Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - Steve Bozier was back to form at Conwy parkrun. Back to a cold splash and dash at Conwy parkrun for visiting athletes...plus other results. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Conwy parkrun finally got underway again this week following a series of weather affected postponements, and this week it attracted many visiting athletes from across the UK in readiness for the Nick Beer 10k race the following day. The first two finishers overall were  John Gardner  and  James Jones  in this famous 5k splash and dash event through the puddles from the RSPB Nature Reserve, with both men recording new PB times.  VM35 runner John enjoyed a great run in just 19 minutes and 33 seconds, with NWRRC SM30 runner James also celebrating with a new PB of 20.10, whilst visitor  Harry Kelly  (Sports Feet), was satisfied with a time of 20.50 on his course debut. North Wales Road Runners  entered eig...

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 and below - some great action photos from the match. Six of the best for Kinmel Bay in title challenge. Report and photos by Barry Griffiths. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   NWCEFL 24/25 Premier Division 1 Feb 2025 Kinmel Bay FC (6) v Llandudno Amateurs FC (3) played at Llandudno stadium. This away game win brings the Bay to 2nd place just 3 points below Y Glannau. For the goals it was just 3 minutes into the game when Connor Morris assisted by Danny Mcilvogue opened the score. An unfortunate Bay own goal in the 16th minute levelled the score with the Amateurs David Hansom assisted by Jack Kearney in the 27th pulling Llandudno briefly into the lead before Ryan Roberts equalised for KBFC’s on the 29th minute. Mathew Beach assisted by Oli Gray scored for the Bay in the 57th minute of play and in the 76th Danny Mcilvogue added the Bays 4th goal. As a mark of the efforts being made by both teams three goals were scored in the last 5 minutes o...

*Pictured above - all round fell racer Karl Morris enjoyed a double date. Karl Morris completes two runs in a day including the tough Conwy Fell Race...plus other results... Report by Don Hale.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com *Fell runners are shown tackling the tough climb up Conwy Mountain. North Wales Road Runner Karl Morris took part in the annual Conwy Fell Race on Saturday afternoon just a few hours after competing in the 5k Nova parkrun at Prestatyn.  Described by the organisers as ‘a great fell race in the Conwy mountains,’ this gruelling course followed a 5-mile route, which included an initial 500m climb, and a further 1650ft of elevation, which started and finished at Conwy Cricket Club, and attracted 112 hardy and mixed ability athletes. Despite the challenge of two events in a day, Karl, a popular all-round endurance, fell, and road running athlete, completed this tough course with flying colours, and he ran home in 69.43 to finish in 77th place. *The over...

*Pictured above - super vet Dave  Gardner, who won gold at Deeside. North Wales athletes performed well at prestigious Indoor Championships... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Three top veteran athletes hit good form at two different Indoor Championship events last weekend, with North Wales Road Runner Steve Gardner crossing the Pennines to compete for the Welsh Masters on the track in the 3000m, whilst his father Dave struck gold in the shot putt event at Coleg Cambria, Deeside, alongside Paul Brooks, who also won gold in his own respective age category. Steve however, despite an excellent performance in Sheffield, said he was slightly down on his best time for this distance, but admitted to facing some stern competition, from rivals.   *Above left - Steve and Dave Gardner, and (*right) Paul Brooks. After the event, Steve confirmed:  “I competed in the British Masters Indoor Championships last Sunday. It was a very strong MV60 age category held...

*Pictured above - NWRRC track star and record holder Steve Gardner. Steve Gardner competed in the British Masters Indoor 3000m champs at Sheffield. Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk North Wales Road Runner Steve Gardner took to the track again last week and this time he travelled across the Pennines to compete for the Welsh Masters in the British Masters Indoor championships held in Sheffield. Despite an excellent performance, the record breaking veteran Welsh athlete was slightly down on his best time for this distance, and faced some stern competition.   After the event, Steve  confirmed: “I competed in the British Masters Indoor Championships last Sunday. It was a very strong MV60 age category held over two races. I finished 2nd in the B race in a time of 10.43 which meant I was 10th overall taking into consideration the times of both races. I was 5-seconds slower than my PB but pleased with my performance on th...

North Wales Coast East Football League 24/25 – Premier Division Kinmel Bay FC (3) v CPD Cerrigydrudion (0) 25 Jan 2025 played at Eirias Park. Report and photos from Barry Griffiths. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   A window of Bright winter sun made photos a bit tricky in a fast well attended match of skill and determination.  For KBFC Jordan Bellham opened the score in the 30th minute then assisted Sean Sheridan two minutes later. Each club had 5 subs, and all the bays were played with subs Connor Morris assisted by Jacob Jones scoring the Bays 3rd in the 82nd minute. Cerrig were awarded a penalty at the end of the game but Tomos Jones driving shot was brilliantly saved by Bay keeper James Roberts. Now at 32 points KBFC rank third just a below Mochdre at 33 and Y Glannau at 35.

*Steve Gardner and his father Dave are pictured above. Welsh Masters record breaking trio received their certificate recognition awards this week. Report by Don Hale https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Three Welsh Masters veteran athletes received official certificates this week to confirm they have recorded some new national records at recent track and field events. The roll of honour includes two  North Wales Road Runners  in father and son athletes  Dave and Steve Gardner,   and David Williams  from the  Guildford and Godalming club. Dave celebrated a new record in the indoor shot putt competition held at Coleg Cambria, Deeside, on 11th January this year, with an impressive throw of 7.26m to win his M85 age cat, whilst his son Steve competed at the National Indoor Athletics Centre in Cardiff on 12th January, and he won his M60 cat in the 800m indoor track race in 2 minutes 20.89 seconds. David Williams was another...

*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...