Don Hale Blog

*NWRRC athlete Carla Green (*above right) with her international colleague Ann d'Albuquerque from GOG Triathlon at the Home Nations race at Tenby. Carla Green starred for Wales in Home Nations 10k race at Tenby and finished 2nd in her age category. Report by Don Hale.   Road Runner Carla Green starred for Wales in an international 10k race last weekend and finished 2nd in her respective age category during a controversial Home-Nations tournament at Tenby Carla turned in a spectacular performance and put her recent injury woes behind her to claim 2nd place in her FV50 age category, whilst club colleague  Richard Eccles  unfortunately   faced disqualification along with others following a mix-up over an alleged misdirection claim towards the finish of his 5k race, with much criticism later aimed at the event organisers. Carla Green  ran home in 53rd place overall and she was the 13th female in the 10k race in 41 minutes 42 seconds amongst 388 entrants, whilst her husband  Martin Gree

*North Wales Road Runners (*above and l-r) Steve Forsyth, Don Hale, and Will Wiilams with a car boot full of donated sports gear for Gambia at the Conwy Parkrun last Saturday. Steve Forsyth launches appeal for unwanted sports kit for Gambian runners. Report by Don Hale.   NWRRC member Steve Forsyth this week praised the support of local runners as he launched his appeal for any unwanted or spare sports kit for underprivileged young athletes in Gambia, The popular and talented runner, who has recently returned from his homeland overseas after visiting family and friends, is hoping to collect as many items as possible for numerous promising young sportsmen and women in Gambia, who desperately need any surplus trainers, t-shirts, running vests, socks, shorts, gloves, hats, scarves or even any unused gels! Many youngsters are said to be busy training for a variety of local races in Gambia including the forthcoming Banjul marathon events but have limited protective shoes and sports clothing

Covid restrictions prevented Conwy parkrun from celebrating their 7th anniversary. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery. Welsh Government and Covid-19 restrictions unfortunately prevented the organisers of the Conwy parkrun from celebrating seven years since staging their very first event.  Although the junior parkrun has continued and seems to be going from strength to strength, the adult participation has been halted by a limit of just 50 participants for all outdoor sports events in Wales.  It’s a ruling that has caused extreme controversy within the running fraternity and seems in stark contrast to identical events in all other parts of the UK, with English ministers even querying the validity of this ban, and the impact on both mental and physical health. The restrictions have also somewhat dampened the spirit of parkrun of late, and it is hoped that further meetings this week with the Welsh Government, Parkrun UK, and Welsh Athletics will help to rectify the problem.

*Another great run by Richard Eccles at the Conwy  Parkrun. Seven age cat wins for Road Runners at blustery Conwy Parkrun - plus Jamie on tour. Report by Don Hale. Most photographs by Steve Jeffery.   Despite cool and blustery conditions at last Saturday’s Conwy parkrun, seven North Wales Road Runners still managed to win their respective age categories, with another three members claiming additional cat podium placings. Simon Cole  (Gog Triathlon) was the first runner home over the challenging 5k course in 17 minutes 15 seconds, finishing more than a minute ahead of his second placed rival  Chris Turner  (Eryri Harriers) in 18.36, with NWRRC athlete  Richard Eccles  3rd in 18.45. The inclement weather probably helped to reduce the number of starters to just 244, but the late restart of some other local parkruns’ may have also played a part, yet this event still attracted a generous mixture of club and fun runners from as far afield as London, Truro, Stoke, Todmorden, Holmfirth, Ilkest

Great day for GOG Triathlon members at Bala in Welsh Championship race - and Rhian Roxburgh claims unique double.   Report by Don Hale.   GOG Triathlon had a strong team of over 30 members competing at Bala during Stage 5 of the Welsh Triathlon Super Series and they won gold and silver medals for several top podium placings in different age categories, with Rhian Roxburgh completing a unique double. *A unique double by Rhian Roxburgh at the Bala Triathlon. The event included a 1500m lake swim, a 40k bike ride and a near 10k run, and attracted 463 finishers.  Rhian Roxburgh  was the first female club runner home in 21st position and claimed gold for winning her Vet Female 40-49 age cat, finishing in 2 hours 11 minutes 19 seconds, and she won silver as the 2nd female finisher overall to celebrate a unique double. *Another great performance by teenager Caitlin Owen who won her age cat. Gareth Bowyer  was another worthy gold medal winner claiming 1st place in his Vintage Vet 50-59 age cat,

Liz Driscoll celebrates fantastic day at Bala Triathlon. Report by Don Hale.   North Wales Road Runner Liz Driscoll, who last weekend competed for her second claim club GOG Triathlon, tells of her unique experience in taking part in her first ever triathlon race at Bala. The event was said to be the ideal race for both beginners and experienced athletes alike, and the race seemed to live up to its pre-race publicity as “one of the most exciting triathlons the UK has to offer,” and soon became one of the most unforgettable races on the Welsh Triathlon Super Series. Race organisers, Tough Runner UK, teamed up with highly experienced local club, Clwb Beicio Bala, to bring back this amazing event, which was previously considered one of the most popular races on the circuit. And  this year, the event was included as Stage 5 of the Welsh Triathlon Super Series , which was also televised on S4C. Billed as the Bala Standard Triathlon, it involved a closed road triathlon, which started with a 1

* Some of the GOG runners at  the  Nick Beer race on Llandudno promenade Age Cat honours for GOG Triathlon Club at a very hot Nick Beer 10k race Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Steve Jeffery.   The GOG Triathlon Club entered a large contingent of quality athletes in the very hot and hilly Nick Beer 10k race last Sunday morning, which was one of the very first major events held in Wales this year since the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns. This popular race starting from Llandudno Promenade, and then out and back, including a tough climb around the Great Orme, always offers runners a stern challenge, but this year, the re-scheduled race - due to previous restrictions - provided an even harder test with very high temperatures and limited shade for the 400-plus finishers. The event also included a prestigious Inter-County race with some of the top runners from North Wales, Staffordshire, Shropshire, and Cheshire taking part. North Wales eventually won the men’s race, with the ladies having

Llinos completes her 727-mile fundraising challenge for the RNLI Report by Don Hale North Wales athlete Llinos Davies has just completed her ultra-marathon task of completing her 727-mile target for the RNLI as part of their Mayday mile fundraising challenge. The popular GOG Triathlon endurance star swam, cycled, walked, and ran the distance for this worthy cause and welcomed the brief extension of the programme till last weekend 31st May. Llinos proudly explained: ‘I had hoped to raise £1 for every mile but never expected this total distance since 3rd   May. It’s been a total blast. I’ve been out in all weathers, hail storms, rain, wind and sunshine. ‘Thank you to everyone who has donated, and I managed to raise £150 and together GOG Triathlon have raised over £500 for the RNLI. And thank you to all my friends who have accompanied me on these quests. We have had an amazing time. ‘I think the highlights must be hearing a cuckoo, and seeing an Osprey, together with great views of a Red