Don Hale Blog

*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.

*Pictured above - NWRRC veteran track athlete Steve Gardner. Steve Gardner recorded two new PBs against the new ‘Coe and Ovett’ at British Champs... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   North Wales Road Runner Steve Gardner recorded two new personal best times on the track last weekend at the British Masters championships against the new ‘Coe and Ovett’ pair of elite racers. Steve, who is a top Welsh Master, and an international veteran track athlete, smashed his previous times in the 800m and 1500m races, and he is almost certain to have broken the previous 800m Welsh record, yet to be verified. After his busy weekend, he confirmed:  “I have just got home from the BMAF Championships held at the Lee Valley Indoor Stadium, which is the culmination of the Indoor season for me.  “I competed in the 800m on Saturday finishing in 4th place in my V60 age category in a new personal best (PB) time of 2.19.14, and I suspect that this may be a new Welsh V60 re...

*Pictured above - Jonathan Kettle who was the first NWRRC member home. Another fast and well attended event at the Conwy parkrun swamp! Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was another good turn-out at Conwy parkrun last Saturday due to a large number of visiting athletes, but the conditions underfoot were horrendous once again, with another swamp-like 5k course for the 300 plus entrants. Despite the waterlogged and challenging route, the first twelve finishers all dipped under the twenty-minute mark, with SW20 runner  Andrew Moore  the first man home with a new PB of 16 minutes and 27 seconds. The second placed finisher was visitor VM40  Aaron Saxton  (Manchester Tri Club), who was pleased with his debut time of 17.41, with fellow VM40 athlete  Frazer Slade  3rd with another PB of 17.52.  The first two female runners were both teenage visitors, with JW15-17  Cara Scott , the first lady in ...

*Pictured above - Steve Bozier with a crowd of runners at the start. Tough challenge for the Road Runners at the final Coed y Brenin Winter Trail Race... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Eight North Wales Road Runners competed in the tough Coed y Brenin 7-mile Winter Trail Race last Saturday and recorded some excellent results amongst the 449 finishers. This final event included some challenging terrain with some stunning beauty and was run along single tracks and footpaths through the  Coed y Brenin Forest Park , which left a sting in the tail! Benjamin Brummit  led the NWRRC team home in 36th place in 57 minutes and 7 seconds, and it was a close encounter for  Sion Thomas  and  Steve Bozier , with Sion 81st in 63.43, and Steve 86th in 64.17. And it was a similar story for  Steve Poupart  and  Rob Haines , with Steve finishing in 117th place in 67.37, with Rob just one place and seven-seconds adrift. Dave Jones  al...

Open meeting invite for Welsh Masters athletes at T&F event in Swindon in April. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Welsh Master Athletics have received an invitation from Swindon Harriers to all their members to take part in track and field events in Swindon next April. Swindon Harriers are hosting its Mark Cawte Open Meeting on Sunday 6th  April 2025, *see link below, please pass on to your club members and any other people who you know might be interested. Track events, 80m, 150m, 300m, 600m, 1000m, 3000m & 300m Hurdles. Field events, High Jump, Long Jump, Shot Put, Discus, Hammer, Javelin & Pole Vault.   Roster Athletics · Mark Cawte Memorial Open Meeting   Regards, Kieran Golding Swindon Harriers Officials Secretary

*Pictured above - Will Williams celebrated another positive run. Conwy parkrunners back in action on a waterlogged course after several postponements... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Nearly three-hundred mixed ability athletes took part in the Conwy parkrun last Saturday following a series of postponements due to the weather and severe water problems but faced a very cold breeze and a waterlogged 5k course on their delayed 10th anniversary. Martin Green  was the first  North Wales Road Runner  home, although he also represents  Meirionnydd Runners , due to his dual registration. He finished 7th overall in 17 minutes and 59 seconds and won his VM50 age cat. Will Williams  finished 13th overall and he was 3rd in his VM50 cat in 19.48, with  Sion Thomas  31st in 22.15, and 2nd in his VM40 cat, whilst  Daniel Hennell  enjoyed a good run in 71st place in 25.40.    *Sion Thomas (*above left), with Daniel Henn...

TEAM NEWS FOR THE INTER-AREA INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com This is the latest news regarding the team selections for the Inter-Area indoor championships from Brett Davis of Welsh Masters Athletics Ltd (WMAL). Please find attached the men's team as it currently stands for the Interarea at Lee Valley on 16th February 2025 . The are some gaps in the team whereas the shaded bits are where that age group does not do that event. I am still waiting for a couple of replies from people I have emailed. So the 70+ age group in particular is not finalised, and so I am keen to hear from any 70+ year olds interested in competing.  Emails to:   brett-davis1@sky.com   or  brett13ski@icloud.com   M35 M50 M60 M70 60m hurdles - Glyn Price Iain Moody   1500 Oli Williams Geoff Brimble Steve Roberts - 400 Oli Williams Neil Davies Brett Davis Barrie  Roberts 60 Samson Chinaka Russell Whiting Martin Weetman Ian Broadhurst 800 James Raven Adrian L...