Don Hale Blog

NWRRC athletes braved the heat at Aldi Chester 10k - and hosepipe came to the rescue of all runners...   Report by Don Hale   Several North Wales athletes turned out at the Aldi Chester 10k road race last Sunday despite a heat wave, and social distancing restrictions, within a massive turnout of nearly 3,000 runners. Newcomer  Jamie Tharme  was the first club man home in 50 minutes 51 seconds in 430th place from 1,633 male runners. He was followed by  Cai Roberts  in 55.49 in 676th place, with local soccer referee  Charlie Owen , a highly creditable 1,225th in 77.34. *Charlie  and Mandy Owen sizzled at the Chester 10k *Vicky Taylor had another good run at Chester in the heat Kelly-Marie Alford  led the ladies back home with another good run as 137th female out of 1,165 finishers in 55.06. And  Vicky Taylor  was another runner in fine form and following on from last week’s fell race, finishing as 239th female in 58.54, with  Mandy Owen  301st female in 60.49. Afterwards, Kelly confirmed

Sarah and friends complete 100 kms ultra-distance cancer charity run along Britain's oldest path Report by Don Hale.   Sarah Fergie Hudson and two of her close friends completed a demanding 100 kms ultra-distance run last weekend as part of their charity fundraising campaign for cancer research. The North Wales Road Runner completed the challenging “Race to the Stones” endurance event, which incorporated a fascinating route along Britain’s oldest path, and taking in numerous outstanding national landmarks. This popular event allowed experienced entrants to run, jog or walk their chosen route, and offered numerous options, including completing the full 100 kms course, a 50 kms alternative, and/or with weekender camping facilities. Event organisers invited entrants to conquer 100 kms (62.13 miles) along the Ridgeway, an historical trail that navigates Wayland’s Smithy, the famous Uffington White Horse, and Barbury Castle, before finally reaching the iconic Avebury Stone Circle. The u

*A plucky performance from Vicky Taylor at the Tal y Fan fell race Age category placing for Vicky Taylor in Tal y Fan fell race Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Steve Jeffery and Jonathan Kettle   Three NWRRC members took part in the gruelling Ras Tal y Fan fell race at Rowen last Saturday in very hot and humid conditions, with plucky Vicky Taylor snatching 2nd place in her respective age category. Said to be one of the toughest runs on the local North Wales fell racing circuit, the race is staged over varied terrain with nearly 800m of ascent and offered a stern challenge to all competitors over an 8-mile plus course.  The first two miles are said to be the most difficult, and host organisers, Club Rhedwyr Eyri Harriers, stated that entrants needed be able to navigate their way around the course, as although marshalls are at the checkpoints, and at the various gates and stiles around the course, the route is unmarked, and prior fell running experience is recommended. This year, with

*Martin Green came 2nd in his age category at Wilmslow Mixed fortunes for Martin and Jonathan at Wilmslow 10k   Report by Don Hale. There were mixed fortunes for two of North Wales Road Runners’ top athletes in last Sunday’s Wilmslow Summer 10k race with  Martin Green  claiming a 2nd place in his M45 age category, and  Jonathan Kettle  having to withdraw due to a persistent injury. In hot and humid conditions  Martin  continued his excellent form to finish 25th overall out of an amazing 2,545 other runners.  Competing under social distancing restrictions in England, Martin maintained a good pace throughout despite some tough additional races of late, and finally finished in 33 minutes 7 seconds for a silver medal podium cat place. He later confirmed: ‘ Pleased enough. It was going really well until 7k, then my legs fell off (or someone poured cement inside them). Last week’s half still there, but still very happy with how I felt up to that point.’ And  Jonathan , who has been strugglin

*Kelly-Marie Alford performed well despite the horrendous weather Kelly and Cai defy the weather to finish Brynkinalt 20k trail race Report by Don Hale. Kelly-Marie Alford  and her partner  Cai Roberts  braved a variety of horrific and very challenging weather conditions last Sunday to take part in the tough Brynkinalt 20k trail race as part of the Adrenaline Sporting Events, Running Festival. The pair ran very well together and finished jointly in 28th place in 2 hours 16 minutes 47 seconds. Kelly was also 8th Lady, but she said how horrendous the conditions suddenly became with mixed and then severe weather throughout. She explained: ‘ We ran together. The first lap was so hot, and because it was a trail race we were running through trees, the air was humid and so hard to breathe. Just before finishing the first lap, I said to Cai that I was quitting and doing no more, I was so fed up. ‘The second lap though was like a monsoon with thunder and lightning. We were running through thick

*A great new PB for Carla Green and 2nd Lady in the Goodwood marathon Unique double for Carla and Martin Green at Goodwood   Report by Don Hale.   Carla and Martin Green completed a unique double on the Goodwood motor racing circuit last Sunday with Carla finishing 2nd in the Running Grand Prix marathon, and Martin 2nd in the half-marathon event. The two North Wales Road runners completed umpteen laps of this famous track to earn plaudits from club members for two exceptional achievements.  Carla  celebrated a magnificent marathon run and a great PB of about ten minutes finishing as 2nd Lady in 3 hours 4 minutes and 8 seconds, and she also claimed the 1st F45 prize.  Carla was one of seventy-nine runners including twenty-one ladies and finished 11th overall. The race winner was Miyuki Okubo, who ran home in 3.00.25, with Helen Scales 3rd in 3.15.47. Martin Green  followed on from his superb 5k form and a PB at Wigan in midweek, to finish 2nd overall in the half-marathon in a fast time

