Don Hale Blog

*Young Joe Culverhouse celebrated a new course PB and won his age cat at Conwy parkrun. He is pictured (*above) with his dad Stuart. Six age cat wins for the Road Runners at a very wet Conwy parkrun... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was tough morning at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday for both athletes and volunteers, with wind, rain, and a waterlogged course adding to the usual challenges of this 5k dash. The conditions kept the number of entrants well down to just 136 brave souls who opted to turn out on such a horrible day, but eleven members of North Wales Road Runners took full advantage of the conditions, with every runner either winning, or finishing in the top-three of their respective age categories. And Mark Jesset  was delighted to be the first man home overall, led the team, and he was one of six age cat winners on the day, recording a very good time of just 18 minutes and 38 seconds to additiona...

*Colwyn Bay athlete Bryn Woodall (*above) was on top form at Conwy Student Bryn provided a master class at Conwy after returning from America. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Talented youngster Bryn Woodall, who has just returned home to North Wales for the summer from his studies in America was the first athlete home at last Saturday’s Conwy parkrun, which attracted a host of club and social runners from all over the UK. Bryn, who represents Colwyn Bay AAC, easily won his SM20 age cat with a fast time of 17 minutes and 43 seconds, with fell runner  Josh Keogh  winning his SM30 age cat in 2nd place overall in 18.02, whilst  Aled Hughes  (GOG Triathlon) finished 3rd in 18.15, and he won his VM35 cat. Anna Drinkwater  (Eryri Harriers) claimed the 1st female spot with a superb run finishing in 11th place overall in 19.39, and she won her SW25 cat. Meanwhile,  Hannah Whitelam Hodges  (Hallamshire ...

*Will Williams (*pictured above) was the first NWRRC finisher at Conwy. Bumper festive turn-out at a very wild and windy Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk It was another bumper turn-out at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning for the ever-popular Christmas event with nearly three-hundred club and social runners braving the wild and windy conditions over this challenging 5k course. And it turned out to be a dash with a blast for two top young guns who battled for honours with just five-seconds separating 1st and 2nd places. Students  Morgan Kendall  and  Bryn Woodall , who are both back home again in North Wales for the festive break, raced neck and neck throughout, with a near photo-finish on stand-by! Morgan  (Durham University Harriers AC) eventually took the 1st finisher place overall in 17 minutes and 15 seconds, and won his SM20 age cat, with  Bryn  (Colwyn Bay AC), a very close 2nd...

*Mark Jessett (*above) had a good run in 2nd place at Conwy parkrun. Athletes beat the Storm Babet aftermath at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Following the aftermath of Storm Babet numbers were well-down at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning as 135 hardy runners battled a challenging and waterlogged 5k riverside course that was riddled with numerous large and unavoidable puddles. Despite the soggy conditions underfoot most of the mixed ability, and varied aged entrants, still seemed relieved just to get out and run after a week of fluctuating heavy weather including torrential rain and strong blustery winds. Osian Griffiths  eventually took the plaudits for a determined effort as the first male runner home in 18 minutes and 39 seconds, and he additionally won his SM30 age cat, but he was pushed all the way by NWRRC athlete  Mark Jessett  who was only 12-seconds adrift, a...

*Pictured above - Mark Jessett - who won a most unusual naked 5k race. Mark Jessett ran his socks off to win a naked 5k charity trail race in Kent... Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Welsh athlete Mark Jessett took part in a most unusual race last Sunday where he almost literally ran his socks off – in addition to all his other clothing – as it was all part of a unique and very naked 5k fundraising event for the Naturist Foundation at Brocken Hurst, near Orpington, in Kent. Mark, who is a member of North Wales Road Runners, and is also one of the regular run directors at Conwy parkrun, was the first male runner home out of 130-completely naked entrants, winning the race in style in a fast time of 18 minutes and 50 seconds, despite the very hot weather with temperatures hovering around 27 degrees. After his run, Mark said: “A rather rare running appearance for me these days. The event was organised by the Naturist Foundatio...

*Another great performance by Mark Jessett (*above) at Conwy. Visiting athlete set hot pace in the sun at Conwy parkrun...plus Pat Finnie back in action... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   There was another large entry for the Conwy Bank Holiday parkrun last Saturday which again attracted a host of mixed ability social and club runners from all parts of the UK and abroad. Run in bright, and very warm sunshine, visiting athlete  Alastair Campbell  (Stroud & District AC) soon set a hot pace over this picturesque but dusty 5k course, and he was the 1st runner home in 17 minutes and 23 seconds, and won his MV35 age cat.  Despite a strong challenge throughout,  Alastair  remained narrowly ahead of Road Runner  Mark Jessett  who finished in 2nd place overall in 17.53 and 2nd MV35 cat, with  David Clarke  3rd and 1st MV40 cat with a PB of 18.09.  There ...