Don Hale Blog

*Steve Mason(*above) had another good outing at Conwy parkrun. Soggy parkrun at Conwy for Easter holiday visitors. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   It was another very soggy 5k course at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday as a variety of club and social runners opted to run this puddle-filled event, which was boosted by many Easter holiday visitors from all parts of the UK. The first runner home at Conwy parkrun was  Nic Brook  (Eryri Harriers) who had a tough battle for honours with talented junior  Oshi Adey , and debutant  Dave Hughes . Nic eventually won his MV45 age cat in 17 minutes and 50 seconds, but he was only five seconds ahead of Oshi, who won his JM15-17 cat in 17.55, with Dave third despite a course PB in 18.18. The 1st female runner was  Libbie Read  (Heaton Harriers) who was 13th overall, and she also won her SW25 age cat in 20.49, with  Gemma Moore  (Eryri Harriers) and her baby buggy 19th overall and 1st VW35 in 21.51,

*Martin Green (*above) had a good run but had to settle for 2nd place. It was a breeze for teenager Morgan Kendall in blustery conditions at Conwy parkrun with Martin Green 2nd. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   North Wales based student Morgan Kendall, representing  Durham City Harriers , made light of the rather cool and blustery conditions at Conwy parkrun last Saturday to record a great new course PB of just 16 minutes and 30 seconds as the first male runner home. The teenage prospect aka  Banana man , from a previous fancy dress dash at this same parkrun, finished nearly two minutes ahead of his nearest rival, veteran Road Runner  Martin Green , in 19.25, with debutant veteran  John Brogan  3rd in 19.49. The first female runner was  Victoria Cole  (GOG Triathlon) 10th overall in 21.20, with  Alice Johnston  (Les Croupiers) just ten-seconds behind in 2nd place, and 13th overall, in 21.30, whilst teenager  Ella Grundy  (Colwyn Bay AC) finished well in 37th place in 23.5

 *Some of the NWRRC members who ran at Bangor last week (l-r) Llyr ApGeraint Roberts, Mike Hayton, Rob Fryer, Kelly Alford and Cai Roberts. Llyr won a surprise victory at the hilly Bangor 10k race. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   Travelling Road Runner Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts was the surprise winner of the hilly Bangor 10k race last Sunday. The East Midlands based athlete finished just 15-seconds ahead of his nearest rival and won his MV45 age cat in just 37 minutes and 3 seconds. Llyr (*pictured left) led home a NWRRC team of eight runners amongst an entry of some 198 finishers, with five members recording podium places including four runners, who also won their respective age categories.   After the race Llyr admitted his surprise at his outstanding victory. He said: “ The race was great as I won, but I went into it with the sole purpose of just doing a course PB, and then see what would happen, so I was surprised when I crossed the line first!” Llyr’s colleague  Harry

*Martin Green (*pictured above) recorded a great time at 5k race. Fast times for club trio at Mid-Cheshire 5k race. Report by Don Hale.   Three Road Runners competed in the Mid-Cheshire 5k road race last Friday night which proved to be another ultra-fast event for a host of top club and elite athletes. Run over a course known for its speedy times and personal best results, the race attracted 848 finishers for this popular summer challenge. Just thirty-seconds eventually separated the first ten finishers, and incredibly, some twenty-eight athletes all dipped under fifteen-minutes! *Will Williams (*above left) with Harry Driscoll. Martin Green  was the first NWRRC man home in 124th place in a superb time of 16 minutes and 10 seconds, and yet he was 7th in his MV45 age cat.  Will Williams  was delighted with his time of 17.39 in 289th place, with  Harry Driscoll  364th following another excellent run in 18.52. The overall race was won by Adam Craig in just 14.09, with Kurt Taylor (Bristol

Great running from Steve Mason (*pictured above) at Conwy Parkrun but two teenagers led the way in hot conditions... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   It was another hot, dry, and dusty race at Conwy parkrun last Saturday where a considerable number of visiting athletes ensured it was a fast pace at the sharp end with two teenagers eventually claiming their share of glory over this challenging 5k course. Visiting youngsters  Harri Kendall  (Manchester Metropolitan University AC) and  Morgan Kendall  finished in 1st and 2nd positions respectively, with the two SM18-19 athletes dominating the event from start to finish.  Harri also claimed a new PB of 17 minutes 47 seconds, with Morgan recording 18.06, followed by  Osian Griffiths , the 1st SM30 in 18.35. The 1st Lady runner was  Hailey Fletcher  (Sedbergh School RC) in 20.38. The event attracted over 200 runners with many also preparing for local endurance events. North Wales Road Runner Steve  Mason continued his purple p

* North Wales Road Runners at the start of the Llandudno Easter 5k Dash. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Kevin Slattery and Steve Jeffery.   North Wales Road Runners had two athletes in the top three placings, in addition to winning both the male and female team prizes and claimed five age category wins at the popular Easter 5k Dash on Llandudno prom last Saturday. Martin Green  led home a large club entry of some twenty-eight athletes for this revived race which has not been held since 2019 due to Covid-19 restrictions and postponements. The overall race was won by  Scott Nixon  (Cardiff AC) in 16 minutes 23 seconds, with Martin just 12-seconds adrift in 2nd place, despite a gallant effort, and  Mark Jessett  finished 3rd in 16.48, and he deserves extra credit after competing at the Conwy parkrun earlier that morning where he was the top club finisher in 18.50. *Pictured (*above left) Martin Green, and (*above right) Will Williams with Harry Driscoll at the start of the Easter 5k Dash o