Don Hale Blog

*Carolyn Arber pictured above at Colwyn Bay after winning her age cat. Welsh Masters newbie Carolyn Arber celebrates Metric Marathon race success on former home patch. Intro by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It’s always good to receive notifications from Welsh Athletics members, and this week I was pleased to read a note from  Carolyn Arber , who is a WMAL newbie, who coincidentally took part in a longer version of the same Metric marathon, and half marathon races as myself, last weekend organised by RunWales. The following report is based on her own personal experiences.   Running down Memory Lane by Carolyn Arber:   I am a new member of Welsh Masters and last Sunday I ran in the Colwyn Bay Metric Marathon. I was born in Colwyn Bay but live in Cheshire so was determined to have a medal and T shirt with my place of birth on.  It was a windy old course to Penrhyn Bay, twice, but was lovely to take a trip down Memory Lane. Starting in Eirias

Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts (*pictured above) wins qualification to the GB Team for 2025 Duathlon Championships. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmasterathletics.co.uk North Wales Road Runner Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts has gained qualification to the GB Team after finishing 3rd in his respective age category during a 2025 Duathlon Championships qualifying event, held last Sunday on the East Fortune Race Circuit, near Edinburgh. Welsh master Llyr competed in a 5k run, followed by a 21k bike ride, and a final 2.5k run, with his excellent times, and age cat position ensuring him an automatic qualification. His very fast times for each event included his first run of 5k in just 18 minutes, the 21k cycle race in 36 minutes, and the final 2.5k run in 9 minutes. After the event, he confirmed: “I secured my qualification for the 2025 championships by finishing in the top-four of my age group at this event (I missed out at Castle Combe at the beginning of March). “Overall, I

*Some of the NWRRC team pictured above at Colwyn  Bay (back row l-r): Dave Jones, Phil and Carol Moss, Rob Fryer, Rachel Morris, Sarah Jones, Daniel  Henley, and (*front row), Don Hale, Mike Hayton and Cheryl Frost. Medals galore and PBs for NW Road Runners at the Colwyn Bay Metric races... Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Lesley Goodson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmasterathletics.co.uk   Nearly three-hundred mixed ability runners took part in the challenging Colwyn Bay Metric Marathon, and Metric Half-Marathon races, run together last Sunday in cool and very breezy conditions. Well-organised by RunWales, and well supported by numerous volunteers and marshalls, including a generous number from Porth Eirias Runners, the entrants had to battle with very strong and blustery headwinds on the re-routed four-mile outward course towards Penrhyn Bay from the start on the running track at the Eirias Park Stadium. The Metric half-marathon  (13.1 kms/8.13 miles), attracted 87 run

*Adam Lemalle (*above) was the first NWRRC club runner at Conwy parkrun. Fast times and a good turn-out at Conwy parkrun despite the cold and blustery conditions... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmasterathletics.co.uk   Despite a bitterly cold day, and a strong blustery wind, nearly two-hundred entrants still braved the elements and recorded some fast times over the challenging but relatively dry 5k course at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning. The event once again attracted a large number of visiting club and social runners from across the UK and Ireland, as part of an early Easter break, and plaudits were again handed to NWRRC member and parkrun volunteer  John Hatton , for his sterling efforts to help improve part of the start area. GOG Triathlete  Simon Cole  was the first runner home with an impressive time of just 17 minutes and 35 seconds to additionally win his VM40 age cat, and at the time of writing, the second placed runner remained unknown, b

Fast competitive game and deserved draw for Kinmel Bay against the League leaders. Report and photos by Barry Griffiths (KBFC media officer). https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com Kinmel Bay FC (1) v Penmaenmawr Phoenix FC (1) at Y Morfa 16 March 2024. KBFC warmed up in Conwy Mind shirts reminding all the importance on mental health and sharing awareness. Pen was welcomed to Y Morfa with a team photo in cold but mainly dry and soft ground conditions well supported with food available. With Pen heading the table and KBFC at 7 this was a fast competitive game. A close call corner against the Bay in the first half left the teams equal at no score for the second half. Liam Griffiths assisted by Lee Stokes scored the goal for Pen in the 58th minute a lead quickly leveled by Paddy Hamid 4 minutes later.  Injured Olly Gray was replaced by Christopher Evans 5 minutes after the Bay goal and despite Pen’s Paddy Hold getting a blue card in the 83rd minute the score from this well matched fixture was h

*Steve Gardner (*pictured above), ran well at the XC champs. Team prizes and some notable NW results at the BMAF cross country champs at Corwen. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   The British Masters Athletics Cross-Country championships was held last Saturday at Rhug Farm, near Corwen, and included some exceptional performances by many North Wales runners. The event attracted 97 top club and elite athletes in the Veteran Men’s up to M60 age cat event, and a further 94 runners in the combined Women’s and Male Masters aged 65-plus race.  The championships were well organised by officials and members of Prestatyn RC, and this was the fourth time the club had been asked by Welsh Athletics to host the event. North Wales Road Runner   Steve Gardner   (*pictured right), finished 52nd overall in the Male open event, and he was 10th in his MV60 cat, and covered the approximate 8k course in 35.37. After his race, Steve confirmed: “I was very p

  Success in Welsh Parliamentary debate on restoration of Sand for Llandudno Beach Wednesday, 13 March, 2024. *See the updates and previous blogs about this important campaign. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, is delighted that next week the issue surrounding the removal of quarry rocks and the restoration of sand and groynes to Llandudno North Shore will be debated in the Welsh Parliament. Janet Finch-Saunders, member for Aberconwy, has reiterated her concerns to the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Dawn Bowden MS, highlighting the unacceptability of restricting the operational period of pop-up campsites to just 28 days. Following Councillor Ian Turner's petition, which has garnered over 12,000 signatures, a debate on the matter will now take place on March 20th. In response to hearing about the debate Cllr Ian Turner (*shown below) said: “I trust that common sense will prevail, and I urge the Welsh Government to supp

  North Wales, SSSART Trawsfynydd Multi Terrain 8 Mile race. Sunday 7th April 2024.    Event Details ****Cymraeg isod**** https://sssart.niftyentries.com/North-Wales-SSSART-Trawsfynydd-Multi-Terrain-8-Mile Beautiful multi terrain 8.6 mile race around Trawsfynydd lake in Eryri/Snowdonia national park. A mostly fast course with one challenging hill on a mixed tarmac and fast trail course. The Race will be under the Welsh Athletics / UK Athletics Rules. All proceeds are in aid of the South Snowdonia Search and Rescue Team. The team is run entirely by volunteers, who are on callout 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to help those in need in the local area. The team is a charity, dependent on donations from the public, and the proceeds of the race will provide vital funds. Starting by the Magnox Power Station Car Park at 12:00 on Sunday, 7th April 2024. Grid reference SH69052 37960, post code LL41 4DT; what3words ///siblings.gain.performed Open to athletes 17 and over First 100 entries £16 UK