Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above and below - the fast start of the spectacular 5k fundraising race on the prom at Llandudno for the RNLI. Spectacular 5k fundraising race on the prom for the RNLI. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Caitlin Faye and others. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 It was a spectacular morning on Llandudno promenade last Sunday as bright warm sunshine greeted over 300 athletes and their supporters to an amazing 5k fundraising race for the town’s essential RNLI group Well organised by race director  John Hatton  and backed by a large and enthusiastic team of hard-working volunteers and marshals, this event attracted a wealth of elite, club and social runners, who recorded some very fast times in near perfect conditions; and this event also included some very popular junior races for children and their parents. John later confirmed:  “I have been working with  Catherine Tudor-Jones , who is the Community Manager. She was so thrilled the event went so well. Originally, th...

*Stuart Culverhouse (*right) ran well with Darren Dentith at Ruthin. Good results and keen competition at various North Wales parkruns...results round up... Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Some very good results including numerous personal best (PB) times at various parkruns across North Wales last weekend, with some keen competition for placings, particularly amongst the ladies, and well done to JW11 athlete Martha Brown at Nant y Pandy, who finished a close second overall, and the first female finisher in 19 minutes and 18 seconds.   *Conwy:   GOG Triathlon athlete  Simon Cole  was the first finisher at the  Conwy parkrun  with a very fast finish in just 16 minutes and 52 seconds, and  Elin Jones  took the first female finisher place with a new PB in 20.40. * North Wales Road Runners included  –  James Singleton  59th in 24.51, with master vet  Rob Fryer  84th in 26.38, and he also won his VM70 a...

*Pictured above left - Wrexham AAC master veterans Paul Brooks with Bob Frost Welsh Masters Track & Field veterans won medals and set new records at various venues... Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Two Welsh Master field veterans in Robin (Bob) Frost and Paul Brooks from Wrexham AAC are celebrating after collecting a host of awards, medals, and records in their respective recent championship throwing and/or jumping events. Paul Brooks explained: "Bob Frost,  having turned 80 earlier this year is still very busy setting new club records and collecting an impressive number of medals. He won three golds and a silver competing in the Derbyshire County championships, setting age-group records.  "And at the Northern Masters championships in Stretford, he won four golds and two silvers, whilst last weekend at the BMAF championships in Derby, he won both the high jump and long jump, with a bronze in the javelin." *Paul Brooks (*above left), with his club...

*Pictured above left - Rhian Roxburgh with her Great Britain  team just after being  pulled from their tough endurance race. Drama for North Wales athlete Rhian Roxburgh and Team GB in Sweden... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com North Wales athlete Rhian Roxburgh and her colleagues who were representing Team GB in Sweden last week during the demanding 'One Water Race,’ were forced to pull out of the competition along with eight other international teams, due to time delays and freezing conditions, which  forced multiple medical evacuations – including two by helicopter! Rhian, who is a popular and well-known local triathlete, coach and endurance athlete with GOG Triathlon , was selected by  Team Great Britain  to take on this extraordinary challenge for the first time ever, with fellow experienced athletes  Gaz Roberts, Chris Goodfellow  and support from  Mike Alexander. They were pitched against nine other rival teams from Aust...

*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...

*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...