Don Hale Blog

Storm Bert was the only winner as various parkruns and local events hit - but Steve, Martin, and Harry beat the weather. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Storm Bert was the only winner last weekend as heavy rain and gale force winds forced the postponement of numerous sporting events, and in particular some fell and trail races, plus a host of popular parkruns across the area. Planned parkruns at Nova Prestatyn, Penrhyn Castle, Newborough Forest and Conwy, to name but a few, were all cancelled on either Friday night, or early Saturday morning, on essential health and safety grounds, to help protect both volunteers and many hundreds of participants. At Penrhyn Castle  they announced on Friday afternoon: “Unfortunately owing to the weather forecast we’ve been informed that parkrun is cancelled this Saturday.” And the same applied at the  Nova Prestatyn  venue, which is run along the promenade, when they confirmed: “...

  *Pictured above - Harry Driscoll (red vest),with Tony Price-Jones. Wild, wet, and windy with a bumper set of visitors at Conwy parkun...plus other results. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was back to the usual wild, wet, and windy weather conditions at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning, as another bumper entry tackled the challenging 5k course from the RSPB Nature Reserve. Many visitors travelled from far afield and utilised the parkrun as a pre-race warm-up for the Conwy half-marathon set for the following day, so consequently this popular event attracted a large number of travelling club and social runners. *Steve Roberts (*above left), with Stuart Culverhouse, and Don Hale. North Wales Road Runners  entered ten members, with some just taking it easy in preparation for either cross-country races, other events, or the half-marathon date.  Harry Driscoll  ran well again in 20th place overall, and he w...

*Pictured above - Harry Driscoll led the NWRRC team. Harry Driscoll led the Road Runners home at Conwy parkrun...plus other parkrun results. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was another bumper turn-out at Conwy parkrun last Saturday as a host of visitors enjoyed the mild conditions and the picturesque 5k riverside course at the RSPB Nature Reserve. Harry Driscoll  led home a team of just nine  North Wales Road Runners  due to members recovering from illness, injuries, or from last week’s Marathon Eryri.   Harry finished 12th overall out of 366 entrants, and he was 2nd in his SM20 age cat in 20 minutes and 16 seconds.  Sion Thomas  was 78th in 24.30, and  Richard Scamans  finished in 82nd place in 24.37.  *Sion Thomas (*above left), with Richard Scamans. Steve Bozier  had an easy recovery run in 27.33 in 151st place, and  Gwen Charlton  was 163rd and she claimed a new...

*Pictured above - Will Evans and his daughter Molly at the Manchester race. Success for North Wales athletes at the Manchester half-marathon...plus other results...including Harry's Abbey Dash success... https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   A North Wales trio of Martin Green, along with Will Evans and his daughter Molly, travelled to Manchester on Sunday to compete in the city’s popular half-marathon race along with about 24,000 other athletes, and recorded some excellent PB times! Martin, ( *pictured right ), who now has dual club registration with Meirionnydd RC, finished well as the 75th male athlete overall in 1 hr 13 mins and 4 seconds and won his VM50 age category.  After the event he confirmed:  “I went flat out for a championship time, and I was on track till around 6/7 miles then dropped off the pace unfortunately, but no complaints, enjoyed the block, took the race on but unfortunately not quite good enough on the day.” Will Evans ...

Hard and dry again at Conwy parkrun with another bumper entry...plus other results. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was another packed parkrun at Conwy last Saturday where 377 entrants tackled the challenging but picturesque 5k river trail from the RSPB Nature Reserve on a very dry and bumpy course. North Wales Road Runners  had fifteen members involved, and the first club man home was the rapidly improving  Harry Driscoll,  who finished 6th overall in just 19 minutes and 7 seconds, and he was 2nd in his SM20-24 age category. Jonathan Kettle  ran as a pacer for his club colleague  Benjamin Brummitt , who celebrated a new course PB in 10th place in 19.31, and he was 2nd in his SM30 cat, with  Jonathan  11th in 19.33, and he won his VM50 cat.  Steve Bozier  also enjoyed a good run after returning to fitness, and he was 30th overall, and 3rd in his VM45 cat in 21.42.   *Harry Dr...

*Harry Driscoll (*above), finished well  in 3rd place at Conwy. Five age cat wins for the Road Runners at a blustery Conwy parkrun...plus other parkrun results. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Eighteen North Wales Road Runners took part in the Conwy parkrun last Saturday amidst a good mix of club and social entrants, and recorded five age category wins on a bright, sunny, but cool and blustery morning. Martin Green  continued his superb form, and he was the outstanding and runaway first parkrun finisher with a fast time of just 18 minutes and eight seconds, to win his VM45 age cat.  Harry Driscoll  was also on fire again, and he claimed 3rd place, and won his SM20 cat in 19.38, whilst  Carla Green  made it a hat-trick of early placing age cat victories, finishing 9th, and the 2nd female athlete in 20.35, to additionally win her VW50 age cat. Adam Lemalle  was 16th in 21.26, and 2nd in his VM40...

*Harry Driscoll (*above), was the first NWRRC member back at Conwy. Splash and dash for visiting entrants at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   A series of downpours over the previous 24-hours prior to last Saturday’s Conwy parkrun, quickly returned this 5k riverside course to its near usual puddle-filled state, but this popular splash and dash event failed to deter a host of top club athletes and tourist runners from recording some excellent results. North Wales Road Runners  entered twelve members and collected four age victories and five other top-three placings with young  Harry Driscoll  leading the team home in 11th place in 19.36, and he was 3rd in his SM20 cat. Steve Mason  finished 33rd overall, and he too claimed 3rd place in his VM45 cat in 21.43, with  Steve Roberts  improving again in 45th place, and he was 2nd in his VM55 cat in 22.51.  *Pictured above (l-r), Steve Ma...