Don Hale Blog

*Family members and recipients of the Hall of Fame awards are pictured (back row l-r): Paul Brooks, the secretary of the NWRAC, Bernard Harris, Gareth Hughes, Mark Dunn, Kerry Woolrich and Rob Ross; and (front row l-r), Llinos Williams, Denise Harris and Debbie Ross. North Wales athletics’ officials honoured at special “Hall of Fame” Induction ceremony. Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Don Hale and *Paul Brooks.   Many long serving and distinguished officials, both past and present, from the world of North Wales athletics were awarded prestigious “Hall of Fame” trophies last week in recognition of their many years of dedicated service to the sport. In a special Induction ceremony staged last Friday evening at the Eirias Park Sports Stadium in Colwyn Bay and organised by the North Wales Regional Athletics Council (NWRAC), eight nominees and/or their family members were presented with awards to acknowledge their generous voluntary support. Paul Brooks, the secretary of the NWRAC, who w

Humid conditions attracted super-fast athletes to Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery.   This week’s Conwy parkrun was staged in complete contrast to the previous Saturday, and instead of wet and windy conditions, the course remained dry, with the weather warm and humid. Perhaps it was these unusual conditions that attracted many of the best local runners who created an extraordinary and feisty competition, with the first nine runners all dipping under twenty-minutes, and three of the top four runners claimed personal best times, with a mere eleven-seconds separating the leading pack. Rhodri Owen  was the first finisher, winning his SM30-34 age cat in 16 minutes and 7 seconds, with  Matthew Roberts  just three-seconds behind, and the winner of his VM40-44 cat in 16.20.  Simon Cole  was a further five-seconds adrift in 16.25, and in addition,  Steve Forsyth , who finished 4th was only three-seconds down on Simon in 16.28. Rhodri, Simon, and Steve also ran in

Ian Turner completes his Virtual London Marathon charity run on Llandudno prom. Report by Don Hale. Photographs by John Hatton. Master veteran runner Ian Turner completed his Virtual London Marathon charity challenge on Llandudno promenade last Sunday morning supported by a host of NWRRC club members, who either ran part of the course with him, or were available as a back-up team with drinks and refreshments. Ian, who was running in support of “Breast Cancer Now,” was aiming to try and raise at least £1,000 for this charity, eventually completed his gruelling attempt by running numerous laps up and down Llandudno promenade.  And to help pace him throughout his marathon, which included the full 26.2 distance, Ian was joined by club colleagues and friends, Don Hale, Richard Scamans, Helen Hannam, Steve McCarten, and Kay Hatton, who completed varied distance legs. *Ian Turner crosses the finishing line on the prom after completing his marathon. John Hatton took some excellent commemorativ

*A great London Marathon debut and a new PB for Steve Bozier. North Wales marathon runners provide welcome boost for charities...report from London, Chester and Chester Metric, Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery, John Hatton, and others.   Marathon mania affected a host of North Wales runners last weekend with some superb performances at the London Marathon, and at both the Chester Metric and Chester Marathon events, with many athletes recording personal best times over the full 26.2-mile distance. NWRRC had two runners in the mass London Marathon race, and one master veteran member who completed the event virtually on Llandudno promenade.  Steve Bozier  (*pictured above) ran an incredible time on his debut in the capital and claimed a massive 41-minute PB to finish in the official time of 3 hours 2 minutes and 4 seconds amongst more than 40,000 runners, with so many obviously delighted to be able to run in London and were fundraising for essential charitable causes following

*Harry Driscoll and Kay Hatton at the Abersoch 10k. Podium finish for Kay Hatton at challenging Abersoch 10k. Report by Don Hale. Photos by John Hatton.   Harry Driscoll and Kay Hatton represented NWRRC at the challenging Abersoch HR Anchor 10k last Saturday, with both enjoying superb performances despite the atrocious weather and difficult course. *A great performance from Harry Driscoll at the Abersoch 10k. Harry  had a remarkable run finishing 14th overall out of 341 finishers and recorded a chip time of 42 minutes 2 seconds, with  Kay Hatton  114th overall, and the 23rd female runner in 52.31. Kay also won a prestigious podium place after claiming 2nd spot in her F50 age category. Kay's husband John, who watched the event and took several photographs at the race, confirmed. ‘ It was very wet, windy, and hilly at Abersoch. The course was, road, track, grass, with sandy beach to finish hurdling the groynes.’ *Kay Hatton had to dig deep to claim silver in her age category at Abers

Success in the wind and rain for North Wales athletes at Conwy Parkrun - plus Gethin becomes a tourist again.   Report by Don Hale. Most photographs by Steve Jeffery.   Ten members of North Wales Road Runners took part in the Conwy parkrun last Saturday and despite cool, wet and windy conditions, with plenty of puddles underfoot, five members still claimed age category wins, including two runners in the top-ten finishers. Josh Keogh  was the first club man home finishing 2nd overall but he was the 1st SM30-34 age cat winner in 17 minutes 56 seconds, and  Carla Green  was the 1st female finisher again, and the 1st VW45-49 cat winner in 21.04. *Josh Keogh finished 2nd at the Conwy parkrun but won his age category. *Carla Green claimed another age cat win and she was also the 1st female runner at Conwy despite the wet and windy weather. With many other top runners missing due to other commitments including the London Marathon and Chester Metric and marathon races, it was left to the veter

Ian Turner’s virtual London Marathon charity run for "Breast Cancer Now" on Llandudno promenade this Sunday October 3rd… Report by Don Hale.   North Wales Road Runner Ian Turner will be running his charity marathon challenge of 26.2 miles along Llandudno Promenade this Sunday October 3rd - beginning at about 8.30am onwards – and welcomes any donations and support. The master veteran athlete is running this incredible distance as part of the Virtual London Marathon 2021 - and he is fundraising for  Breast Cancer Now. Ian (*pictured above) has set a potential target of £1,000 and donations can be made via his JustGiving page. He says he has undertaken this challenge in support of his partner Anna, who is a survivor of  Breast Cancer Now , admits the charity needs urgent funding. He confirmed: ‘Income for “ Breast Cancer Now ” has suffered greatly because of the pandemic, and they need to raise vital funds if they are to continue to help and support people with breast cancer, bo

*Master veteran Peter Armstrong with teenager Mia Morris at Denbigh. Podium places for two North Wales Road Runners. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Rachel Morris.   Two North Wales Road Runners competed in the Denbigh Evening 5k race last Wednesday and both won deserved age-related podium place positions. Although there were considerable differences in the ages between young teenager  Mia Morris , and master veteran  Peter Armstrong , both athletes turned in highly creditable performances on a cool, windy, and very hilly course around Denbigh, to claim top finishing positions. Peter won his MV70-74 age category finishing 13th overall in 25 minutes 16 seconds, and 16-year-old Mia was 25th overall and 9th female runner, whilst also claiming 3rd place in an extended U21 age cat in 28.19. Peter Armstrong (*above) won his VM70-74 age cat and (below) teenager Mia Morris was 3rd in her respective age category at the Denbigh Evening 5k race. This final evening race of the season attracted 47 ru