Don Hale Blog

*Jonathan Kettle (*above) was involved in an exciting sprint finish at Conwy. Top duo battled for honours amidst a sprint finish at Conwy parkrun... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was another battle from start to finish by two talented club runners during last Saturday’s parkrun at Conwy with Wrexham AC’s James Yarwood just holding on to the top spot following a sprint finish ahead of Road Runner Jonathan Kettle. Despite unusually humid conditions and a strong blustery wind, the experienced pair were locked neck and neck throughout on this puddle-filled 5k course but both athletes remained well ahead of any potential rivals.  James  eventually finished in 17 minutes and 33 seconds, with  Jonathan  just 16-seconds adrift in 17.49, and  Aled Hughes  was 3rd in 18.15. The 1st female runner was  Alex Aldous , who won her SW25 age cat in 18th place overall with a new PB of 21.52, and  Emma Bishop  was the ru

*A close finish for Jonathan Kettle (*above) at Conwy parkrun. Jonathan Kettle took the plaudits after a close finish at Conwy parkrun...plus other race results. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Road Runner Jonathan Kettle was the first runner home at Conwy parkrun last Saturday, but he was made to battle all the way around this challenging 5k course by rival Matthew Baker, who finished just 9-seconds behind Jonathan. The NWRRC athlete recorded a good time 17 minutes 36 seconds to win his MV45 cat, with Matthew 2nd overall in 17.45, and he won his MV35 cat, with  Aled Hughes  claiming the 3rd spot in 18.18, and he too won his MV35 cat. After the event, Jonathan confirmed : “ It was a close run until the bridge when I thought I would push the effort a bit, and he couldn’t hang on, so I just cruised home off the bridge. All good fun when it’s a bit of a battle.” Lisa Davies  was the first female finisher home

*A group photograph of all the supporters who turned out to remember their friend and colleague John Dalzell on Llandudno Promenade last Wednesday night. Good turn-out on the prom in midweek for a 5k tribute run in memory of John Dalzell. Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   About sixty people attended a special tribute and social 5k run/walk on Llandudno Promenade last Wednesday night in memory of a popular North Wales Road Runner John Dalzell, who tragically lost his life last month. John was a well-known ultra-distance athlete and a regular parkrunner at Conwy, who always had time for people, and often gave loads of encouragement to fellow runners, before, during, and after any events.  This special commemorative 5k was arranged by club colleagues and close friends of John, in  Jonathan Kettle  and  Tony Price Jones , and attracted plenty of supporters from numerous clubs and organisations that he was previously associated with, inc

*Jonathan Kettle (*above) enjoyed a  good  result at Lake Vrynwy. Good performances despite a delayed start at the Lake Vyrnwy half-marathon...plus other race results... Report by Don Hale.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   North Wales Road Runners entered seven club members in the popular Lake Vrynwy half-marathon last Sunday, which was hit by some unexpected problems, with the start delayed for about 40-minutes due to heavy traffic and parking issues. Despite this unfortunate delay, all the competitors still managed to perform well, and enjoyed the muggy conditions, with a pleasant breeze around the picturesque lake and relatively flat course.  Jonathan Kettle  enjoyed a steady performance, and he was the first NWRRC man home in 1 hour 18 minutes and 18 seconds to finish in 27th place overall. Stuart Culverhouse  was 153rd in 1.32,12, with  Ben Hudson  176th in 1.34.18, and Ben’s wife  Sarah Ferguson Hudson  finished as the 37th female, 214th overal

*Some of the NWRRC team members at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn, (l-r), Mike Hayton, Rob Fryer, Mark Mason, Rachel Morris, Sion Thomas, Gwennan Charlton, Stuart and Joe Culverhouse, and Jonathan Kettle. Victory for Jonathan Kettle at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn during club championships. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Jonathan Kettle led a team of ten North Wales Road Runners home at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn last Saturday, with a superb victory as part of their club championships. Making his debut on this flat and fast course, Jonathan won his MV45 age cat and finished in 1st place overall with an excellent time of 17 minutes and 48 seconds. He was followed by visiting MV35 athlete  Ian Higgins  (Telford Harriers) with a new PB of 18.19, and SM30 runner  Jamie Betts  (Prestatyn RC) in 18.52. The event attracted 162 runners with seven athletes all dipping under 20-minutes. Jonathan Kettle (*above) w

*Members of North Wales Road Runners pictured (*above) prior to the start. Road Runners staged their annual inter-club relay challenge on the prom in Llandudno. Report by Don Hale. Photos by John Hatton. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   North Wales Road Runners held their annual inter-club relay competition on Llandudno promenade last Tuesday night with a couple of dozen athletes taking part over a variety of distances. Seven teams, each consisting of three mixed ability and/or mixed aged athletes, plus one volunteer, entered this fun relay event, which was well organised by John Hatton and Carla Green , and included several other willing club volunteers.  All the distances were different and approximated. The first leg was just over 1k, with the second about a mile, and the third just over two miles. *I have entered the individual times and distances where known. The names are in the order of their running, with the 1k leg first, followed by the mile

*Martin Green (*pictured above) on top form at the Helena Tipping 10k at Wrexham. Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk *Some of the NWRRC team members at Wrexham last Sunday (l-r) back row, Cai Roberts, Jon Evans, Jamie Tharme, and Jon Doe, and (*front row) Kelly Marie Alford, Cheryl Frost and Kay Hatton. North Wales Road Runner Martin Green was on top form again during the Helena Tipping 10k race at Wrexham, last Sunday, when he finished 2nd in his MV45 age category, and in 35th place overall, out of nearly 800 quality athletes. This ever-popular race attracted numerous elite and international standard athletes with the event eventually won by  Jonny Mellor  in 29.17, with  Abdulqani Sharif  2nd in 21.31, and  Kadar Omar  (Birchfield Harriers AC) 3rd in 29.46. The first seven runners all dipped under 31-minutes! The 1st female was  Lily Partridge  in 33.02, with  Emily Kearney  (Warrior Pentathlon) 2nd in 34.03, and  Louise Small  (Alde