Don Hale Blog

*A fast paced start for Jonathan Kettle as he heads away from the Castle. Podium finish for Jonathan Kettle at Caernarfon half-marathon. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Paul Brooks and Mick Hall. * Some of the NWRRC members before the start of the Caernarfon half-marathon (pictured l-r) Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts, Stuart Culverhouse, Helen Hannam, Jamie Tharme and Vicky Taylor. Seven members of NWRRC entered the new Caernarfon half-marathon last Sunday with two club runners finishing in the top-ten, and Jonathan Kettle enjoyed a podium finish in 3rd place. Jonathan also won his VM45-49 age category and confirmed a steady performance to clinch his bronze medal placing in 1 hour 17 minutes and 22 seconds. He was closely followed by  Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts , who was back on his home patch again and finished 5th overall and 2nd VM45-49 in 1.21.43. *Jonathan Kettle with leading runners at the Caernarfon half-marathon. Stuart Culverhouse  ran very well and was 24th in 1.30.51, and  Steve Roberts  

                                    *Martin Green in a close finish at the Conwy parkrun. FAST TIMES AND RECORDS SMASHED AGAIN AT CONWY PARKRUN...plus results round-up from other races. Report by Don Hale. Most photographs by Steve Jeffery.   Conwy parkrun witnessed a keen battle for top placings by a host of elite athletes on a near perfect morning at the RSPB site, where several records were smashed, and fast times recorded. And despite three superb parkrun PBs by North Wales runners  Martin Green ,  Josh Keogh , and  Mark Jessett , all were unable to match the fast pace of the 1st placed visiting man  Jonathan Goringe.                                   *PB time for Josh Keogh at Conwy. Goringe from Birchfield Harriers easily won the challenge and also set a new course record for his M30-34 age cat, finishing 51 seconds ahead of  Martin Green  in 16 minutes and 6 seconds, although Martin won his VM45-49 cat in 16.57, and  Josh Keogh  finished 3rd in 17.48, and was 2nd in his M30-34 c

Early registration is recommended for this special 30th anniversary run of the Nick Beer 10k run.  The race will be held on Sunday 13th February 2022, with a start time of 12-noon. Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Steve Jeffrey. *Entries have just gone live for the 2022 running of the NICK BEER 30th Anniversary race. Early registration is recommended as this popular event is likely to attract a very large entry due this particular key anniversary, and the organisers confirm they have already received some inquiries from abroad. *PLEASE USE THIS LINK TO REGISTER FOR THE 2022 NICK BEER 10K RACE:  https://secure.onreg.com/onreg2/front/step1.php?id=5402 n   *Martin Green in the colours of North Wales finished 7th in the 2021 Nick Beer race. This annual event always attracts many hundreds of runners of mixed ages and abilities from across the UK, and beyond, to enjoy the scenic splendours of a hilly but picturesque course around the Great Orme. Starting and finishing on Llandudno promenad

Podium place for Steve Bozier at Snowdonia Epic Trail 10k race - and a great team effort. Report by Don Hale.   Five club runners took part in the highly challenging Snowdonia Epic Trail 10k race last Sunday in the rain where Steve Bozier enjoyed an exceptional run to claim a podium position as the 3rd placed finisher. *Steve Bozier put in a great performance to finish 3rd in the Snowdonia Trail race and he is pictured (*top of page) and (*above centre) in the white top appearing as a giant on the start line. Steve ran an amazing 48 minutes 53 seconds, and he was also 2nd in his respective age category. The race also recorded some other notable team performances from  Dave Spofforth ,  Liz Driscoll ,  Hannah Griffiths , and  Samantha Williams , with a couple of the members only recruited at the last minute. *Some good running from the ladies at the Snowdonia Trail race (pictured l-r), Hannah Griffith, Sam Williams and Liz Driscoll. *Another excellent  result  for Dave Spofforth (*pictu

*Richard Eccles - set a new course record for his age with a PB at Conwy. North Wales runners take the plaudits at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Steve Jeffery.   Conwy Parkrun welcomed over three-hundred mixed ability athletes to the picturesque yet puddle-filled course at the RSPB site last Saturday, but it was Richard Eccles and team mates from North Wales Road Running club who took the plaudits, with some exceptional performances as the drizzle closed in. NWRRC entered fifteen members and packed well with four runners finishing in the top-ten and seven of the team also claimed age category wins, two second, and three third place awards, in addition to claiming three new parkrun PBs. And in addition,  Richard Eccles  set a remarkable new course record for his age group by ten-seconds! Jonathan Kettle  was the first club man home in 17 minutes 35 seconds, and won his VM45-49 cat, but this time he had to settle for 4th place overall behind some superb visiting elite

Great day for GOG Triathlon members at Bala in Welsh Championship race - and Rhian Roxburgh claims unique double.   Report by Don Hale.   GOG Triathlon had a strong team of over 30 members competing at Bala during Stage 5 of the Welsh Triathlon Super Series and they won gold and silver medals for several top podium placings in different age categories, with Rhian Roxburgh completing a unique double. *A unique double by Rhian Roxburgh at the Bala Triathlon. The event included a 1500m lake swim, a 40k bike ride and a near 10k run, and attracted 463 finishers.  Rhian Roxburgh  was the first female club runner home in 21st position and claimed gold for winning her Vet Female 40-49 age cat, finishing in 2 hours 11 minutes 19 seconds, and she won silver as the 2nd female finisher overall to celebrate a unique double. *Another great performance by teenager Caitlin Owen who won her age cat. Gareth Bowyer  was another worthy gold medal winner claiming 1st place in his Vintage Vet 50-59 age cat,

Liz Driscoll celebrates fantastic day at Bala Triathlon. Report by Don Hale.   North Wales Road Runner Liz Driscoll, who last weekend competed for her second claim club GOG Triathlon, tells of her unique experience in taking part in her first ever triathlon race at Bala. The event was said to be the ideal race for both beginners and experienced athletes alike, and the race seemed to live up to its pre-race publicity as “one of the most exciting triathlons the UK has to offer,” and soon became one of the most unforgettable races on the Welsh Triathlon Super Series. Race organisers, Tough Runner UK, teamed up with highly experienced local club, Clwb Beicio Bala, to bring back this amazing event, which was previously considered one of the most popular races on the circuit. And  this year, the event was included as Stage 5 of the Welsh Triathlon Super Series , which was also televised on S4C. Billed as the Bala Standard Triathlon, it involved a closed road triathlon, which started with a 1