Don Hale Blog

Conwy Parkrun plans to re-start next week despite row over new course, plus the start/finish areas... Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Conwy parkrun has been given the go-ahead to finally re-start next Saturday following many weeks of controversy and harsh criticism by volunteers, sponsors, runners and supporters, over plans to change the existing start and finish areas, and alterations to car parking facilities. In 2019, Conwy Parkrun received tens of thousands of public votes and was elected as runner up in the global World Cup competition of parkruns, due to their friendliness, and for its picturesque 5k riverside course. This popular parkrun though has been out of action since last March mainly due to an extensive 12-week multi-million-pound renovation and upgrading scheme, which included essential work to the latter part of the new national cycle route from the railway bridge to the RSPB nature reserve, which is part ...

*Pictured above - some of the NWWRC team at the Felinheli 10k race. Good turn-out for the midweek Ras Gwyl Felin 10k race. Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Kevin Slattery and Martin Green. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   The midweek Ras Gwyl Felin 10k attracted over three-hundred quality and mixed ability athletes to this popular annual event held on a humid but breezy evening. The first finisher overall was  Ifan Dafydd  in 32 minutes and 49 seconds, but he was well ahead of rival  Llyr Ap Gruffydd  (Eryri Harriers) over this undulating but spectacular course in 35.04, with  Steffan Sayer  (Menai T&F) a close third in 35.22. The first female finisher was  Emma Alofs  (Cybi Striders) in 41.34, with  Rachel Shipley  (Abergele Harriers) 2nd in 42.36, and  Mali Hughes  3rd in 42.50. *There were 321 finishers. *Carla Green (*above left), with Stuart Culverhouse and Kevin Slatte...

*Some of the successful North Wales men's team are pictured above. BRITISH INTER-COUNTIES MOUNTAIN RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS & BRITISH MOUNTAIN RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS Saturday 14th June 2025. Pen-Y Ghent Mountain Race (12.2km/500m): The British Inter-Counties Mountain Running Championships took place at Horton in Ribblesdale, North Yorkshire, on Saturday 14th June, with some notable performances by North Wales athletes.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com Report and photos courtesy of Arwel Lewis, with support by Paul Brooks. The Pen-Y-Ghent 12.2km/500m race was organised by Settle Harriers.  *Some great performances by the North Wales ladies team. The women’s race started at 1:30pm in a torrential downpour which soon cleared to leave clear and quite warm conditions for a relatively fast running race route.  First home for North Wales was Ruth Calcraft (Run Free Fell Runners) in 26th position overall in a time of 1:05:01 followed by: 31st Catrin Donnelly (Eryri Harriers) 1:...

*Carla Green from NWRRC was the first female finisher at Nova. Hot, humid and windswept at Nova’s Prestatyn parkrun...plus other parkrun results round-up... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com It was a very hot and humid despite a very strong and blustery wind at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn last Saturday, with a generous attendance of some 255 mixed ability athletes and walkers, who all braved the refreshing sea breeze and sandy atmosphere. Two male visitors and course debutants grabbed their places in the top three as fast finishers with  Aaron Dodwell becoming the first male runner home on his debut in 18.44, with  Dafydd Montgomery  2nd in 19.17, and debutant  Harry Brewster  3rd on his debut in 19.30. The first female finisher was  Carla Green  (NWRRC), in 14th place overall, and she also won her VW50 age cat in 21.34. Prestatyn RCs  Lisa Lines  claimed the 2nd spot in 22.33, with  Sali Wheway  3rd with a new ...

*Pictured above - far right - NW author and runner Paul Stroud, with his  son Leo and daughter Emily at the start of the Tokyo Tower climb race.  *A  nervous moment for dad Paul (*above left), as his son Leo awaits the white starting flag  prior to his climb up the iconic tower. North Wales author and runner tackled the famous Tokyo Tower climb with his son Leo and daughter Emily. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Marie Stroud. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com Prolific author and keen runner Paul Stroud, who writes for the North Wales based publishers Coast & Country, and this blog, took part in the gruelling Tokyo Tower race climb last week for a second year, with his teenage son Leo, and daughter Emily. Now based in this vibrant Japanese city, ex-pat Paul made a brave effort to tackle the 600 plus stairs at this iconic landmark, which took the athletes up to the main deck, about 150 metres above ground.  The race included many hundreds of staggered entrie...