Don Hale Blog

* North Wales Road Runners at the start of the Llandudno Easter 5k Dash. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Kevin Slattery and Steve Jeffery.   North Wales Road Runners had two athletes in the top three placings, in addition to winning both the male and female team prizes and claimed five age category wins at the popular Easter 5k Dash on Llandudno prom last Saturday. Martin Green  led home a large club entry of some twenty-eight athletes for this revived race which has not been held since 2019 due to Covid-19 restrictions and postponements. The overall race was won by  Scott Nixon  (Cardiff AC) in 16 minutes 23 seconds, with Martin just 12-seconds adrift in 2nd place, despite a gallant effort, and  Mark Jessett  finished 3rd in 16.48, and he deserves extra credit after competing at the Conwy parkrun earlier that morning where he was the top club finisher in 18.50. *Pictured (*above left) Martin Green, and (*above right) Will Williams with Harry Driscoll at the start of the Easter 5k Dash o

*Mark Jessett (*above) was the first NWRRC runner back at the Conwy Parkrun. Bumper holiday entry at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos Steve Jeffrey.   Nearly 300 entrants of all ages and abilities were welcomed to an unusually sun-drenched Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning for the traditional bumper holiday event. With many local club athletes including NWRRC runners busy preparing for the later Easter 5k Dash on the prom, the top placings went to visitors  Craig Derbyshire  M30,   in 1st place in 17 minutes 35 seconds, with  Oliver Bernstein  M30, (Chorlton Runners) 2nd in 17.51, and junior athlete  Sam Gunning  JM15-17, finishing 3rd in 17.58. Only three Road Runners took part in the warm 5k challenge this week with  Mark Jessett  finishing 6th overall and 2nd in his MV35 age cat in 18.50, with  Steve Mason  27th and 4th in his MV 45-49 cat in 22.16, and  Dave Spofforth 172nd in 29.38.  *Steve Mason (*above) with another fine run at Conwy last Saturday. Dave however ran wi

*Josh Keogh (*above) ran a great new PB at Conwy for 2nd place overall. Bright and breezy but a fast finish at Conwy parkun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   It was bright and breezy at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday where over two-hundred finishers enjoyed the exceptional conditions and picturesque route to record a host of PBs and fast times, with the first nine finishers all dipping under the twenty-minute barrier. Road Runner  Josh Keogh  ran his socks off and claimed a deserved new PB, but he still finished a few seconds adrift of the overall winner, teenager James Smith, who also recorded a PB in 17.00, with another young runner Peter Cotterell, finishing 3rd in 17.28. Josh  was one of three NWRRC members who won their age categories, and yet, amazingly a further eight club runners all finished second in their cats! He led home a team of eleven seniors and one junior in 17.13, and was 1st in his SM30-34 age cat.  Jonathan Kettle (*above left) with Will Williams (*a

*Richard Eccles finished 5th and won his age cat at Conwy Parkrun. Plenty of visiting club runners at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   Club athletes from as far afield as Truro, Littleborough, the Fylde Coast, Chiltern, and Trentham, had to battle a strong breeze and large puddles amidst the challenging 5k course at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning. North Wales Road Runners entered ten members this week following numerous fixture clashes over recent weeks with  Richard Eccles  and  Steve Mason  competing neck and neck with just four seconds separating the talented duo. *Steve Mason (*above) had a close finish with Richard Eccles. Richard  eventually finished in 5th place overall in 19 minutes 13 seconds, and he also won his MV55-59 age category, with  Steve  6th, and the winner of his MV45-49 cat in 19.17.  *Pictured (*above left) Gethin Wyn Jones, and (*right) Stuart Culverhouse. Gethin Wyn Jones  continued his rapid progress of late, to finish 16th ove

Conwy parkrunners’ battled atrocious weather conditions. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.    Conwy parkrun attracted 146 determined finishers last Saturday morning despite athletes having to battle with atrocious weather conditions. It was certainly not a day for any fair-weather runners with the course near waterlogged, and coupled with wind, rain, sleet, and bitterly cold temperatures. This half-term fixture however, welcomed tourist runners from as far afield as Taunton, Newcastle, Bromsgrove, Chester, and Abingdon, with just twenty-two seconds separating the top three finishers, and six men dipping under the twenty-minute marker. *Mark Jessett was the first NWRRC athlete back at the Conwy Parkrun. Jonathan Tyler  (Betsi Runaways) claimed 1st place in 18 minutes 11 seconds and was 1st in his MV35-39 age category.  James Smith  (Menai Track and Field) was 2nd overall and 1st in his SM18-19 cat in 18.29, with  Pete Vale (Bromsgrove & Redditch) just four-seconds behind

*Mark Jessett (*above) was the  first NWRRC athlete back at the Conwy  Parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. Conwy parkrun finally returned as predicted last Saturday following another unfortunate break from action due to harsh Welsh Government and Covid-19 restrictions and even ended up on TV! The parkrun events were only approved by the Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford the day before, after the ruling for people attending outdoor events was suddenly increased from 50 to 500! This meant a slightly belated 7th anniversary birthday bash celebration at the RSPB starting point for just short of two-hundred enthusiastic runners on a cold morning that was also filmed by ITV Wales. It turned out to be a rather fast and furious event that attracted numerous elite athletes in addition to a host of fun runners, including nineteen first timers, and numerous local athletic club members.  The quality at the top end of the run included seven out of the first eight finishers recor