Don Hale Blog

*Josh Keogh (*above left), with Jonathan Kettle. North Wales Road Runners claimed top three places at Conwy parkrun...plus other results. Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of the late Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   A hat-trick of North Wales Road Runners celebrated after claiming the first three places at last Saturday’s Conwy parkrun, which included another bumper attendance of nearly 300-entrants, despite the blustery and damp conditions. Josh Keogh  and  Jonathan Kettle  battled for glory throughout this challenging 5k dash amidst a route that was splattered with mud, deep puddles, along a narrow out and back course, and led home a strong team of eighteen club members. Josh eventually finished 1st, but he was only 22-seconds ahead of his cub rival Jonathan, who had just returned to Conwy following his amazing half-marathon win in Cyprus last weekend.   He   also won his SM30 age cat in just 17 minutes and 28 seconds, with  Jonatha

*NWRRC member Jonathan Kettle takes the top-spot on the podium following his excellent victory at the Pervolia half-marathon In  Cyprus. North Wales Road Runner Jonathan Kettle wins the Pervolia half-marathon in Cyprus. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk North Wales Road Runner Jonathan Kettle claimed an incredible victory at the Pervolia half-marathon in Cyprus last Sunday with a superb performance in a fast time of 1 hour 16 minutes and 28 seconds. This was the veteran athlete's first-ever international win, and he also won his respective VM45 age category, and topped the podium at this prestigious sun-drenched event. Afterwards, Jonathan, who is also a much respected athletics coach, was obviously thrilled by his efforts, and especially with the win, and confirmed: “I did the 27th international race – the Pervolia half-marathon in Cyprus - and won it! I finished first, and this was the only position I wanted today! This was my fi

*Jonathan Kettle (*above) was the first man back at Conwy Parkrun. Fast finishers at Conwy parkrun despite the blustery conditions. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk *SEE ALSO: John Earlston's live video from the start of the Parkrun 20/1/24.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvCszIXHYJY   It was wild, windy, and very wet underfoot at Conwy parkrun last Saturday for nearly two-hundred mixed ability entrants who braved the cold and the challenging 5k course to record some superb times despite the unpredictable conditions. North Wales Road Runner   Jonathan Kettle  was the first man home in just 17 minutes and 49 seconds, to win his VM45 age cat, but he was made to fight all the way following a determined run by  Harty Woodford , who finished just one place, and eleven-seconds behind in 18.01, to win his SM30 cat. And  Stephen Skates  (Prestatyn RC) deservedly claimed the 3rd spot overall with another fast fi

*Jonathan Kettle (*pictured above front), with the group of festive runners. Athletics Coaches encouraged their runners to complete a Christmas social dash around the Great Orme. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Popular athletics coaches Jonathan Kettle and Tony Price-Jones, who organise a regular weekly training session on Llandudno promenade, opted to swap their evening programme last week, to a special Christmas social dash around the Great Orme. This festive event included dozens of running enthusiasts, mainly from Dalzell Runners , together with mixed members of North Wales Road Runners , GOG Triathlon , and several other local running groups, or individuals, and it was understood that most runners completed two challenging laps of the Orme, aided by essential head-torches to record a distance of about 11k. After the event, Jonathan and Tony received numerous generous plaudits from the runners for their efforts throughout the

  *Jonathan Kettle (*above) was the first runner home at Conwy Wild, wet, and windy at Conwy parkrun, and tribute to former athlete... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Ten North Wales Road Runners entered this week’s wild, wet, and windy Conwy parkrun, which included 146 club and social runners who negotiated the usual rather soggy, and waterlogged riverside course, and they all paid tribute to a former athlete. Jonathan Kettle  was the first runner home overall in a fast time of 17 minutes and 50 seconds to win his VM45 age cat, and he led back a talented team that collected five first-placed age category victories, in addition to one second and one third placing. Will Williams  finished 5th overall and he also won his VW50 cat in 19.08, with  Stuart Culverhouse  12th, and 3rd in his VM50 cat in 20.45.  Jamie Tharme  was on form again and he finished 19th in 22.08, and 2nd in his VM45 cat. *Will Williams (*

*Jonathan  Kettle  (*above) enjoyed an easy run at Conwy. Bumper turn-out at Conwy parkrun despite saturated course...plus other results. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Ten North Wales Road Runners were amongst a bumper turn-out of over three-hundred entrants at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday with the usual numbers boosted due to a local half-marathon event the following day.  This popular annual race, well organised by  RunWales , always attracts a massive following and ensures this particular parkrun date records one of the busiest days of the year, as many athletes utilise this event as an ideal warm-up.  After the parkrun however, it was hoped that most of the participants had a change of footwear available, as once again, this saturated riverside 5k course dominated proceedings, and made the narrow, twisty, riverside route quite a challenge, especially with so many visiting runners. NWRRC members were restricted again due to additi

*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

*Jonathan Kettle (*above right) as the race runner-up is pictured on the podium with the winner at the Niagara Falls half-marathon. Jonathan Kettle finished second in Niagara Falls half-marathon. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Jonathan Kettle flew the flag for Wales with pride last Sunday (22nd Oct) as he finished in second place overall at the Niagara Falls half-marathon following another stunning performance with an excellent time. The veteran North Wales Road Runner, who has been working away in Canada recently, celebrated a great effort in some very challenging weather conditions, but he was pleased to secure 2nd place and won his MV45 age cat in 1 hour 16 minutes and 55 seconds, in a top quality event that attracted 1,154 entrants.  Jonathan ran hard throughout and finished about two-minutes behind the winner, a local athlete, Jonathan Bradnam in 1.14.51, but he was almost four-minutes ahead of the 3rd placed finisher B Yang

*Jonathan Kettle crosses the finish line to claim 10th place at Oswestry. Jonathan Kettle 10th at Oswestry 10k race for NW Regional team. Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk North Wales  Road Runner Jonathan Kettle  had a great run at the Oswestry 10k on Sunday as he represented the North Wales Regional Athletics team against Shropshire.  Jonathan finished in 10th place overall and he also won his MV45 age cat in 35.09. Afterwards he confirmed: “I was very happy with my run, but the course was not very flat at all.”  North Wales men finished 1st and the Ladies 2nd.  Team manager Paul Brooks added : “ Our times from Sunday: Men:  Scott Nixon  33:00 (third overall);  Connor Rogers  33:01 (fourth overall);  Luke Northall  34:17 (sixth overall);  Jonathan Kettle  35:09 (10th overall and 1st M45).  Ladies: Rachel Shipley  39:17 (second overall);  Gemma Brown (Moore) 39:47 (fourth overall and 1st F40);  Jane Doughton  (42:28);  Melissa Turnbu