Don Hale Blog

*Will Evans (*above) made a successful debut at the Rhos parkrun Another attendance record smashed at Rhos despite Arctic conditions...plus other parkrun results. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael Finnie and others. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   The Llandrillo y Rhos parkrun set another amazing attendance record of 629 last Saturday despite a strong and bitter-cold Arctic headwind and a rather sandy 5k course. This popular new event attracted hundreds of visitors at the end of the festive holidays,  and it was also boosted by numerous runners travelling along the coast due to several early parkrun postponements, due to freezing conditions elsewhere with plenty of ice and snow, and Rhos also  recorded  an exceptional minus 8 degree wind chill via Strava! Visitor  Jacob Hiom  (Cuth’s RC) made a successful course debut at Rhos, finishing in only 17 minutes and 21 seconds, yet incredibly, he shared the exact same finishing time as  Simon Cole  (...

*Some members from Porth Eirias Runners (*above and below) at the start of the Rhos parkrun last Saturday. Top athletes and plenty of newcomers at new Rhos parkrun...plus NW parkrun results round-up. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com.2025   There was another good attendance of over 300 finishers at the new Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun with another excellent showing from top club runners and newcomers despite a rather sandy 5k course. The first finisher however remained unknown at the time of writing at Rhos, but visitor  Gavin Roberts  (Eryri Harriers) took the second place on his debut in 17 minutes and 30 seconds, with  Harry Driscoll  (Meirionnydd RC) just three-seconds and one place adrift in 17.33. Emily Hanlon  continued her top form (5th overall) to claim the first female place once again, with a tremendous run and a new PB of 17.48, with  Alex Aldous  second with another good PB in 19.38, and  Anna D...

*Pictured above - Laura Kenny with John Hatton at the sports awards. John Hatton and Michelle Farrell celebrate top  sporting  awards from Dame Laura Kenny   Report by Don Hale.   donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Popular charity fundraiser, event organiser, sports promoter, and athletics coach John Hatton deservedly won another prestigious trophy last Friday night at the Conwy Sports Awards, along with an exceptional local international triathlete in Michelle Farrell.   They are both well-known talented local individuals in the athletics world and they received their awards along with other identified sporting heroes from the former Olympic cycling star Laura Kenny.   John Hatton later confirmed:  "I was honoured and so thrilled to be the winner of the 'Volunteer of the Year' at the Conwy Sports Awards last Friday. I have now won four awards at the event, including Services to Sport, Best Event of the Year for the Nick Beer 10k, and the  Degan...

*Simon Cole (*above) was the runaway first finisher at Conwy parkrun Parkrunners beat the weather in North Wales. Report by Don Hale.  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   It was one of those horrible early morning days when you wonder why you ever climbed out of bed, as gale force winds and rain challenged my senses for a parkrun, and/or for other events last Saturday morning. With a variety of competing races across North Wales, many club runners probably opted for challenges, yet at so many parkruns across the region, this extraordinary void was quickly filled by numerous social runners visiting during the start of the half-term break. Conwy parkrun  welcomed people from all parts of the UK and beyond, but the first man home was local athletic star  Simon Cole  (GOG Triathlon), who beat the elements to record a positive time of 17 minutes and 13 seconds over the twisting 5k course. He was closely followed by  Cai Curtis-Roberts  in 17.38, with visiting d...