this year, the event will no longer be able to take place there.   Tim Lloyd ,  Managing Director at Always Aim High Events said : "While we are sad to bid farewell to the Harlech Sprint Triathlon after many successful years working alongside the Harlech Triathlon Club, we are excited to introduce another early-season pool swim to our portfolio.    “ Eirias Park  has long been considered the perfect location, already home to a...

*Stuart Culverhouse (*above), was the the first NWRRC member home. Plenty of club and mixed ability entrants at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Conwy parkrun attracted almost three-hundred club and mixed ability athletes from all over the UK to the RSPB Nature Reserve last Saturday, with all the entrants again welcoming some unusually warm and dry conditions. Stuart Culverhouse  led home a team eleven North Wales Road Runners in 8th place overall and he won his VM50 age cat in 20 minutes and 28 seconds.  And  Richard Scamans  was preparing for his forthcoming Triathlon event and ran well finishing 25th in 22.30, and he was 2nd in the same cat as Stuart. Harry Driscoll  finished 30th despite a hard 5k race the previous night and celebrated 3rd place in his SM20 cat in 22.46, with  Sion Thomas  39th and 3rd in his VM40 cat in 23.11.    *Pictured above (l-r): Stuart Culve...

*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 ...