Don Hale Blog

*Steve  Forsyth (*above left) with Will Williams at the Two Lakes Trail 10k race. Trail Race victory for Steve  Forsyth  at Llyn Brenig  Trail  Race. Report by Don Hale.  Llyn Brenig Trail 10k:   Steve Forsyth  and  Will Williams  claimed the 1st and 2nd places at the Two Lakes Trail 10k at Llyn Brenig last Sunday, although the course was said to be about 7-miles.  And NWRRC colleague  Jamie Tharme  also ran well, although admitted he was struggling following his previous week’s gruelling ultra-effort. He later claimed, it was “too much, too soon,” and said his legs weren’t ready, and that it was a struggle from 3k. *Steve  Forsyth and Jamie Tharme (*above) at the Two Lakes Trail Race. *Barcelona marathon:   Mark Jessett  enjoyed his own run in the sun at the weekend with a great performance in the Barcelona marathon and just dipped under the 3-hour mark in 2.53. *Mark Jessett (*above) had a good run in the ...

*Cheryl Frost and Kay Hatton (*above) are in the top Welsh rankings for 5k. North Wales Road Runners amongst the records and top Welsh rankings for 5k races and Track and Field. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery.   Several North Wales Road Runners have had their 2022 Welsh performance rankings updated following recent results in the Easter 5k Dash in Llandudno on 16th April, and the Mid Cheshire 5k race on 29th April, plus recent Track and Field events, and can now claim many top placings, plus some Welsh records! The nationally acclaimed Run Britain Rankings website, and the Power of 10 site, which both record race timings and performance details from thousands of club athletes competing in varied certified events across the country have updated the current Welsh rankings and include new details for eleven NWRRC athletes. They confirm that two top female club runners  Cheryl Frost  (22.36) and  Kay Hatton  (23.03) are ranked 3rd and 4th in their ...

*Will Williams (*above left) with Steve  Forsyth. Five Road Runners in top ten at Conwy parkrun - plus other race results... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   Conwy parkrunners enjoyed a good run in the sun last Saturday where five Road Runners finished within the top-ten, and seven members claimed age category wins.  Steve Forsyth  marked his return from Gambia with another positive run to finish in 2nd place overall in 17 minutes 39 seconds and won his MV40-44 age cat, but he was unable to catch the runaway leader Hamish Morton (Cambridge & Coleridge AC), who celebrated a new PB in 17.27 and won his SM25-29 age cat. Meanwhile, Colwyn Bay youngster Alfie Shirland claimed the 3rd spot and won his JM11-14 age cat in 17.50. Martin Green  finished 4th overall and he was 1st in his MV45-49 cat in 18.11, with  Steve Mason  just two-seconds off his previous best in 5th spot, and 2nd in the same cat as Martin in 18.50.  *Pictured above -...

*Richard Eccles (*above left) with Jon Evans. Both athletes claimed great new PBs last Friday night at the very fast and high calibre Mid Cheshire 5k race. Road running duo hit top form at Mid Cheshire 5k race. Report by Don Hale.   Two North Wales Road Runners competed in the Mid Cheshire 5k Spring race last Friday night and both claimed incredible new PB times within a quality field of top athletes. This star-spangled event attracted 747 international, elite, and club runners from across the UK, with many simply intent on recording personal best times over this exceptionally fast course. And the race pedigree was proven by the first twenty-seven runners all dipping under 15-minutes. Just one second separated the first three finishers, with  David Devine  (Liverpool Harriers) the race winner in 14.19, with  Cameron Bell  (Hallamshire Harriers) 2nd in 14.20, and  James Knockton  (Trafford AC) 3rd in the same chip time of 14.20. NWRRC members  Rich...

*Jamie Tharme (*pictured above) completed 100k North Wales Ultra challenge. Report by Don Hale.   Endurance runner Jamie Tharme must be a glutton for punishment as he took part in the gruelling new 100k North Wales Path Ultra race last Saturday just a week or two after competing in a tough marathon event. Jamie eventually completed this tremendous challenge of running from Nova at Prestatyn to Bangor - with a good many hills thrown in - in a magnificent time of 15 hours and 2 minutes, covering a Strava distance of 101.95 kms including 2,044m of elevation. Feeling utterly exhausted, Jamie later admitted: “I’ve done a lot of stupid things in my time, but this is definitely up there. Wow! That was so hard!” *NWRRC athlete Jamie Tharme (*pictured above) in another recent race. Two other well-known local runners also took part including,  Amanda Durber  and  Bethan Wyn Roberts.  The pair ran together throughout and completed the course in an amazing time of 15 hours ...

Josh Keogh (*pictured above) led the team to success at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery. North Wales Road Runners had three athletes within the top four finishers at Conwy parkrun last Saturday and claimed six age category wins during another well attended and sun-drenched event. This popular 5k event again attracted numerous Bank Holiday runners from across the UK to sample the delights of this spectacular riverside course with many of the 216 finishers also recording PBs. Josh Keogh  led the club team, and he was the first runner home overall, and celebrated victory as the 1st SM30 cat winner in just 17 minutes and 19 seconds. He was closely followed by club colleagues  Jonathan Kettle  in 2nd place and 1st MV45 in 18.03, and  Steve Mason  4th, and 2nd in his MV45 age cat in 18.55. *Jonathan Kettle (*above) finished 2nd at the Conwy Parkrun. Steve Roberts  won his MV55 cat finishing 21st overall in 21.26, with  Sean Bu...

*John Dalzell *(above) put in a tremendous effort during his ultra challenge and not only recorded a great new PB time but he was also the 1st Welsh runner. John Dalzell completed 53-mile Highland Fling Ultra Race for the Welsh Air Ambulance charity appeal. Report by Don Hale.   North Wales Road Runner John Dalzell was celebrating last weekend after completing a gruelling 53-mile international challenge race, including an amazing new PB, whilst also helping to raise vital funds for the Welsh Air Ambulance appeal. *The Welsh air Ambulance team in action (*above). The experienced endurance athlete was the 1st Welshman to finish amongst a top-quality international field of 450 starters – with only 315 finishers – during the Highland Fling Ultra Marathon in Scotland. John was 116th overall and completed this extremely tough course, with 7,187 ft of elevation, in just 11 hours 47 minutes and 52 seconds, knocking a massive 37 minutes of his previous best time.  *John Dalzell (*above...