Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - Ben and Sarah  Hudson after their Spanish marathon. Ben and Sarah’s marathon run in the Spanish sun...plus other  major race results. Report by Don Hale. Ben and Sarah Hudson  travelled to Spain this week to compete in the sun-drenched Malaga Marathon, and 4k breakfast run.  And, in complete contrast to the terrible and  stormy  weather at home, the pair had to contend with very warm conditions, and in Sarah’s case, she also had to deal with some cracked and bruised ribs after a recent fall in her garden.  Ben recorded a good time of 3 hours 38 minutes and 40 seconds, with Sarah literally hot on his heels, despite her injury problems, she still finished well in 3.42.45. After the race, Sarah said: “I was  aiming for a PB, but I slipped over in our garden the day after the Conwy half, and cracked and badly bruised several ribs, and have only just become comfortable enough to run over the last few days.  “ I’m over the moon to even finish it, let alone in that time. My

Will Williams (*pictured above) on top form at the latest cross-country fixture at Shrewsbury. Road Running trio at another successful cross-country event at Baschurch, near Shrewsbury. Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Lesley Goodson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Three members of NWRRC travelled to the PGL Centre at Baschurch, near Shrewsbury, last Saturday afternoon, to take part in the latest highly successful cross-country fixture within the North Wales XC League. Will Williams  celebrated a podium result after claiming the 2nd spot in his respective MV50 age category following a determined run in the Senior Men’s race, finishing 49th out of 177 quality club entrants in a very respectable time of 30 minutes and 4 seconds.  Cheryl Frost  and  Kay Hatton  competed in the Senior Women’s event, which also attracted 158 top club athletes, with Cheryl 78th in 25.21, and 4th in her FV55 age cat, whilst Kay was 88th in 25.43, and she too finished

*The winning North Wales Regional female team (*above) at Newtown, and (*below) the NW men's team (*below), who combined with the ladies won the overall team prize. Road Running quartet amongst winning North Wales Cross-Country team at Inter-Regional championships. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Four North Wales Road Runners swapped their trainers for spikes and competed in the combined Welsh Inter-Regional cross-country championships held at Dolerw Park, Newtown, last Saturday. The quartet, which included Cheryl Frost, Kay Hatton, Will Williams , and Steve Gardner, were all eventually part of the overall winning team that finished ahead of rivals West Wales, East Wales, and South Wales, to take the deserved plaudits. North Wales ladies won the female team prize with 121-points, whilst the male team finished 3rd, yet the overall points tally confirmed that North Wales were the outright team victors of this prestigious challen

* Mark Mason (*pictured above), ran well and finished 4th overall at Conwy.   Five age cat wins for the Road Runners at another puddle-filled Conwy parkrun - plus other race results. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   A dozen North Wales Road Runners took part in another puddled-filled parkrun event at Conwy last Saturday, where, despite the awful conditions underfoot, they still managed to win five respective age categories, plus one second placing, and one third. During an unusually bright and sunny morning,  Steve Mason  led the NWRRC team home with a determined performance over this near waterlogged 5k course in 4th place overall in 19 minutes and 32 seconds, and he won his VM45 age cat.  Will Evans  then celebrated a new course PB, but finished just six-seconds, and one place behind Steve, but won his VM40 cat in 19.38, with  Harry Driscoll  9th in 20.07, and he too won his SM20 age cat.   *Pictured above

*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