Don Hale Blog

*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...

*The jubilant Welsh Masters team (*above) at the Swansea half marathon. Fifteen medals and a Welsh Record on a great day for Wales within the Swansea Half Marathon... Report and photos courtesy of the Wales team manager Bernie Jones. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   For the first time in a couple of years, the Master international events came back to Wales, and we were rewarded with a record number of top three finishers and a new Welsh Record by the ageless Swansea Harrier, Alan Davies, who broke his own M70 record with a great run of 81-51.    Phil Matthews, Parc Bryn Bach (M45), was first home in 5th place overall comfortably winning his age category. Along with Phil and Alan Davies. Welsh Athletes were first home in the M50 age group (Mark Jennings, MMRT) and M65 (David Warren, Cardigan).    There were also second places for Matt Rees, Swansea Harriers(M35), Dave James, Les Croupiers(M65) and David Gibson, Tri-Hard Harriers (M70).    In the Women...

*Pictured above - Martin and Carla Green at the 5k international Masters race. North Wales athletes starred for Wales against England Masters Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   A large number of North Wales based athletes formed part of the Welsh Masters team that competed at the Shrewsbury 5k Running Festival last Saturday against England Masters. Meirionnydd RC  had two members in the top ten finishers including  Rhodri Owen , who was 3rd overall out of 331 elite runners in 14.57, with  Tomos Roberts  7th in 15.11, and former  NWRRC  member  Martin Green , a top veteran, now with his new first claim club, also enjoyed a great run in 53rd place in 16.53.   *Will Williams (*above left), with Cheryl Frost and Karen Butler. North Wales Road Runners  had five members involved with the famous red vest, and they all recorded good times with  Will Williams  104th in 18.12,  Steve Gardner  140th in ...

*NWRRC athlete Gwen Charlton (*above right), heads towards the finish line at the London Marathon. Some personal stories by North Wales athletes in the London and Manchester Marathons... Special Marathon’s sporting feature: Introduction by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   This is a brief sporting spotlight featuring a number of the many North Wales based athletes who took part in last weekend’s London or Manchester Marathons, with a few even overcoming personal tragedies in order to compete, and most also raising some much-needed funds for local charities. It would be impossible of course, to mention everyone who took part, but this article will at least give a voice to some key individuals who have made a determined effort with hard training throughout the winter to ensure they were ready to start and finish one of the most gruelling races ever, over 26.2 miles.  This is a summary of their personal challenges: Fast time at London for Martin Green. Martin Green, ...

*Pictured above - Sarah and Ben Hudson after completing their run. Sarah and Ben Hudson completed the Trimpell 20-miler in their ultra season build up, and as preparation for the Boston  Marathon... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Ultra distance veteran athletes Sarah Ferguson Hudson and her husband Ben continued with their amazing training exploits last Sunday morning by competing in the Trimpell 20-mile race. At the time of writing, the full results had not been confirmed, but this popular pair turned in some excellent performances once again, with Ben running home in 2 hrs 57 minutes, and Sarah in very close pursuit in 3 hrs and 3 seconds. After the race Sarah confirmed:  “The event was not chipped timed, and they have not put the results out yet, but yesterday’s lovely Trimpell 20 went all along the river/estuary at Lancaster. It was a great little race for Spring marathon training.  “Not quite the times we wanted but being at 11.00am,...

MY FINAL MEDIA REPORT FOR NORTH WALES ROAD RUNNERS. Special note from Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com This is my final post and newspaper report for North Wales Road Runners after about 8 years of extensive coverage and publicity. This is a copy of my report in the NW Weekly News today, including a good story about the controversy concerning the new cycle track at the RSPB Nature Reserve, that will affect the Conwy parkrun for about 14 weeks, and may even put the future of this popular event into jeopardy. My thanks to all the club members for their support. I will continue to write about athletics and other sports and business features on my blog, but this is my sign-off from NWRRC. Thanks.