Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - Runners approach the finish at Conwy parkrun with their refections highlighted in the usual puddles on the course. Bright and sunny for St David’s Day penultimate parkrun at Conwy... Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Bethan Wyn Roberts. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co,uk It was a beautifully sunny morning at Conwy parkrun last Saturday for St David’s Day, as 246 athletes, with some in fancy dress, took part in the penultimate event – at least for the time being - over this picturesque 5k course. Extensive construction work is now expected to commence from 8th March onwards, and for a period of about 14-weeks which will temporarily impact on part of the existing parkrun and riverside route, from near the RSPB Nature Reserve to the Conwy Cob access bridge. An alternative course is currently under consideration for this outstanding period, but meanwhile, and until any other details are confirmed, entrants from many parts of the country,...

  Welsh Masters and UK Masters Open Track & Field Competition...8th June 2025... Attention all Welsh Masters Athletics members and all UK Masters for the next major masters track and field events. Introduction by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co,uk   The Masters Open will be held for the third consecutive year on Sunday the 8th of June at the Yate Outdoor Sports Complex, BS37 7LB.   DATE & TIME 08/06/2025, 10:00   REGISTRATION DEADLINE 30/05/2025, 23:59 VENUE NAME Yate Outdoor Sports Centre ADDRESS Broad Lane (Behind Brimsham Green School) CITY & COUNTRY BS37 7LB   Yate, United Kingdom ORGANISER Yate & District Athletic Club   All athletes must be 35 or over on the day of competition and entries will be on a first come, first served basis. Any entries from athletes aged under 35 will be rejected and we look forward to welcoming you when the time comes.    Para athletes are welcome to enter thi...

North Wales 5k track championships at the Deeside Stadium. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.wekshmastersathletics.co.uk The North Wales Regional 5km track championships will be staged at Coleg Cambria on Friday 4th April (evening). Age-categories are under 20, senior, 35-39, 40-49, 50-59,60-69 and over 70, for both men and women.  On the night there are also some other non-championship races and field events: javelin, high jump and long jump;  *See full details at :   https://www.welshathletics.org/.../north-wales-endurance...   *To enter (closing date is 30th March at 23:59) go to: https://wales.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2025/GBR/nwend25/ OTHER CONTACT DETAILS: amy.edwards@welshathletics.org

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...

*The Welsh Masters Athletics relay team -  Ian Broadhurst, Andy Weetman, Michael David Smith and Brett Davis. *Andy Rushbrook and Peter Hawney after their shot put comp etition. Welsh Masters Athletics - Results and photos from the EMAA Inter-area indoor event Lee Valley... https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Thanks to some members of Welsh Masters Athletics, I have included some photos and reports from last weekend's English Masters Athletic Association (EMAA) competition at the Lee Valley indoor stadium. This event included the Inter-area challenge championships. My thanks to Brett Davis and members of Newport Harriers for the contents. The results can be viewed on the following links.  https://www.thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=673430 https://bmaf.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2025/GBR/emaa-inter-area-indoors/event/ Brett Davis, a top international competitor, and a director of Welsh Masters Athletics said: "The results are still provi...

*Pictured above - action from a previous Orme fell race. Great Orme Fell Race is back to its regular spot. Plus details of the Joe Brown Tuesday evening midweek series of Fell Races. Report courtesy of Mike Blake. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Fell race organiser Mike Blake has just confirmed that the Great Orme Fell Race will now return to its normal spot on May 13th, following reports that it may have had to be postponed. Mike said this week: “Please note that d ue to popular demand the Orme Fell Race is back in its normal spot thanks to Gavin Gog. This means that the Northerner's only have to travel south once as far as the Llanberis Valley to get the five counters in, while the southerners only have  to go as far north as Y Fron, to get their 5 counters in. ” Mike also confirmed details of the other Joe Brown   – Tuesday evening – midweek Fell Race fixtures for 2025 , and again he stated: “Ok folks, time to mark your wall planners, 1st April will soon be her...