Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - team manager Bernie Jones (*front left) with some members of the Welsh team at the Belfast races. NW Road Running duo performed well for Wales at the British & Irish International Cross Country championships in Belfast. *North Wales Road Runners Will Williams (*above left) and Karen Butler. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk North Wales Road Runners Will Williams and Karen Butler competed well in the British and Irish Masters International Cross-Country Championships at the Billy Neill Country Park, Dundonald, near Belfast last Saturday. Will performed well in his MV50 age cat on a rather hilly and challenging course despite only just recovering from injury and seemed satisfied after finishing 29th overall in thirty-three minutes and one-second. And plaudits were also given to NWRRC member  Karen Butler  who finished 16th in her VW65-75 age cat (24th overall) and she was the1st Welsh veteran athlete in this section

  *Pictured above - Harry Driscoll (red vest),with Tony Price-Jones. Wild, wet, and windy with a bumper set of visitors at Conwy parkun...plus other results. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was back to the usual wild, wet, and windy weather conditions at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning, as another bumper entry tackled the challenging 5k course from the RSPB Nature Reserve. Many visitors travelled from far afield and utilised the parkrun as a pre-race warm-up for the Conwy half-marathon set for the following day, so consequently this popular event attracted a large number of travelling club and social runners. *Steve Roberts (*above left), with Stuart Culverhouse, and Don Hale. North Wales Road Runners  entered ten members, with some just taking it easy in preparation for either cross-country races, other events, or the half-marathon date.  Harry Driscoll  ran well again in 20th place overall, and he was 3rd in his SM20-24 ag

*Pictured above - the Cardiff Indoor athletics arena. Welsh Masters Indoor Championships at Cardiff on Sunday 12th December...entries now available..,.plus news of track races for 12th January 2025. Introduction by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk URGENT UPDATE: It has just been agreed and confirmed by Welsh Masters Athletics officials that the forthcoming meeting in Cardiff at the National Indoor Athletics Centre on 12th January will include our 800m and 1500m championships.   *Also, please note:   Brett Davis ,  a Director of   Welsh Masters Athletics Limited, has also confirmed some important updates to some other varied indoor events:   * The 3000m championships on the  15th December  is still taking entries. * The 800m and 1500m on the  12th January  will be available to enter any day now. * Sprints will be covered at the meeting on the  26th January. * We will be considering if we have any options for field events. * Another update for m

*Jonathan Kettle (*above), led the NWRRC team home at Conwy parkrun. Hot pace and personal best times despite a cool morning at Conwy parkrun... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It was a cool, dry, and crisp day at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning, yet several elite runners set a hot pace right from the start and their efforts encouraged many of the three hundred plus other club and social runners to record some excellent personal best times. Jonathan Kettle  from  North Wales Road Runners  just missed out on a top three placing, but he was pleased with 4th spot and won his VM50 cat in a very competitive section with a fine run in 18.43.  He led home a strong team of fourteen members with  Will Williams  also in good form and claiming 7th place in 19.32, and 2nd in the same cat as Jonathan. Stuart Culverhouse  had another consistent performance in 12th place in 20.16, with  Steve Mason  52nd in 23.23, whilst master vet  Rob Fryer

*Pictured above - four Road Runners at the  Anglesey 10k Trail Race at Newborough last Sunday morning (l-r), Kay Hatton, Carol Moss, Rob Fryer and Philip Moss. Top podium places for Kay and Rob at the Anglesey 10k Trail Race at Newborough Forest. Report by Don Hale. Newborough photos courtesy of John Hatton. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   A quartet of Road Runners competed in the challenging Altra Anglesey 10k trail race last Sunday morning at Newborough with two members winning their respective age categories amongst more than two hundred entrants. Philip Moss  narrowly missed out on a podium place after finishing 4th in his M60 cat despite a good run in 40th place in 55.45, but both  Kay Hatton and Rob Fryer  were worthy winners. *Kay Hatton (*above left) on the podium at Newborough, with Philip Moss, and Rob master vet Rob Fryer Veteran  Kay  won her F60 cat with another excellent display in 57th place overall, and she was the 11th female, in 59.2

