Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - Steve Gardner back from the track at Conwy parkrun. Perfect conditions as many club athletes returned to Conwy parkrun...plus other results. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Bill Scrivens. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   The weather was almost perfect last Saturday morning as nearly 300 mixed ability club and social runners took part in the Conwy parkrun, with many athletes returning to this event following injury, illness, or other important races. Veteran track athlete  Steve Gardner  from North Wales Road Runners turned his hand to the parkrun this week after setting records in recent national and international overseas championship events, and he led home a team of fourteen club colleagues to finish in 5th place overall in 19 minutes and 31 seconds, and he also won his VW60 age cat. *Stuart Culverhouse (*above left), with his son Joe, and Steve Bozier. James Jones  continues to impress with a new course PB of...

*Pictured above - Steve Bozier led home the NWRRC team at Conwy. Four age category wins for the Road Runners at Conwy parkrun...plus other results. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   North Wales Road Runners entered thirteen members at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday and claimed four age category wins and former NWRRC athlete Josh Keogh was the first finisher overall with an excellent finishing time of 18 minutes and 37 seconds. Starting from the RSPB Nature Reserve, this popular 5k event attracted numerous runners from various parts of the UK, in addition to welcoming back some of their own club runners following some long periods of absence. And also, it should be noted, that due to some other competing fixtures on another busy weekend, many runners took it steady in the rather heavy and humid weather. Steve Bozier  displayed a positive performance and led the club team home with a strong finish in 11th place in 21.00, and ...

*The NWRRC team at the Goldrush trail races (above l-r): Tony Price Jones, Will Williams, Stuart Culverhouse, Jonathan Kettle, Steve Poupart, Adam Lemalle, Dave Jones, Philip Moss and Vicky Taylor. Road Runners dug deep to win podium places at the tough Goldrush Trail races...plus other race results. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Ten North Wales Road Runners (NWRRC) had to dig deep last weekend to complete the tough Goldrush 8.5-mile trail and/or the Goldrush Canicross race last Saturday afternoon at Coed y Brenin to win five prestigious podium placings! This popular, and well organised event attracted a wealth of experienced competitors from far afield, with entries generally sold out many months in advance.  Race officials claimed that it includes  some of the best trails and singletrack that Coed y Brenin has to offer, and the event also incorporated one of the best Canicross (runners racing with their dog) races...

*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 restar...

*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,...