Don Hale Blog

*Will Williams (*above) was the first NWRRC runner back. Very wet, and windy with swamp-like conditions for Conwy parkrunners... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was another very wet and windy day for nearly two-hundred hardy athletes at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning on a challenging course that resembled swamp-like conditions. Despite the weather, this event still attracted sixty-two debutants, and recorded thirteen new personal best times (PBs), with club and social runners travelling from varied parts of the UK. The first male runner home was  Owain Morris  (Les Croupiers RC), who amazingly completed his run in just 17 minutes and 11 seconds, and he also won his SM30 age cat.  Promising SM20-24 youngster  Harri Jackson  (Manchester University AC) had to settle for 2nd place this week in 17.28, and at the time of writing, the 3rd placed finisher remained unknown. For the ladies, debutant junio

*Martin Green (*pictured above right) in the pack at the Sale Sizzler. Road Running trio ran fast at Sale Sizzler 5k. Report by Don Hale . https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Three members of North Wales Road Runners competed in the Sale Sizzler 5k race last Thursday night which included a quality field of 642 elite and top cub runners. Martin Green  enjoyed another great run and finished 37th overall and he was 3rd in his MV45 age category in a fast chip time of 16 minutes and 19 seconds.  Will Williams  continued his excellent form in 87th place, and he was 4th in his MV50 cat in 17.35, with  Jamie Tharme  223rd in 20.24. This popular summer event again attracted a massive field and incredibly there was only a matter of a few seconds between the top nine athletes, with the first twenty-seven runners all dipping under sixteen seconds.  The overall race was won by  Nicholas Barry  (Sale Harriers) in 15.00, with  Thomas Charles  (Chorlton Runners) 2nd in 1

*John Hatton (*above) celebrated his 250th credit as a volunteer at Conwy. John Hatton celebrated his 250th appearance as a keen volunteer and athlete at Conwy parkrun... Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   John Hatton, a well-known veteran athlete, sports official, charity fundraiser, and promoter of many local  charity  races and events, celebrated his 250th volunteering credit at Conwy parkrun last Saturday. The runner, cyclist, and influential member of North Wales Road Runners has been a prominent and popular member of the hard-working team of marshals, volunteers, and organisers, at this scenic parkrun venue since it first began many years ago. *Conwy parkrun director Gwyn Williams (*above left) and John Hatton are shown in festive gear last Christmas as they shiver before welcoming back all the entrants. John brought his experience and expertise to this particular event after helping to organise the Nick Beer 10k race, and the Deg

*Some of the NWRRC members at the start of the Felinheli race. Good turn-out and podium awards for the Road Runners at the challenging Felinheli 10k race... Report by Don Hale.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   There was a good turnout from North Wales Road Runners amongst a quality entry of about three-hundred top club and social runners at the Felinheli 10k race last Wednesday night. Despite a very hilly and undulating course, and run mainly over rough tracks, forest trails, and some normally restricted private roads, many athletes still reported personal best times on another warm and humid evening. Adam Jones  (Meirionnydd RC) was the overall race winner following a superb run with an excellent chip time of just 32 minutes and 36 seconds to additionally win his Senior Male age cat.  Ifan Dafydd  (Eryri Harriers) claimed 2nd spot, and second prize in the same cat as Adam in 32.50, whilst the highly talented local youngster  Noa Vaughan  was the 1st

* Nicola Wylie (*above) in blue top, leads the fun runners out of Llandudno. Beer 2 Beer supporters 10k social fun run to help promote local Tap Rooms. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk About forty people took part in an unusual Beer 2 Beer social fun run over the weekend to help promote local beer production and Tap Rooms.  Starting from the Wild Horse Brewery in Llandudno, via the Craft Beer Cave at Penrhyn Bay, to the finish at the Black Cloak Taproom at Colwyn Bay, runners were able to enjoy a welcome drink at each stop to help quench their thirst in the extreme heat. Two NWRRC members  Helen Hannam  and  Nichola Wylie  and their friend Nia, were amongst the group who ran the initial 10k route from start and finish, before later retracing their steps back to Llandudno to record a half-marathon distance. It was not a race as such but just for fun, Nicola Wylie was the first female finisher and Steve Roberts

Bryn Woodall stars at Conwy parkrun after return from the States. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Conwy parkrun again attracted a good number of talented young athletes and visitors from across the UK, in addition to the usual mix of club and social runners, who all enjoyed a fast dash over this picturesque route despite very hot conditions. The first male runner back over this bumpy and bone-dry, out-and-back course, was promising young teenage athlete  Bryn Woodall,   (*pictured above right),  who has recently returned home from America for a break, where he is currently studying.  The talented SM18 age cat winner who represents  Colwyn Bay AC , celebrated another worthy victory in just 16 minutes dead, and he was more than a minute ahead of his nearest rival, visitor  Liam Busby  ( Wycombe Phoenix AC ) who finished 2nd in 17.06. At the time of writing the third placed finisher was still unknown. Gemma Moore  ( Eryri Harriers ) w

*Some of the NWRRC members at the Llanrug 5k race last Wednesday night (*pictured back row l-r), Stuart Culverhouse, Gwennan Charlton, Rachel Morris, Karl Morris, Martin Green, Ben Hudson, Sion Thomas, Cai Roberts and Jonathan Kettle. And (*front row l-r), Cheryl Frost, Kay Hatton, Sarah Hudson, Kelly Alford, Vicky Taylor and Hannah Griffith. Fast dash in the heat for 200 runners at the Llanrug 5k race. Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Lesley Goodson.   It was another bumper turn-out and another very hot and heavy evening for nearly 200 athletes at the Llanrug 5k race last Wednesday night. Following a fast and relatively flat course around the village, the event attracted a large contingent of top club and social runners, with many additionally recording personal best (PB) times despite the challenging conditions. The race proved to be a very fast dash to the finish with local athlete  Adam Jones  (Eryri Harriers) eventually taking the plaudits as the first man home in just 15 minute

*A group picture (*above) of some of the people who attended the 40th anniversary bash. Large turn-out for NWRRC's 40th anniversary gathering. Report by Don Hale. Exclusive photos by Steve Jeffery and John Hatton. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk There was a large turn-out of North Wales Road Runners both past and present as they celebrated their 40th anniversary gathering last Sunday afternoon in the rear garden at The Nevill on Vaughan Street, Llandudno. Club chairman Kevin Slattery welcomed all the visitors and running club members together with many family members, and spoke about his surprise that the club has continued to flourish over four decades since its initial formation with very limited facilities and optimism. He said he looked forward to the continued expansion of the membership and hoped the club would meet again for the 50th, 60th, plus other, additional, and future anniversaries. He said the club now had over 100 active members and