Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above and below - volunteer and photographer John Hatton captures the unique atmosphere as the  large number of runners begin their Easter dash at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning. Bumper Easter turn-out at Conwy parkrun boosted by a host of visiting UK club and social entrants. Report by Don Hale. Main photos by John Hatton. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It proved to be another bumper Easter attendance at Conwy parkrun last Saturday as some 435 entrants from all parts of the UK, tackled  the   picturesque  but soggy 5k riverside route to help celebrate the Bank Holiday weekend, and they  just missed out on setting a new attendance record! Parkrun official Mark Jessett  confirmed: " Saturday was our second highest attendance, and our highest since we restarted post-2020. Our highest attendance was at Easter in 2019.  "Overall, across the UK, parkrun saw its highest attendances since the restart. Many parkruns in North Wales (D

*Josh Keogh (*pictured above), was the first runner home at Conwy. No ice this week but runners battled a cold and blustery wind at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   In stark contrast to last week’s icy 5k course at Conwy parkrun, this time some 229 starters faced a cold blustery wind, but the event welcomed a large contingent from Porth Eirias Runners, and numerous ‘Couch to 5k’ participants. North Wales Road Runners  entered twelve members with  Josh Keogh  being the first man home overall on an unusually dry but challenging course with a fast time of 17 minutes and 33 seconds. The club also celebrated four first placed age cat victories, four second, and two third placings. Josh also won his SM30 age cat, and he was more than a minute ahead of the second placed finishers and debutants,  Cameron Morris  in 18.42, and  Ed Slaughter  third in 18.43. Cameron won his SM20 cat, and Ed additionally won his SM18 age cat. 

*Josh Keogh (*above left) on the podium with the race winner Aled Breeze and Tony Wood at the Winter Trail 7-mile race. Josh Keogh finished as runner-up at the tough Winter Trail 7-mile race. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Three North Wales Road Runners were amongst 443 entrants at the Winter Trail 7-mile race at Coed-y-Brenin last Saturday morning, with Josh Keogh claiming a deserved podium place after finishing as the runner-up in a close finish. Josh ran home in just 48 minutes and 8 seconds over this tough and undulating course, whilst his colleagues   Adam Lemalle   and   Charlotte Rose Wilton-Jones   also ran well and were pleased with their performances in this challenging and very muddy event. Adam finished in 98th place overall in 1.07.09, and Charlotte was 122nd, and the 28th female in 1.09.40. *Pictured above left - Adam Lemalle and Charlotte Rose Wilton-Jones at the finish, and (*right), Josh Keogh  crosses the finishing

*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

*Pictured above - the late photographer Steve Jeffery and his dog Bonnie. Tributes paid to popular photographer Steve Jeffery at Conwy parkrun... Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Steve Jeffery’s archive. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   There were mixed emotions at Conwy parkrun last Saturday as nearly 300 mixed ability social and club runners paid tribute, including a minutes spontaneous applause, to the popular and well-known photographer Steve Jeffery, who tragically lost his life last Wednesday. Steve was a founding member of  North Wales Road Runners , and a former member of the  Abergele Harriers  club, and he was a regular supporter at Conwy, and at numerous other local parkruns, plus a variety of events throughout the region. There was a notable feeling of shock and sadness amongst the packed ranks as parkrun officials  John Hatton , and  Bethan Wyn Roberts , confirmed the sudden and unexpected loss of Steve, who usually attended events w