Don Hale Blog

*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

*Road Runner Josh Keogh was the first athlete back at the Conwy Parkrun. Familiar faces returned to boost Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve  Jeffery and John  Hatton.   Conwy parkrun welcomed back numerous familiar faces for the second week on the trot as the popular 5k event returned to near normal again following several problematic weeks due to pandemic restrictions. The event was also boosted by an increased attendance of 234 runners on a very cold Saturday morning, but this time it was run over a bone-hard course instead of the usual puddle filled route and included many first timers and travelling tourists in addition to the usual group of elite athletes. North Wales Road Runner  Josh Keogh  was one such returnee and celebrated his first-ever victory at Conwy, together with a superb new course PB, and a deserved age category win.  He was nearly a minute ahead of the talented 2nd placed local youngster  Alfie Shiland , who easily who won his JM11-14 cat, in 18.17,

Covid restrictions prevented Conwy parkrun from celebrating their 7th anniversary. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery. Welsh Government and Covid-19 restrictions unfortunately prevented the organisers of the Conwy parkrun from celebrating seven years since staging their very first event.  Although the junior parkrun has continued and seems to be going from strength to strength, the adult participation has been halted by a limit of just 50 participants for all outdoor sports events in Wales.  It’s a ruling that has caused extreme controversy within the running fraternity and seems in stark contrast to identical events in all other parts of the UK, with English ministers even querying the validity of this ban, and the impact on both mental and physical health. The restrictions have also somewhat dampened the spirit of parkrun of late, and it is hoped that further meetings this week with the Welsh Government, Parkrun UK, and Welsh Athletics will help to rectify the problem.

*Harry Driscoll (*above) led the Road Runners home at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Steve Jeffery.   Harry Driscoll was the first club man home once again for NWRRC at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday, which had depleted numbers due to festive demands, and the aftermath from a succession of storms and challenging conditions. Despite all the problems and a cool, breezy morning, on a wet and part debris riddled course, the organisers worked hard to ensure that the safety of runners and volunteers was paramount and celebrated with 146 finishers enjoying their weekly 5k dash. Teenager  James Smith  (Menai Track and Field) was the 1st finisher and won his SM18-19 age cat with an impressive new PB of 17 minutes 5 seconds, with  James Coleman  2nd in 17.54. In addition, popular local runner  Nic Brook (Eryri Harriers) was another man in fine form, and he also celebrated a new course PB in 18.04 in 4th place. Harry Driscoll  led a team of eleven NWRRC members, and he was one

*The NWRRC team on tour at Newborough Forest, Anglesey, (*pictured l-r), Harry Driscoll, John Hatton, Mike Hayton, Carla  Green  and Liz Driscoll. North Wales athletes on the run as tourists. Report by Don Hale. Most photographs by Steve Jeffery.   The start of the half-term break saw many North Wales athletes travelling far afield this week to sample a variety of races at Liverpool, Leeds, Bangor, Newborough, and Newent Park in the Forest of Dean. Five NWRRC members ran in the Newborough Forest parkrun on Anglesey last Saturday, and a further twenty tackled the muddy and windswept Conwy parkrun, with two more at Newent Park. Carla Green  celebrated her performance along the challenging trails at Newborough by claiming the 1st lady spot, an age category victory, and a parkrun PB, finishing 11th overall from 141 entrants in 20 minutes 24 seconds. *Carla Green (*above) was the 1st Lady at Newborough and claimed a new PB, and (*below) Harry Driscoll continues to improve with a positive pe

Jonathan Kettle set a hot pace from the start at Conwy parkrun last Saturday. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.    It was a cool, crisp, autumn morning for 259 finishers at the Conwy Parkrun where Jonathan Kettle from North Wales Road Runners was the first man home in just 17 minutes and 27 seconds. Jonathan easily won his VM45-49 age category and set a hot pace for his rivals, with club colleague  Mark Jessett  finishing 3rd overall in 18.21, and he also won his VM35-39 age cat. NWRRC entered fifteen athletes and collected four age category wins and two personal best times, but many members were either recovering from major marathons and recent races or were preparing for other events over the weekend. Martin and Carla Green  used the parkrun as a recovery exercise following last week’s dual success at the Manchester Marathon, and both ran well together again with Martin finishing in 19th place in 21.23, and Carla (*pictured left) winning her VW45-49 age cat in 21.28.  Sea

Humid conditions attracted super-fast athletes to Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery.   This week’s Conwy parkrun was staged in complete contrast to the previous Saturday, and instead of wet and windy conditions, the course remained dry, with the weather warm and humid. Perhaps it was these unusual conditions that attracted many of the best local runners who created an extraordinary and feisty competition, with the first nine runners all dipping under twenty-minutes, and three of the top four runners claimed personal best times, with a mere eleven-seconds separating the leading pack. Rhodri Owen  was the first finisher, winning his SM30-34 age cat in 16 minutes and 7 seconds, with  Matthew Roberts  just three-seconds behind, and the winner of his VM40-44 cat in 16.20.  Simon Cole  was a further five-seconds adrift in 16.25, and in addition,  Steve Forsyth , who finished 4th was only three-seconds down on Simon in 16.28. Rhodri, Simon, and Steve also ran in