Don Hale Blog

*Some of the NWRRC team at the Eryri Marathon (*l-r), Kelly Alford, Steve Bozier, Karl Morris, Stuart Culverhouse, Cai Roberts and Vicky Taylor. A dozen hardy Road Runners competed in the tough Eryri Marathon...plus Mark Davies seen near the start line! Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com *Some other Road Runners (*above), with their friends and supporters. A dozen hardy and determined North Wales Road Runners competed in the popular Eryri Marathon last Saturday and additionally celebrated news of seeing their club colleague Mark Davies positioned near the start line following a serious accident earlier this year. This extremely tough encounter was run in very good conditions and attracted 2,228 endurance athletes, including many from top fell running and mountain racing clubs, with entrants all praising the incredible support from marshals and volunteers enroute, together with the spectacular scenery. *Pictured above (*left), Sarah Fergie Hudson and her husband Ben,

*Mark Jessett (*above) had a good run in 2nd place at Conwy parkrun. Athletes beat the Storm Babet aftermath at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Following the aftermath of Storm Babet numbers were well-down at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning as 135 hardy runners battled a challenging and waterlogged 5k riverside course that was riddled with numerous large and unavoidable puddles. Despite the soggy conditions underfoot most of the mixed ability, and varied aged entrants, still seemed relieved just to get out and run after a week of fluctuating heavy weather including torrential rain and strong blustery winds. Osian Griffiths  eventually took the plaudits for a determined effort as the first male runner home in 18 minutes and 39 seconds, and he additionally won his SM30 age cat, but he was pushed all the way by NWRRC athlete  Mark Jessett  who was only 12-seconds adrift, and won his MV35 cat

*Jonathan Kettle (*above) was involved in an exciting sprint finish at Conwy. Top duo battled for honours amidst a sprint finish at Conwy parkrun... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was another battle from start to finish by two talented club runners during last Saturday’s parkrun at Conwy with Wrexham AC’s James Yarwood just holding on to the top spot following a sprint finish ahead of Road Runner Jonathan Kettle. Despite unusually humid conditions and a strong blustery wind, the experienced pair were locked neck and neck throughout on this puddle-filled 5k course but both athletes remained well ahead of any potential rivals.  James  eventually finished in 17 minutes and 33 seconds, with  Jonathan  just 16-seconds adrift in 17.49, and  Aled Hughes  was 3rd in 18.15. The 1st female runner was  Alex Aldous , who won her SW25 age cat in 18th place overall with a new PB of 21.52, and  Emma Bishop  was the ru

*Some of the NWRRC team members at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn, (l-r), Mike Hayton, Rob Fryer, Mark Mason, Rachel Morris, Sion Thomas, Gwennan Charlton, Stuart and Joe Culverhouse, and Jonathan Kettle. Victory for Jonathan Kettle at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn during club championships. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Jonathan Kettle led a team of ten North Wales Road Runners home at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn last Saturday, with a superb victory as part of their club championships. Making his debut on this flat and fast course, Jonathan won his MV45 age cat and finished in 1st place overall with an excellent time of 17 minutes and 48 seconds. He was followed by visiting MV35 athlete  Ian Higgins  (Telford Harriers) with a new PB of 18.19, and SM30 runner  Jamie Betts  (Prestatyn RC) in 18.52. The event attracted 162 runners with seven athletes all dipping under 20-minutes. Jonathan Kettle (*above) w

  *Pictured above - John  Dalzell  - who tragically lost his life this week. Emotional morning as Conwy parkrunners paid tribute to North Wales Road Runner John Dalzell. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was a rather sad and emotional parkrun at Conwy last Saturday morning as participants, club colleagues, officials, volunteers, and friends, paid tribute to North Wales Road Runner John Dalzell, (48), who sadly died earlier in the week. This shock news had been the main topic of conversation for a few days as people in the running community came to terms with this devastating realisation.  John, a popular family man and a successful ultra-distance veteran athlete, was a regular supporter of parkrun, particularly at Conwy, where he made sixty appearances amidst a total of one-hundred and one other parkruns, including some at Walsall Aboretum, where he used to live, and it was only a couple of weeks since he

*The NWRRC team who Raced the Train last Wednesday (*back row l-r), Cai Roberts, Steve Bozier, Rachel Morris, Ben Hudson and Karl Morris, and (*front row) Kelly Alford, Hannah Griffith, Vicky Taylor and Sarah Hudson. Perfect night to ‘Race the Highland Train’ back from Dinas to Caernarfon for 300 runners... Report by Don Hale. Some photos courtesy of Kelly Alford.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It proved to be another exciting dash from start to finish as nearly three-hundred mixed ability runners attempted to Race the Highland train from Dinas station to Caernarfon last Wednesday night. On a warm and almost perfect evening  Tomos Roberts  (Meirionnydd RC) was the first athlete home in a fast time of just 14 minutes and 51 seconds over this interesting 5k course, with  Ifan Dafydd  (Eryri Harriers) 2nd in 14.55, and  John Higgs  3rd in 15.02. In addition,  Simon Cole (GOG Triathlon) finished in 5th place in 15.15. The 1st female runner was  Rachel