Don Hale Blog

*Some of the NWRRC team (*above) at the start of the Conwy half-marathon. Bumper fundraising boost for charity at Conwy half-marathon and some great results from the Road Runners... Report by Don Hale.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Conwy half-marathon attracted a bumper starting field of nearly 1,000 mixed ability runners last Sunday for a very challenging encounter from Conwy Castle and around the Great Orme and back. Elite athletes joined with top club members and social runners to help raise thousands of pounds for local charities, and it was interesting to note that people travelled from all parts of the UK again just to take part in this popular and spectacularly scenic race. The event was won by  Dave Barratt  (Salford Harriers) in a fast time of just 1 hour 10 minutes and 41 seconds, with  Adam Jones  (Eryri Harriers) 2nd in 1.13.09, and  Michael Young  (West Cheshire) taking 3rd place in 1.14.17.  For the ladies,  Anna Bra...

*Kay Hatton (*above left) with Cheryl Frost. Hat-trick of silver medals at Welsh cross-country championships. Report by Don Hale.    https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Three members of NWRCC took part in the Welsh Athletics Inter-Regional cross-country championships at Monmouth last Saturday and all collected silver medals as part of their respective age group team medals.  Richard Eccles  finished 6th in his MV55 race with the team coming home in 2nd place overall, and  Cheryl Frost  and  Kay Hatton  ran in the FW55 age cat race and again were rewarded with silver medals for a similar second-placed finish. Cheryl was 109th and the 8th MW55 runner in 31.17, with Kay 122nd and 11th in the same age cat in 32.08. *Richard Eccles (*above) enjoyed a great run at Monmouth and won a silver medal in his MV55 team. After the race Richard said: “ A well organised event on a great course and although it was a long journey to earn my first NW vest it was...

FINAL MOMENTS MATTER **NEWS FLASH: Monday 11am. £261k raised so far with just a few hours to go..   Well-known charity fundraiser, volunteer, and supporter John Hatton, is appealing for people to help raise urgently needed funds for Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith children’s hospices.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com The appeal starts at 10am on Sunday 20th November and continues on Monday 21st November 2022. Please check out the links below. John confirmed: "Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith need   £500,000   to fund a whole year of vital end of life care for seriously ill local children and their families, and to make sure that the last moments of a child’s life are as precious as their first. "We have just 36-hours to complete our challenge but the brilliant news is that every donation made will be doubled! "Please help if you can because together we can make a real difference. Thanks for your support."   To donate please click on the link below: https://www.charityextra....

*Lizzie Irvine from GOG Triathlon was the first club runner back at Conwy. Podium places for GOG athletes at Conwy parkun. Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   GOG Triathlon runners packed well at Conwy parkrun last Saturday despite preparations for the Conwy half-marathon the following day and claimed four podium places including three second place finishes. Many of the parkrun finishing times however, probably reflected the preparation needed for this tough challenge around the Great Orme just 24-hours later and included tackling the usual rather soggy and puddle-filled 5k course. Lizzie Irvine  led a team of seven GOGs members home with another superb display as the 5th female runner, in 32nd place overall in 23 minutes and 18 seconds to finish 3rd in her VW35 age cat.  Gareth Jones  (*pictured below right) finished 50th in 24.38, with  Sarah Gallacher  53rd, and 2nd in her VW40 age cat in 25.06. John Farrell  ran well i...

*NWRRC athlete Josh Keogh was the first man home at Conwy parkrun. Six of the best for the Road Runners at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   North Wales Road Runners celebrated nine podium places including six of the best age category winning times at a bright and sunny Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning. Josh Keogh  gave the club a great start with an outstanding performance to finish as the first athlete back home to win his SM30 age cat in just 17 minutes and 14 seconds.  The talented fell runner led a team of eleven club members over another puddle-filled 5k course which also greeted a wealth of fellow runners from across the UK, who had travelled to make a special weekend of competition including the Conwy half-marathon the following day. Many of the parkrun finishing times probably reflected the preparation needed for the tough challenge around the Great Orme just 24-hours later. *Steve Mason (*above left) with Will William...

*Tristan Owen and his wife Kelly (*above) on the prom in Llandudno. Tom Owen and Son is a highly successful and long-established funeral business with amazing links to the Enigma Code and the stars of Coronation Street. Special Community Feature Story by Don Hale.   The firm is one of the oldest independent funeral directors in both Llandudno and the surrounding areas, and is the only company recognised by the Good Funeral Guide in the whole of North Wales. The company has continued to set the pace for decades with their high standards, and numerous innovations throughout this period. The business is now run by Tristan Owen, a fourth-generation family member, and his wife Kelly, who took over the helm at this highly successful enterprise over two-years ago. They remain determined to continue the legacy of its founder, who helped to shape the way the company has evolved over the past 90-plus years and  have become the energetic new faces of this respected long-established busin...