*Jonathan Kettle recorded a great new PB at Rhyl FAST TIMES AND AGE CATEGORY WINS AT MARSH TRACKS 5K AT RHYL Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Steve Jeffery.   Six members of North Wales Road Runners travelled to Rhyl last Saturday to compete in the second Welsh Athletics fixture of a series of 5k races on closed road circuits, with two male athletes claiming age category wins, and the four others finishing second in their respective categories. Held on the go-cart and cycling course at the Marsh Tracks, the event gave many athletes their first taste of live race action for about 15-months and provided a fast, flat, but twisting course in warm and humid conditions. * Ben Hudson (pictured above) with Jonathan Kettle (below) Jonathan Kettle  was the pick of the NWRRC team with a new personal best time of 16 minutes 30 seconds for 3rd place and he was 1st M45 cat winner in this high-quality field of top local runners. He was pleased with a great showing, but later admitted: ‘ Pain, pain,

(Pictured above) Martin Green in NWRRC vest dipped under 16 minutes and claimed new personal best time in the "Fast 5k" race at Wigan. Paul Freary is at the head of the pack Report by Don Hale. Photographs by John Earlston. North Wales Road Runner Martin Green recorded an incredible personal best time (PB) at Wigan last Tuesday night in a high-quality 5k race, and just dipped under 16 minutes for the very first time. This event marked a fabulous performance from Martin who quickly hit top gear and accelerated away from the “Green” flag and burnt some rubber on the five-lap, Three Sisters go-cart track, to register an official time of 15 minutes 59 seconds.  Martin accelerated from the "Green" flag on the Three Sisters go-cart track It was a proud moment for the talented veteran athlete and marathon star, who later confirmed: ‘It was a “Fast 5k” event and included 5 x 1k laps, which was ideal. A PB, and my first time under 16 minutes. I was well chuffed to be honest,

NICK BEER 10K SOLD OUT - NO MORE ENTRIES AVAILABLE - BUT STILL A 1K CHILDREN'S FUN RUN Report by Don Hale The ever-popular Nick Beer 10k race has now SOLD OUT with no more places available, but entries still remain for the 1k children's FUN RUN (*See below). Joint race organiser Kay Hatton said today that they have now reached their 500-limit, and added that Matt Clowes, a previous winner, has entered and is predicting a sub-30!’  Race entries for the 10k closed on Tuesday 5th July when the final seven entries were received for the event on  Sunday July 18th (10am start) which always  attracts hundreds of runners from across the UK, and beyond, to enjoy the scenic splendours of a challenging course around Llandudno’s Great Orme.  Starting and finishing opposite the Imperial Hotel and at the REVISED START TIME OF 10am, this will be the 29th annual run to help commemorate the life of a well-known former local athlete, Nick Beer, who sadly passed away in 1992, aged just 27, afte

*Course PB times for  both  Mandy and Charlie Owen in the heat at Southport half-marathon (*Pictured above) Incredible 11-minute PB for Mandy Report by Don Hale   Five determined athletes from North Wales Road Runners braved extreme temperatures and made another border crossing to the seaside town of Southport last Sunday to compete in the half-marathon. Staged in very hot and humid weather, this popular event attracted 1083 finishers for the half-marathon race, and nearly 400 more for the 10k dash, yet despite the heat, two NWRRC athletes still celebrated course PB times. Stuart Culverhouse  was the first club man home in 127th place in a superb time of 1 hour 34 minutes and 37 seconds,’ but afterwards Stuart admitted: ‘I really struggled out there today in the humid conditions.’                                    *Stuart Culverhouse Kelly-Marie Alford  continued her return to form in 614th position overall in 2.02.17. She was also affected by the heat and humidity and explained: ‘It

*Josh Keogh dashes across the Great Orme in the fell race Road Runners competed in Great Orme fell race   Report by Don Hale. Photo by Steve Jeffery.   Three members of North Wales Road Runners were amongst the seventy-five finishers at last Tuesday night’s spectacular Great Orme fell race. Held in bright, warm sunshine, over a tough course with some incredible scenery, the event attracted several top athletes from many parts of the UK including Wrexham, Ilkley, Liverpool, Lymm, Calder, and even from Manx Fell Runners in the Isle of Man.  In addition, there was a good number of local fell runners from all ages, representing GOG Triathlon, Denbigh Harriers, Buckley Runners, Prestatyn RC, and Eryri, amongst many others, with the latter club entering nineteen members. *It was tough at the top for runners including Charlotte-Rose Wilton-Jones NWRRC had three runners taking part with  Josh Keogh  the first club man home in 15th place in 35 minutes 53 seconds.  Karl Morris  who loves the Wel