Don Hale Blog

*Some of the NWRRC team pictured above at Colwyn  Bay (back row l-r): Dave Jones, Phil and Carol Moss, Rob Fryer, Rachel Morris, Sarah Jones, Daniel  Henley, and (*front row), Don Hale, Mike Hayton and Cheryl Frost. Medals galore and PBs for NW Road Runners at the Colwyn Bay Metric races... Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Lesley Goodson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmasterathletics.co.uk   Nearly three-hundred mixed ability runners took part in the challenging Colwyn Bay Metric Marathon, and Metric Half-Marathon races, run together last Sunday in cool and very breezy conditions. Well-organised by RunWales, and well supported by numerous volunteers and marshalls, including a generous number from Porth Eirias Runners, the entrants had to battle with very strong and blustery headwinds on the re-routed four-mile outward course towards Penrhyn Bay from the start on the running track at the Eirias Park Stadium. The Metric half-marathon  (13.1 kms/8.13 miles...

North Wales Regional Championships 2024 Contact Details: amy.edwards@welshathletics.org Please contact the organiser, not OpenTrack, for all queries Start Lists  Enter Here 38 days, 7 hours, 18 min to go   Competitors   (8) North Wales Outdoor T&F Championships Saturday 11th May @ Deeside Stadium. *Link to entries:  https://wales.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2024/GBR/nwrac/?fbclid=IwAR2Lav-BHvDo8tge4EJDiW0japunlxFuhyY40sFVQEFl-U3tOSlD1aVyROI Masters will compete in Senior events using appropriate equipment. (U11's not eligible for Regional Championships therefore strictly no u11's entries). NORTH WALES Eligibility 1. Birth: born within the area covered by N.W.R.A.C. 2. Residence: Continuous current residence within the area covered by N.W.R.A.C. for at least 9 months. 3. Retention: An athlete may retain his/her existing qualification to represent N. Wales and compete in the N. Wales Regional Championship, provided that he/she has not represented another Region or County...

*Adam Lemalle (*above) was the first NWRRC club runner at Conwy parkrun. Fast times and a good turn-out at Conwy parkrun despite the cold and blustery conditions... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmasterathletics.co.uk   Despite a bitterly cold day, and a strong blustery wind, nearly two-hundred entrants still braved the elements and recorded some fast times over the challenging but relatively dry 5k course at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning. The event once again attracted a large number of visiting club and social runners from across the UK and Ireland, as part of an early Easter break, and plaudits were again handed to NWRRC member and parkrun volunteer  John Hatton , for his sterling efforts to help improve part of the start area. GOG Triathlete  Simon Cole  was the first runner home with an impressive time of just 17 minutes and 35 seconds to additionally win his VM40 age cat, and at the time of writing, the second placed runner ...

Fast competitive game and deserved draw for Kinmel Bay against the League leaders. Report and photos by Barry Griffiths (KBFC media officer). https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com Kinmel Bay FC (1) v Penmaenmawr Phoenix FC (1) at Y Morfa 16 March 2024. KBFC warmed up in Conwy Mind shirts reminding all the importance on mental health and sharing awareness. Pen was welcomed to Y Morfa with a team photo in cold but mainly dry and soft ground conditions well supported with food available. With Pen heading the table and KBFC at 7 this was a fast competitive game. A close call corner against the Bay in the first half left the teams equal at no score for the second half. Liam Griffiths assisted by Lee Stokes scored the goal for Pen in the 58th minute a lead quickly leveled by Paddy Hamid 4 minutes later.  Injured Olly Gray was replaced by Christopher Evans 5 minutes after the Bay goal and despite Pen’s Paddy Hold getting a blue card in the 83rd minute the score from this well matched fixture w...

    *Jamie Tharme (*above), enjoyed his sight-seeing marathon in Rome. NWRRC weekend results and reports round-up - Rome, Nantwich, and the Wirral. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk It was another busy weekend on the road for several members of the North Wales Road Runners including Jamie Tharme's trip to Rome for the marathon. Jamie Tharme  competed in the  Rome Marathon  on Sunday and enjoyed his run, finishing well in 3 hours and 52 minutes.  After the race he said : “Rome marathon, nice and chilled taking in the sights, but that extra 1.5km was the hardest few miles of my life. It was tough in that heat too, but the views were spectacular !" Carla back in action at the Nantwich 10k. *Nantwich: Carla Green  made a welcome return to racing after a long absence and performed well to finish in 114th place overall in 42.57 in the Nantwich 10k, and she also claimed the 2nd spot in her FV50 age cat. *Pict...

*Steve Gardner (*pictured above), ran well at the XC champs. Team prizes and some notable NW results at the BMAF cross country champs at Corwen. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   The British Masters Athletics Cross-Country championships was held last Saturday at Rhug Farm, near Corwen, and included some exceptional performances by many North Wales runners. The event attracted 97 top club and elite athletes in the Veteran Men’s up to M60 age cat event, and a further 94 runners in the combined Women’s and Male Masters aged 65-plus race.  The championships were well organised by officials and members of Prestatyn RC, and this was the fourth time the club had been asked by Welsh Athletics to host the event. North Wales Road Runner   Steve Gardner   (*pictured right), finished 52nd overall in the Male open event, and he was 10th in his MV60 cat, and covered the approximate 8k course in 35.37. After his race, Steve confi...

  *John Hatton (*above)  performed a clean sweep at Conwy parkrun to help reduce numerous large puddles at the start of a waterlogged course. Report by Don Hale.   Over two-hundred mixed ability runners took part in last Saturday’s Conwy parkrun, but once again they had to contend with very muddy and waterlogged conditions underfoot, with the start area only improved late on due to volunteer John Hatton sweeping out some of the large puddles! John’s determined action with a stiff brush improved the safety of this popular event, and for the second time in recent weeks, only the innovative actions of willing individuals meant this popular run could begin on time!  *Pictured above - Hard working NWRRC official and parkrun volunteer, and MC John Hatton, sweeps  the puddles at Conwy parkrun.  ( *Photo credit Michael Finnie ). Despite the challenging conditions, this run attracted several top juniors, and senior athletes, who ran hard to record new course PB’s, a...