Don Hale Blog

 *Pictured above - Mark Jessett had a close finish with the runaway leader. Busy in the drizzle for over two hundred parkrunners at the Conwy Nature Reserve...and a close finish for Mark. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Just over two-hundred entrants took part in a rather drizzly Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning at the RSPB Nature Reserve, which again attracted a good number of tourists and visiting club and social runners from around the UK. North Wales Road Runners  only had seven members in action this week due to holidays and other commitments, but they still recorded three age victories and two second place results.  Mark Jessett  was in good form and narrowly finished in 2nd place overall, but he certainly gave the runaway leader  Nathan Williams , a strong challenge from the turn-around point, and in the end, he was just 10-seconds adrift. Mark however, won his VM35 age cat in 18.22, with colleague  Steve Mason  running w

*Pictured above - Charlotte Rose Wilton Jones at Snowdon. Road Running duo tackled the gruelling Snowdon Twilight race last Friday night... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Two Road Runners took to the hills, or rather to the mountain last Friday night, to take part in the gruelling Scott Sports Snowdon Twilight fell race. This was an extremely tough, challenging, but well-organised uphill race that started from the road opposite the Royal Victoria Hotel, and followed the Llanberis Path to the Summit of Snowdon. Charlotte Rose Wilton Jones  and  Phil Moss  competed well with Charlotte in 50th place overall out of 68 eventual finishers, and she was the 17th female athlete and 6th in her FOpen age category with a good time of 1hr 12 mins and 43 secs. Phil gave chase to Charlotte all the way and he was 52nd overall, and 4th in his VM60 age cat in 1hr 13mins 9 secs. *The race winner was  George Foster  (Matlock AC) in a remarkable time

*Pictured above - Martin Green en-route for a 3,000m track PB. Martin Green celebrated a new 3,000m track PB at Bury. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Martin Green hit the track running in midweek at Bury in North Manchester to record a great new personal best time in his 3,000m race, part of the Trafford AC race series. He finished in 4th place overall on a quality track with quality rivals in his T-8 event, race 2, with an impressive time of just 9 mins 33.43 seconds, whilst representing  Welsh Masters . Afterwards, Martin said he was pleased with his recent track racing progress and confirmed:  “Some pictures from a sunny Bury track for the Trafford track meet. We’ve been lucky with the weather this year which always helps. “I’m hoping to get to another one somewhere to try and find just over three seconds and go sub 9:30. Nine seconds quicker in three weeks, was all down to the confidence from the way the last one felt, so hopef

*Colwyn Bay athlete Bryn Woodall (*above) was on top form at Conwy Student Bryn provided a master class at Conwy after returning from America. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Talented youngster Bryn Woodall, who has just returned home to North Wales for the summer from his studies in America was the first athlete home at last Saturday’s Conwy parkrun, which attracted a host of club and social runners from all over the UK. Bryn, who represents Colwyn Bay AAC, easily won his SM20 age cat with a fast time of 17 minutes and 43 seconds, with fell runner  Josh Keogh  winning his SM30 age cat in 2nd place overall in 18.02, whilst  Aled Hughes  (GOG Triathlon) finished 3rd in 18.15, and he won his VM35 cat. Anna Drinkwater  (Eryri Harriers) claimed the 1st female spot with a superb run finishing in 11th place overall in 19.39, and she won her SW25 cat. Meanwhile,  Hannah Whitelam Hodges  (Hallamshire Harriers), took 2nd place, and she was

*Pictured above - Benjamin  Brummit (*left), with Sion Thomas, and James Jones at the Coleslaw 10k. Good performances by North Wales Road Runners at the Colshaw 10k... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Seven Road Runners travelled to the leafy lanes in Cheshire last Sunday to compete in the Colshaw Hall 10k near Knutsford with most members pleased with some excellent results. Newcomer  Benjamin Brummit  made his club debut and he finished very well in 143rd place in 40.59, out of a massive field of nearly 700 runners. He was followed by  James Jones , who was 165th in 41.47, with  Sion Thomas  176th in 42.17.  *NWRRC veteran Kevin Higgins (*above left), with Cai Roberts and Kelly Alford. Veteran athlete K evin Higgins   ran in his 4th consecutive 10k race during his unique series, and he too was pleased with his time of 51.22, which was his best for over two years, and   Cai Roberts and Kelly Marie Alford   ran the course together an

*Ben and Sarah Hudson - pictured above - at the 70-mile Wall challenge. Ben and Sarah beat ‘The Wall’ and the weather to complete their 70-mile challenge...plus results from the Salomon Trail half-marathon. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com Road Running couple Ben and Sarah Hudson beat ‘The Wall’ and the weather last weekend to complete a gruelling 70-mile ultra-marathon challenge from Carlisle to Gateshead, which covered some of the most spectacular, but difficult courses in the country. This dynamic duo, who are certainly no strangers to ultra events, began their efforts in the early hours of Saturday morning and eventually finished some 16-hours later.   The NWRRC pair ran together throughout the event, which included a tough journey via several notable north-eastern landmarks including Lanercost Priory, Walltown Quarry, The Sill, Hexham, and Newburn, before eventually crossing the finish line at Gateshead. The organisers claimed it was the UK’s most iconic ultra-

 *Pictured above - Stuart Culverhouse and his son Joe both win their age cats. Mixed bag of weather for over two-hundred entrants at Conwy parkrun...but Stuart and Joe completed a family double. Report by Don Hale https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Over two-hundred entrants at Conwy parkrun faced a mixed bag of weather last Saturday morning with cool, wet, and windy conditions, which made a mockery of the claim that it’s supposedly summer! North Wales Road Runners  Stuart Culverhouse  and his young son  Joe   Culverhouse , however, celebrated a family double with both members winning their respective age categories. Stuart, who led home a team of eleven, was the 1st NWRRC man home in 12th place overall in 20.54, and he won his VM50 cat, whilst Joe finished 28th, and won his JM11 cat in 22.34. Sandwiched in-between was  Steve Roberts , who braved a running vest but finished 2nd in his VM55 cat in 22.10, with  Martin Green  jogging around the 5k course in

*Welsh Master David Gibson is pictured (*above left) , after the race with his daughter Stephanie, who was the first F40 and fourth overall female. New Welsh Masters PB and record for David Gibson at Swansea half-marathon Two weeks after setting a Welsh M70 Half Marathon record in the Wales Masters v England HM match in Manchester, Welsh Master David Gibson , aged 72, of Tri Hard Harriers ran the Swansea Half Marathon on Sunday with a new PB of 87 minutes and 11 seconds, and setting a new Welsh M70 Half Marathon record (subject to official confirmation).  In addition, it is likely that this is the fastest UK M70 Half Marathon time this year-to-date.   At this event last year, David nearly collapsed at the finish owing to the after effects of Covid, so this year’s result is particularly pleasing.   *Two talented Welsh Masters and record holders (*above left), David Gibson, and (*above right), Dave Gardner from NWRRC, who set a new shot put record. Dave Gardener also set a new PB and We