URGENT APPEAL TO HELP SAVE MENAI TRACK AND FIELD CLUB FROM FOLDING... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Georgina Seguin from the Menai Track and Field club, and an active member of the NW Cross Country League, is urgently appealing for support from the North Wales community to help save the club from folding! She confirmed this week: “Menai track & field is a successful NW athletics club with over 170 juniors and 20 seniors, but unfortunately due to lack of volunteers the future of the club is uncertain. We need to fill key committee roles within the club including chair, treasurer, secretary, plus a number of other roles. “Without these roles the club cannot run. If anyone is interested in becoming involved with the club, whether it be on an advisory basis, or as chair, please reach out to me.  “We are looking for any ideas and suggestions about how we can run going forwards and are open to any potential opportunities including

North Wales Teams for Welsh Inter Regional Championships at Newtown on 16th November 2024.   Teams for Welsh Inter Regional championships team -  Report courtesy of Bernie Jones. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk The timetable for the day is: 12noon - U13 Girls 12-20 - U13 Boys 12-35 - U15 Girls 1-00 - U15 Boys 1-20 - U17/U20 Women 1-45 - U17/U20 Men 2-10 - Senior/Master Women/M65+ 2-55 - Senior/Master Men. For all those athletes marked with ** I require your DOB and URN asap.  U13 GIRLS Gwen Hayes;** Ella Hayes;** Elin Evans;** Bethan Roberts; Grace Hughes; Daisy Jones; Monique Brandon-Higgs; U13 BOYS.  Casper Kissane; Perry Marsland; Jacob Price;** Henry Jones; Fin Benny;** Finley Williams;** Alex Benson;** Edryd Ap Rees;** George Henderson; Max Macpherson;** Osian Tullock;** U15 GIRLS Heather Watson; Martha Bown; Tamsin Seguin; Holly Worth; Esyllt Owen; Catrin Evans; Beatrice Roberts; Evie Hughes;  Gwen Tompsett;** Evie Mortell;** Ruby Watts; Fleur Ran

North Wales Cross Country League back at  Aberystwyth after 30 years! ' David Alun Williams ' North Wales Cross Country League at Aberystwyth - 30th November 2024. Report courtesy of Bernie Jones.     https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk The third North Wales Cross Country League will take place on the Aberystwyth University Playing Fields, SY23 3TL.  Please park where directed by the car park marshalls. The car park is directly opposite the course. The course is predominantly playing fields, although there is a technical area in the woods with a few bumps and twists! It is likely that the course will take spikes or studs and if dry you might even get away with road shoes! It is 30 years since the league last visited Aberystwyth, but the town was a regular host in the 1970's and 1980's. Colin Jones, Eryri and Lyn Maddison, Colwyn Bay were the winners. A copy of the course is displayed below. Individuals bringing club gazebos will be able to g

North Wales Cross Country Championships 2025. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Entries are now open for the North Wales Cross Country Championships, which will take place at Treborth Track, Bangor on SATURDAY 4th JANUARY 2025.    NORTH WALES CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS 2025 (Supported by Grand Prix Express). Report courtesy of Bernie Jones. At   Treborth Track, Bangor LL57 2RQ On   Saturday 4th January 2025. 11-00am:   Under 11 Girls - Approx. 1 Mile  11-20am:  U13 Girls/U11 Boys - Approx. 1.5 Miles  11-45am:  U15 Girls/U13 Boys - Approx. 2 Miles 12.15pm:  U17 Women/U15 Boys - Approx. 3 Miles 1.00pm:  U20/Senior/Master Women/U17 Men/65+ Men  Approx 3.5 Miles 2.00pm:  U20/Senior/Master Men - Approx. 5.25 Miles Ages as of 1st September 2024 (Masters, as on the day) All athletes  must  represent first claim club or school, wear club/school vest and have North Wales qualification. ONLINE ENTRIES VIA:  www.entrycentral.com/NorthWalesCCChamps Entry Fees - Unde

*Pictured above - A trio of inspirational books by author Jennifer Maddy. Special Coast and Country Author Spotlight Feature Welcome to another new author feature in conjunction with Amazon (5).   ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jennifer M Maddy from Northern Ireland. Jennifer M Maddy is a Spiritual Author, Healer and Teacher of various Healing Modalities & Techniques. Her philosophy is to help people cope with everyday life situations, and to see life from a higher perspective, as well as gaining new skills and strength and having the courage to move forward.  She has written three books over the past five years exploring these areas through www.bookpublishing 4u.co.uk   Published by North Wales based firm :  www.bookpublishing4u.co.uk *All these books are now available on Amazon: See links below: Exclusive report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Timeless Love Paperback: https://amzn.to/4i3CJJS   Jennifer M Maddy gifts us Lessons of Forgiveness,  TIMELESS LOVE, and Hope. In this