Don Hale Blog

*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 in 17.20, and he was 2nd in the s

*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, and won his MV35 cat

*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 Foundation, and it

*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 were 316 finishers. Praise too was given to MV70 master vet

*Josh Keogh (*pictured above) had a great run at Conwy. Josh celebrated his run in the sun at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   There was another good turn-out of mixed ability athletes at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday where all the entrants were again blessed with warm sunshine and an unusually bone-dry 5k course. North Wales Road Runner  Josh Keogh  was the worthy first placed finisher, and he also celebrated his SM30 age category in 17 minutes and 52 seconds. Josh was just 14-seconds ahead of his nearest rival  Aled Hughes , who was 2nd in 18.06, with  Alison Campbell  (Sheffield University) 3rd overall, and she was also the 1st female finisher, winning her SW30 cat in 18.41.  The other female finishers were  Sally Bennett  2nd, and 15th place overall in 21.01, with  Vicky Cole  (GOG Triathlon), the 3rd female, and 17th overall, despite a great PB of 21.17.  *There were 295 finishers in total. Josh Keogh  led a team of nine club members home, and he was

*Mark Jessett (*above) was the first NWRRC member home. Great Bank Holiday turn-out in the sun at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery.   There was a large turn-out of mixed ability club and social runners at the Bank Holiday weekend parkrun at Conwy last Saturday with sixteen North Wales Road Runners returning from their recent marathon exploits to claim eight podium places including four age category wins. Visiting athlete  Aaron Hoyle  (Corstorphine AC) was the first runner home on his debut in just 18 minutes and 7 seconds. And at the time of writing the 2nd placed runner’s identity remained unknown, but NWRRC member  Mark Jessett  claimed the 3rd spot in 18.30, and he also won his MV35 cat. There were 287 finishers. The 1st female athlete was  Gemma Moore , a former NWRRC member now with Eryri Harriers, who finished in 12th place overall in 20.17, but she had a real tussle with club colleague  Anna Drinkwater , who was just one place and three seconds be

*Kay Hatton (*above) put in another great performance to win her age cat Kay and Mark win podium places at Anglesey half-marathon...plus 10k results. All race reports and results by Don Hale.   Veteran athletes Kay Hatton and Mark Mason were the outstanding stars of the NWRRC team at the Anglesey half-marathon race on Sunday with both members winning prestigious podium places including an age category win for Kay, and a 2nd place for Mark. The Road runners entered a strong team of ten athletes, and they all competed well against a strong entry of nearly 700 club rivals.  Mark Jessett  was the first club man home in 8th place overall in 1.18.11, with  Rory Middleton  29th in 1.25.38, and  Iwan Evans  46th in 1.29.18. *Mark Jessett (*above left) with Stuart Culverhouse. Stuart Culverhouse  maintained his recent good form in 53rd place in 1.31.02, and  Kay Hatton  enjoyed another outstanding run to win her new VW60 age cat in 1.45.37 in 174th place, and the 25th female runner.  Nicola Wyl