Don Hale Blog

*Jonathan Kettle (*above) was the first  athlete home at the Toronto parkrun. Road Runner Jonathan Kettle  took part in the  Toronto Downsview parkrun  on Saturday morning, and he was the first man home in a fast time of 17.23, and he also won his veteran age cat.  This was Jonathan’s second racing success on his trip to Canada after finishing as the runner-up the previous weekend in the Niagara Falls half-marathon. After the parkrun, he said: “It was a beautiful morning but very windy and a lovely undulating route. ” *Other race results: Tooting: Helen Hannam  travelled to London last weekend and made her debut in the  Tooting Common parkrun , where she finished 4th in her VW45 age cat in 340th place in 28.02, amidst a massive entry of some 680 runners, After the run, she said: “A flat and fast course, and very welcoming with fab marshals. A very popular parkrun and I’m absolutely ecstatic with my time after recovering from illness, so looks like I’m back!” *Helen Hannam (*above) at t

*The NWRRC team at the Abersoch half-marathon (*l-r) Rachel Morris, Helen Hannam, Nicola Wylie, Stuart Culverhouse and Iwan Evans, Age category victory for Stuart Culverhouse at the Abersoch half-marathon race despite tough conditions. Report by Don Hale.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Five North Wales Road Runners travelled to Abersoch last Saturday (15/7/23) for their annual half-marathon event and collected two prestigious podium places, including an outright age category victory for Stuart Culverhouse as an MV50 athlete, despite facing very wet and windy conditions. In a large entry of about 300 runners,  Iwan Evans  was the first NWRRC member home in 20th place overall in 1 hour 31 minutes and 14 seconds, to claim the 3rd spot in his MV45 age cat. He was followed by  Stuart Culverhouse , who finished 29th in 1.35.53, to win his MV50 cat. Nicola Wylie  enjoyed another outstanding run as the 27th female, and in 136th place overall in 1.54.14, an

*Pictured above - Four North Wales Road Runners at the Great Orme Fell Race (l-r) Steve Bozier, Nicola Wylie, Helen  Hannam and Karl Morris. Perfect conditions as records smashed at the Great Orme Fell Race... Report by Don Hale.    The annual   Great Orme Fell Race (Y Gogarth) was held last Tuesday evening in superb conditions with dozens of experienced fell, endurance, and club runners enjoying some spectacular views, as they smashed several established records. Staged over as challenging 4.1-mile, (6.6kms) course, with 1,306ft (398m) of elevation, organisers welcomed a perfect evening for racing, with many entrants travelling from far afield just to take part in this ever-popular event, which included both junior and senior races and varied age categories. One of the local event organisers,  Mike Blake  from Eryri Harriers ,  later confirmed: “Perfect running conditions at the Great Orme for Round 12 of the  Joe Brown Shops ’ mid-week fell race series.  “And our thanks to the organi

*Road Runner Josh Keogh (*pictured above) had a great run in the Metric Marathon. Outstanding win for Josh Keogh at Colwyn Bay Metric Marathon...plus Jonathan Kettle on form at Knighton 20. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery   North Wales Road Runner Josh Keogh was the outstanding winner of the Colwyn Bay Metric Marathon last Sunday, finishing almost two minutes ahead of his nearest rival. The popular all-round athlete, who combines road races, with fell running, trail, and endurance events, set a hot pace throughout despite a blustery headwind, and proved a worthy champion of this challenging  Metric Marathon , which also proved to be an ideal warm-up for the forthcoming London (full) Marathon. Starting from the athletics track at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay, this event attracted some 425 mixed ability finishers from across the UK, over a new and testing course, that became a race of two halves due to a strong and persistent sea breeze. *(Above) Some of the NWRRC  members  at the

*Will Williams (*above) finished 2nd in the Run Wales 5k race Loyal athletes battled horrific weather in Run Wales 5k and 10k races...plus  Martin and Carla Green at Telford 10k. Report by Don Hale.   Nine Road Runners took part in the Run Wales Loyalty 5k and 10k races last Saturday despite freezing conditions that included sleet, rain, and snow, and a tough course covered in mud with many deep puddles. The race organisers confirmed this was a non-profit event and offered a free bonus place to runners who had previously entered at least two Run Wales events this year.  Both races utilised what was meant to be a very fast, flat, and scenic course long the cycle tracks from Conwy Bridge to Deganwy Quay and back, but the adverse weather conditions made the races far more of a challenge than expected. The 5k race  attracted twenty-one runners, and it was won by  James Yarwood  (Abergele Harriers) in 16.39, with  Will Williams  from NWRRC claiming a deserved 2nd place overall, and 1st in h

*Carla and Martin Green (*above) both recorded all time PBs at Ruthin. Nine podium places and seven age category wins at Ruthin parkrun... Report by Don Hale.   North Wales Road Runners took nine members to the Ruthin parkrun last Saturday morning to complete in another 5k club championship event as a replacement for a recently cancelled race and celebrated with unprecedented success! The team performed well again with all nine runners claiming podium places and seven also won their respective age categories, and many additionally recorded all-time PBs, as they made their debuts at this relatively new venue staged at the Memorial Playing Fields. In another very fast-paced encounter  Martin Green  was the first male runner home, and his wife  Carla Green  finished as the first female runner, with both additionally celebrating new parkrun all time PBs. Martin  ran in his 100th parkrun event and he knocked a couple of seconds off his previous best time to finish 1st overall in 16 minutes

*Jonathan Kettle (*above) braved injury to finish well at Manchester Seven Road Runners tackled the Manchester Marathon. Report by Don Hale.   A team of seven Road Runners travelled North last weekend for the Manchester Marathon, which also included an elite race, and a trial for top English runners aiming to represent their country in the forthcoming Commonwealth Games. Claimed to be one of the largest Marathon’s in Europe, this event attracted over 24,000 entrants and provided a stern test for a variety of club and general runners of mixed abilities. Jonathan Kettle  was the impressive first NWRRC member home in just 2 hours 48 minutes and 45 seconds for 468th place overall, despite a late injury scare, with  Josh Keogh  also running well in 850th place in 2.56.00, and  Stuart Culverhouse  performed well again in 4,496th place in 3.39.47.   *Josh Keogh (*above left) with Stuart Culverhouse (*right). Steve Roberts  was pleased to finish 7,248th in 4.02.22, and partners  Cai Roberts  a

*Richard Eccles finished 5th and won his age cat at Conwy Parkrun. Plenty of visiting club runners at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   Club athletes from as far afield as Truro, Littleborough, the Fylde Coast, Chiltern, and Trentham, had to battle a strong breeze and large puddles amidst the challenging 5k course at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning. North Wales Road Runners entered ten members this week following numerous fixture clashes over recent weeks with  Richard Eccles  and  Steve Mason  competing neck and neck with just four seconds separating the talented duo. *Steve Mason (*above) had a close finish with Richard Eccles. Richard  eventually finished in 5th place overall in 19 minutes 13 seconds, and he also won his MV55-59 age category, with  Steve  6th, and the winner of his MV45-49 cat in 19.17.  *Pictured (*above left) Gethin Wyn Jones, and (*right) Stuart Culverhouse. Gethin Wyn Jones  continued his rapid progress of late, to finish 16th ove