Don Hale Blog

*Gwen Charlton pictured above - after completing her gruelling trail marathon. Gwen Charlton completed the tough NW Pilgrims Trail Marathon in style...and news of Helen's charity runs. Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Gwen Charlton. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Road Runner Gwen Charlton took to the trails last Saturday to compete in one of the toughest, but scenic, races in the country, the North Wales Pilgrims Trail Marathon, and yet despite this extreme challenge, she ran extremely well and afterwards said, she was very pleased with her determined efforts. Gwen eventually completed her trek in a highly credible time of 7 hours 50 minutes and 58 seconds to finish in 158th place overall, and she was the 71st female athlete.  She later confirmed: “This must be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Absolutely stunning route along the top coast of Llyn Peninsula with lots of steps, fields, cows, sheep, wonky paths, rocks, gates, beaches,

*Harry Driscoll (*above), finished well  in 3rd place at Conwy. Five age cat wins for the Road Runners at a blustery Conwy parkrun...plus other parkrun results. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Eighteen North Wales Road Runners took part in the Conwy parkrun last Saturday amidst a good mix of club and social entrants, and recorded five age category wins on a bright, sunny, but cool and blustery morning. Martin Green  continued his superb form, and he was the outstanding and runaway first parkrun finisher with a fast time of just 18 minutes and eight seconds, to win his VM45 age cat.  Harry Driscoll  was also on fire again, and he claimed 3rd place, and won his SM20 cat in 19.38, whilst  Carla Green  made it a hat-trick of early placing age cat victories, finishing 9th, and the 2nd female athlete in 20.35, to additionally win her VW50 age cat. Adam Lemalle  was 16th in 21.26, and 2nd in his VM40 cat, with  James Singleton  31st, and

*North Wales Road Running members are pictured (*above), just before the start of the 5k NW championship race at Llanrug in midweek. *Photo  courtesy  of John  Hatton. Eleven 5k NW championship medals for the Road Runners at Llanrug in midweek. Report by Don Hale. Photos from Llanrug courtesy  of Lesley Goodson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk North Wales Road Runners (NWRRC) celebrated an exciting midweek 5k race at Llanrug last Wednesday night with eleven podium places in the NW championships, and collected four gold medals, four silver, and three bronze, with some fast times recorded! A high-quality field of top club runners pushed the pace throughout and the event winner was  Tom Roberts (Meirionnydd RC), who set a new 5k championship record in just 15 minutes and 25 seconds. In 2nd place was  Dion Griffiths  (Cardiff AC), in 15.42, with  Connor Rogers  (Wrexham AAC) in hot pursuit in 3rd, and he was only 3-seconds adrift in 15.45. * Martin Green (N

*Pictured above - NWRRC super vet Sandy Johnston at Rohan's Run. Happy 75th birthday to Murray (Sandy) Johnston - a great master runner and a very talented musician. Report and photos by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It’s a very happy 75th birthday today (Tuesday 4th June), to one of our latest extraordinary newcomers at North Wales Road Runners, in Murray (Sandy) Johnston, who is not only a superb master veteran athlete, but he is also a very talented and experienced musician!   *Sandy Johnston (*above), is shown at Conwy parkrun, and at Colwyn Bay. Sandy is a well-known figure at Conwy parkrun, and at many local races, together with his daughter Alice, and he regularly won his previous VM70 age cat there, and at many local events, but from today, he has now moved into his new VM75-79 section.  He joined NWRRC from Les Croupiers earlier this year and has already made his mark with several notable age cat victories on the road, and rec

*Martin Green (*above), was the first man back at Conwy parkrun. Bright, beautiful, and fast at Conwy parkrun despite the Friday night Dash... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   There were a good few tired legs at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning following the participation of many athletes in the previous evening’s 5-mile charity event at Rohan’s Run formerly known as the Deganwy Dash. Despite this slight handicap, this week’s parkrun was backed by beautifully warm and sunny weather conditions, and still attracted over 300 mixed ability entrants from all over the UK. North Wales Road runners claimed five age cat victories from thirteen members, and  Martin Green  claimed the top spot overall as the first male finisher.  Martin also won his VM45 age cat with an outstanding run in just 17 minutes and 19 seconds, whilst his talented wife  Carla Green , also hit good form as the second club finisher, in 10th place overall, and she was the 3rd female in 20.34, to add