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

*Pictured above - runners from the Back Cloak runners, Dalzell runners, and a variety of other local running clubs at the start of the Nick Beer 10k race on Llandudno promenade. Bumper entry for Nick Beer 10k race, and a fast pace by the lead runners... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathetics.co.uk   North Wales Road Runners had eight club members involved in the popular Nick Beer 10k race last Sunday and celebrated with two veteran age category victories amongst a bumper entry of 627 club and social runners. The event, named in honour of a former NWRRC athlete, was well organised by  Always Aim High , and followed a picturesque but very challenging course, which started from Llandudno promenade and around the Great Orme and back, and included over forty club members acting as marshalls and willing volunteers. *Harry Driscoll (*above left) with Steve Gardner. Harry Driscoll  was the first club runner home with an excellent run finishing in 26th pla

*Steven Owen (*pictured above) at the finish of the Ironman Wales event. Amazing all-round performance from GOG Triathlete Steven Owen at the Ironman Wales challenge.   Report and photos produced with the kind permission of GOG Triathlete Steven Owen, who was another talented athlete that competed in the Ironman Wales challenge last weekend.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk     Wow! What an amazing time I had in Tenby!  By Steven Owen.   I have never experienced anything like it ever before! This was by far the biggest and toughest race I have ever done before and despite last minute nerves on the morning, I loved every minute, even when I was feeling depleted on the bike and run!    Now I have done it, I am left wondering what event will be next and what could possibly compare to the amazing atmosphere and challenge of  Ironman Wales .  *Action photos from last weekend's event.    Never before have I experienced an epic swim start like IMW, experi

A round up of the results and action from GOG Triathletes at the Ironman Wales challenge. Report and photos courtesy of GOG Triathlon. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk What can we say ? What an event ! What a day! The support was just out of this world, not just the public, but all the Welsh Triathlon Club's cheering each other on regardless of which club you belonged to. Certainly will be a day many will never forget.  And of course, we all became an "Ironman". As this was also the Welsh Triathlon Long Course Championship, there were bragging rights to be had too. And our amazing club athletes did not disappoint either with Steve Allport putting in the performance of the day, taking the win in his age group Claire Parsley did a fantastic performance too taking third in her age group With all the celebrations going on, we must say just how gutted we were to hear that Steph Conway suffered a major mechanical whilst out on the bike forcin

*Pictured above - Bryn Phillips and Steven Owen. GOG runners on form at Conwy parkrun but numbers depleted. Report by Don Hale. Nine GOG athletes entered the Conwy parkrun last Saturday (11/2/23) with many others no doubt saving their energy for the Nick Beer 10k or the Village Bakery half-marathon on the following day. Despite the fixture clashes, all the runners performed well with  Andy Brazier  taking the plaudits as the first club man back on this challenging 5k course.  Andy  recorded a good time of 24.46 in 40th place overall. He was followed by  Nicola Tomlinson  in 60th place in 26.10, and she was 2nd in her VW40 age cat.  Three GOG runners, including  Steven Owen, Bryn Phillips , and  Graeme Tunstall , all finished within a whisker of each other in a mad-dash sprint to the line, and amazingly shared the exact same time of 26.35 in 70th/71st and 72nd places. Rob Stewart  was 82nd in 27.17, with veteran  Wayne Roberts  115th in 29.20, closely followed by  Tom Simpson  in 117th

*GOG athlete Craig Rutter (*above) returned to action at  the Nick Beer 10k race and he was one of many GOG Triathlon members who ran last Sunday. Nick Beer 10k charity success as GOG Triathlon runners tackled the Orme in bright sunshine. Report by Don Hale.    Over five-hundred mixed ability runners enjoyed bright sunshine and some spectacular scenery around the Great Orme in Llandudno last Sunday for the ever-popular Nick Beer 10k race. The large crowds of tourists and supporters on the promenade were treated to a feast of entertainment as the mass ranks quickly dashed past the pier and began the challenging ascent and later descent of the Orme prior to returning to the start via Church Walks. There was a large turnout of GOG Triathlon athletes and  Grant Little  was the first club home on 38.05 and he also won his MV40 age cat, with  Jonathan Seymour  close behind in 17th place and 2nd in the same age cat as grant in 38.14, and  Keith Quinton  was the 3rd GOG runner in 39.48. The 1s

GRAND PRIX EXPRESS:  “David Alun Williams”  NORTH WALES CROSS COUNTRY SENIOR LEAGUE.  Special report  courtesy  of Bernie Jones, the secretary/referee from the meeting at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay on Saturday 21st  January 2023.  (*Bernie Jones is pictured below).     A big thank you to Russell Godwin, Crispin Backshall, and to all of the Colwyn Bay marshalls and volunteers who helped set up the course in difficult conditions, and put on a great penultimate  David Alun Williams  North Wales Senior Cross Country League for 2022/23.  Whilst the youngsters were back at Eirias Park last year, it was fantastic to see the senior league back in Eirias Park, and I have a few special memories of my own running on the fantastic course.  Yes, it may have been a slightly different course (and a bit longer than indicated on the course maps!!) but for those with good memories the senior league was last at Eirias Park on  10th October 2010,  but Eirias Park will always be a testing course regardless of