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Cai and Kelly-Marie on track at Oulton Park, and Jon Evans at Chester parkrun.

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*Cai Roberts and Kelly-Marie Alford on the podium with their son Noah. Cai and Kelly-Marie on track at Oulton Park Report by Don Hale.   Cai Roberts  and his partner  Kelly-Marie Alford  raced around the track during a series of running events at the Oulton Park Grand prix last Sunday, with Cai completing the 10k challenge, and Kelly-Marie claiming 3rd place in her F35 age category in the 16-miler. The popular running couple, who are still recovering from last week’s North Wales half-marathon, sped along the brand-new traffic free course and around the famous motor racing circuit in different events, with Cai finishing 80th overall in his 10k race in 55 minutes 34 seconds; whilst Kelly battled a much longer and more undulating route, including the circuit, to finish 40th overall and 3rd F35 cat in 2 hours 42 minutes and 23 seconds. Later  Kelly-Marie  admitted: ‘ I had the worst stitch at mile 8.5, and it took ages to get rid of it. OMG it was so hard! The hills zapped the energy right

Peter becomes a record holder following great 5k performance

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  Peter becomes a record holder following a great 5k performance. News update by Don Hale. Photograph by Steve Jeffery. North Wales Road Runner and veteran master athlete Peter Armstrong put himself into the record books last week following his superb performance in the Welsh Athletics 5k race at the Marsh Tracks in Rhyl. Peter was 1st in his M70 age category with a season's best and a fast time of 23.02 over the four and a bit laps of the Marsh Tracks, which is a specially closed cycle and go-cart circuit. Paul Brooks from N.W.R.A.C. has just updated his North Wales record books and confirmed this week: 'Peter Armstrong now ranks 9th M70 in the all-time. 10th place is 23:11: Read my race report from last week:  Don Hale Blog: FAST AND FURIOUS RUNNING AT WELSH ATHLETICS 5K https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2021/08/fast-and-furious-running-at-welsh.html?spref=tw

Welsh parkruns to return on August 21st.

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LATEST UPDATE FROM PARKRUN UK - Welsh parkruns now set to return on August 21st. Statement on August 6th from Parkrun HQ. With an ever-increasing number of landowner permissions coming through, we are delighted to be able to announce that 5k events in Wales will restart from Saturday August 21st.   Whilst we won’t be in a position to return all events across the country on the same day, based on the evidence and insight so far from reopening more than 1,400 events around the world, we are comfortable that events will not be overwhelmed by significantly-increased attendances.   We currently have around 45% of 5k events with landowner permission to restart in Wales, and proactive conversations remain ongoing with the rest. We are in the process of informing event teams of their current position and we are confident that the number of events with landowner permission to return will increase further over the next two weeks.   All junior parkrun events in Wales are already able to return as

Club athletes competed in challenging North Wales half-marathon

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*They think it's all over - it is now! Three exhausted but happy runners (l-r) Cai Roberts, Kelly-Marie Alford  and  Vicky Taylor after completing the NW half-marathon race last Sunday morning. Club athletes competed in tough North Wales half-marathon Report by Don Hale. Believed to be one of the toughest events in the country, some 138 endurance athletes took part in the re-scheduled North Wales half-marathon race last Sunday in mixed weather conditions. This incredible challenge started and finished on the beach close to the Mulberry Marina and crossed back and forth into the Snowdonia National Park.  Set between the mountains and sea near Conwy, this year’s race unfortunately attracted a reduced entry due to previous pandemic restrictions, yet all were treated to some spectacular scenery over a difficult course. North Wales Road Runners  had five members competing and although most found the route very hard, they all claimed to have enjoyed their venture.  * Steve Roberts perfor

Hardy runners tackled Fairy Freckled Cow trail race

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*Another good run from Kay Hatton around Alwen  Reservoir . Hardy runners tackled Fairy Freckled Cow trail race Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Steve Jeffery.   Ninety-five hardy runners tackled the challenging but very picturesque Fairy Freckled Cow trail race around Alwen Reservoir last Sunday, which was staged by kind permission from Welsh Water and Natural Resources Wales. This year the event, run over a near 7-mile undulating course and well organised by Denbigh Harriers, also included the North Welsh Championships, and attracted club members from varied parts of Wales and the UK. Kay Hatton  and  Mike Hayton  were the only representatives from NWRRC, due to other fixture clashes, but both seemed pleased with their performances despite a tough run and the warm and humid conditions.  Kay finished as the 14th female runner, 53rd overall and she was 2nd in her W55 age category in 57 minutes 45 seconds. At the time of writing, Kay was awaiting confirmation of a possible medal in t

FAST AND FURIOUS RUNNING AT WELSH ATHLETICS 5K

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*Master veteran runner Peter Armstrong won his M70 age act at Rhyl 5k Fast and furious running at the Welsh Athletics 5k race at the Marsh Tracks in Rhyl. Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Steve Jeffery.   It was another fast and furious 5k Welsh Athletics race at Rhyl’s Marsh Tracks last Sunday afternoon, which was again run in very warm and humid conditions. The race, which was the third in a special series of four events, attracted a wealth of high-quality male and female athletes, and both the men’s and women’s events recorded incredibly fast times, with the first seven men dipping under 19 minutes, and the first seven women finishing under 22 minutes. North Wales master veteran runners  Peter Armstrong  and  Don Hale  were the only NWRRC representatives due to several fixture clashes, but both recorded season’s best times, and both won their respective age categories.  Peter enjoyed a very good run and finished 15th overall in 23 minutes 2 seconds for his 1st place M70 cat win. D

LATEST UPDATE: Welsh 5k and junior parkruns expected to return on August 21st.

