Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - super veteran John Hatton at Penrhyn Castle. John Hatton celebrated his 350th volunteer role at Penrhyn parkrun...plus other results... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Super veteran John Hatton, a well-known local race director and a prolific charity organiser/fundraiser, celebrated his 350th role as a volunteer at the  Penrhyn Castle  parkrun event last Saturday morning. VM80 athlete John, who also represents  North Wales Road Runners  (NWRRC), said he was delighted to have been given the opportunity to reach this parkrun milestone at Penrhyn, and he confirmed: “It was my 350th volunteering opportunity, and I was so thrilled to achieve this number at this particular venue, as they are always so welcoming.” He later helped out with barcode scanning and was also able to witness an exciting fast paced finish by the top three male athletes, which included the first two sharing the exact same times.  Visitor  Daniel...

*Pictured above - the NWRRC relay team and supporters on Llandudno prom. Hot pace on a warm night for the club relay teams. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Members of North Wales Road Runners took part in their annual team relay challenge last Tuesday night on Llandudno promenade amidst glorious sunshine and very warm conditions. Eighteen runners competed in six teams of three, with their previous average times over 5k estimated to help equalise the competition. The event, which included each runner targeting a specific distance, was well organised by  Carla Green , with support from  John Hatton ,  Elizabeth Driscoll and others , was eventually won by a team consisting of  Gwennan Charlton, Molly Evans, and Kevin Slattery , who finished in an overall time of 28 minutes and 34 seconds. The runners-up team included:  Mark Davies, Richard Scamans, and Molly Evans in a combined time of 28.34,  with all the team finishing quite close...

*Bright sunshine and another great attendance (*above) at the Nova parkrun start. Good weather provided a tourism boost at many NW parkruns. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Malcolm. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   The good weather and the start of the main holiday season provided bumper attendances at most of the local parkruns in North Wales last week, with many reporting multi-elite, club, and social runners attending from all parts of the UK. The firm ground and a generous selection of venues to choose from also enhanced numerous personal best times (PBs), with many visiting athletes determined to make an impact on their course debuts, with Penrhyn, Nova, Nant y Pandy, and Newborough Forest, enjoying a surge in popularity. *Prestatyn:   It was another bumper holiday crowd at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn with visiting athletes claiming the first two places including  Phil Banton , who made a successful debut in 18.57, with  Chris Morgan  (Brighton Phoenix) t...

*Pictured above - the talented GOG duo of John and Michelle Farrell. ‘Czech’ mates and a bronze medal at the World Cross Duathlon championships... Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com *The successful GB team pictured above at the championships.   Talented North Wales athletes John and Michelle Farrell were ‘Czech’ mates after competing well for Team GB at the World Triathlon/X-Terra age group competition during the Cross Duathlon championships, staged recently in Prachatice within the Czech Republic. The talented and experienced pair, who are well-known GOG Triathletes were representing Great Britain after first qualifying to be part of the elite Age Group Team and last week travelled to the Prachatice Centrum, which is about a two-hour drive west of Prague. The event included a tough trail run, closely followed by a very challenging mountain bike race, and when John first carried out a practice recce of the course, the day before the main event, he nervously ...

 *Pictured above - Bernie Jones (*centre) with Ian and Amanda Broadhurst. Welsh Athletics Award of Honour presented to Ian and Amanda Broadhurst... https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com Special report and photos courtesy of Wrexham AAC President Bernie Jones. The Welsh Athletics Award of Honour were presented to Ian and Amanda Broadhurst during the Northern league at Queensway by Wrexham AAC Club President Bernie Jones. Amanda has been a member of Wrexham since she was 13 and has served the club with distinction as an athlete and coach. A versatile athlete who won the Welsh U15 Pentathlon; U17 & U20 Heptathlon; and Welsh Senior Heptathlon in 1990 Amanda has continued to serve her club well.  She has represented Wales and Great Britain and has medalled at Welsh, British, European and World Masters Championships across a variety of events. She generously gives her time to coaching the current and next generations not only for club members but athletes across Norrh Wales. Amanda i...

*Pictured above - runners at the start of the CybI Coastal Trail Marathon. Runners completed the tough Cybi Coastal Marathon for RNLI teams. Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Over two hundred very determined and experienced trail and endurance athletes took part in the Cybi Coastal Trail Marathon last weekend which helped to fundraise for two exceptional RNLI teams. This extraordinary 25k event, which both started and finished at the  Holyhead RNLI Station , took competing runners along one of the most scenic routes on Yns Mon, and followed a very challenging course  along the stunning Ynys Cybi coastal trail, which is also forms part of the Welsh Coastal Path. RNLI c oxswain Mark gave one of his crewmen, Reece, a good luck handshake as he set off, before the procession of runners then headed  towards Penrhos, before tackling the undulating coastal path.   From there, athletes crossed through stunning locations such as Silver Bay,...

*Road Runner Vicky Taylor (*above) completes her trail run at Capel Curig. Eryri Slate Trail 10k race for Vicky and Nia. Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Two North Wales Road Runners took to the hills last weekend at Capel Curig to compete in the Ogwen Yr Helgi Du 10k mountain race. Described, as being the perfect opportunity to enjoy some stunning, if not spectacular views, in Eryri’s Ogwen Valley, entrants were offered a varied choice of three very different but challenging distances for the more experienced athletes to consider, including 10k, 125k, and 40k races. The intrepid duo of  Vicky Taylor and Nia Lister  , opted for the 10k event - said to be an out and back, fast and flat route - which followed the historic Eryri Slate Trail,  through the Valley, with the Glyderau, and Carneddau dominating the landscape.  They both performed well with Nia 35th overall out of 74 finishers, in a good time of 1 hour 6 minutes and 34 seconds,...

*Runners and supporters of the 5K Your Way, Move Against  Cancer group. Nova parkrun celebrated its 200th event in style. Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Malcolm. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   The Nova parkrun at Prestatyn celebrated its 200th event last Saturday. Their first parkrun started on 7th December 2019 and since then, 8,000 participants have completed 30,141 parkruns covering a total distance of 150,705 km, including 4,783 new PB’s, and a total of 435 individuals have volunteered 3,645 times. *Pictured above and below - some of the generous volunteers at Nova and a selection of some of Malcolm's great  action photos. This edited report is courtesy of the Nova Run Director: Well done to the 280 people who joined us to walk, jog and run at the Nova this morning including 27 doing a parkrun for the very 1st time. We were also happy to welcome  Nova Prestatyn 5K Your Way, Move Against Cancer  who joined...