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PARKRUN UK LATEST NEWS: Welsh 5k and junior parkruns expected to return on August 21st UPDATE: Parkruns could finally be returning to Wales on Saturday August 21st.  *SEE NEW/REVISED STATEMENT FROM Parkrun UK ON AUG 6TH: Parkrun UK’s head of event delivery, Helen Hood, published a statement today about the expected return to parkrun in Wales and Scotland early next month.  Over five-hundred events returned last weekend in England and organisers in Wales and Scotland are now preparing for the 1k junior parkrun to recommence on the same date as the full 5k distance runs.   Scotland and Wales updates   Ms Hood admitted today: ‘Following recent announcements from the Scottish and Welsh governments, we are working towards returning 5k events in both Scotland and Wales from Saturday August 14th. ‘We are in contact with landowners to confirm permission for events restarting on this date and will continue to work closely with ambassadors and event teams in order to do our very best to make it

Llyr just missed chequered flag victory at Bedford Autodrome 16-mile race

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Llyr just missed chequered flag victory at Bedford Autodrome 16-mile race Report by Don Hale   Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts practically burned some rubber as he roared into action and claimed a deserved podium place at the Bedford Autodrome 16-mile race on Sunday, finishing in second place overall, but he just missed out on the chequered flag by a matter of seconds. The North Wales athlete was flying the flag for Wales in this tough English based endurance event, which was part of a special Grand Prix series of varied distance races held on a closed, traffic-free circuit road, which followed a brand-new course designed by former F1 racing driver Jonathan Palmer. Llyr had to complete five challenging laps of the Bedford Autodrome circuit run over a smooth tarmac surface and eventually finished in 2nd place overall in 1 hour 40 minutes 43 seconds, and also won his M45 age category.  *Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts just missed out a gold medal by seconds. He was pleased with his performance but was obv

Heat and humidity took its toll on North Wales athletes at Helena Tipping 10k

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*Martin Green leads the chasing pack at the Helena Tipping 10k race. Heat and humidity took its toll on North Wales athletes at Helena Tipping 10k   Report by Don Hale   There was a strong turn-out of North Wales Road Runners despite the heavy heat and humidity for the re-scheduled Helena Tipping 10k race at Wrexham on Sunday with ten members competing amongst 927 finishers. This well organised event attracted a strong field of elite athletes and club runners for one of the first few major races to be allowed in Wales due to Covid-19 restrictions, and  Matt Clowes , who was last week’s  Nick Beer  10k winner in  Llandudno , was again the victor, this time dipping under 30-minutes in this flat and fast race on a new course. Martin Green  made an excellent start but like several club colleagues, he suffered in the clammy heat and humidity, and eventually had to settle for a highly respectable 23 rd  position, but he also claimed 2nd  place in his M45 age cat award with an impressive time

Age Cat honours for GOG Triathlon Club at a very hot Nick Beer 10k race

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* Some of the GOG runners at  the  Nick Beer race on Llandudno promenade Age Cat honours for GOG Triathlon Club at a very hot Nick Beer 10k race Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Steve Jeffery.   The GOG Triathlon Club entered a large contingent of quality athletes in the very hot and hilly Nick Beer 10k race last Sunday morning, which was one of the very first major events held in Wales this year since the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns. This popular race starting from Llandudno Promenade, and then out and back, including a tough climb around the Great Orme, always offers runners a stern challenge, but this year, the re-scheduled race - due to previous restrictions - provided an even harder test with very high temperatures and limited shade for the 400-plus finishers. The event also included a prestigious Inter-County race with some of the top runners from North Wales, Staffordshire, Shropshire, and Cheshire taking part. North Wales eventually won the men’s race, with the ladies having

Inter-Counties victory for North Wales team at Nick Beer 10k race

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  *( Pictured above ) The North Wales team at the Inter-County match in Llandudno last Sunday at the Nick Beer 10k race, against Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire. Back row:   Louis Lermite , Bryn Woodall,  Ricky Challinor ,  Ted Flynn ,  Scott Nixon  and  Martin Green   with team manager   Paul Brooks . Front row:   Jen Adams ,  Claire Wyn-Jones ,  Tracy Rogers ,  Rachel Shipley ,  Carla Green  and Amie Bagnall. Inter-Counties victory for North Wales team at Nick Beer 10k race Report by Don Hale   A team of twelve top athletes from North Wales took part in a scintillating Inter-Counties competition against rivals from Cheshire, Staffordshire, and Shropshire last Sunday, which was held in baking temperatures within the Nick Beer 10k Memorial race. The North Wales team claimed 1st place and were comfortable winners of the men’s race, with the women’s team narrowly beaten into 2nd position following a close-fought encounter. A team of six competed for honours amongst twenty-three ma

Hot and hilly for runners in Nick Beer Memorial 10k race

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*Martin Green in the colours of North Wales finished 7th overall. Hot and hilly for runners in Nick Beer 10k race Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Steve Jeffery. Athletes from across the country descended on Llandudno last Sunday morning and battled soaring temperatures to compete in the re-scheduled Nick Beer Memorial 10k race, which had to be delayed for several months due to covid-19 restrictions. This ever-popular challenge, which started on Llandudno promenade, before climbing steeply around the scenic Great Orme and back, attracted over 400 runners of varied ages and abilities. The event also included a large contingent of elite athletes, and several teams for a combined Inter-County race. And in addition, there was also a highly successful 1k fun-run for children in aid of St David’s Hospice, which attracted over 70 entrants. With the club busy hosting and organising this spectacular race, most club members were involved in some way with marshalling or supervisory duties, ther