Don Hale Blog

*Harry Driscoll (above) with another good run to lead the club runners home. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   North Wales Road Runner Harry Driscoll was the first club runner back at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning and he led home a strong team of fourteen seniors and two juniors amongst a holiday crowd of some two-hundred finishers. The talented team of mixed ages and abilities also claimed six age category wins and five second places in addition to recording several personal best (PB) times. Harry  finished 5th overall and won his SM20-24 age cat in just 20 minutes and 6 seconds, and he was nearly two minutes ahead of his nearest rival, veteran  Sean Butler  who also won his MV60-64 cat in 21.56 and he was 18th overall. *Jamie Tharme (*above) produced a good result despite a lack of sleep. Jamie Tharme  battled a lack of sleep due to work commitments, but still enjoyed a dream run to finish 22nd and 2nd in his MV40-44 cat in 22.13, and he was just six seconds ahead

*Jonathan Kettle (*above) braved injury to finish well at Manchester Seven Road Runners tackled the Manchester Marathon. Report by Don Hale.   A team of seven Road Runners travelled North last weekend for the Manchester Marathon, which also included an elite race, and a trial for top English runners aiming to represent their country in the forthcoming Commonwealth Games. Claimed to be one of the largest Marathon’s in Europe, this event attracted over 24,000 entrants and provided a stern test for a variety of club and general runners of mixed abilities. Jonathan Kettle  was the impressive first NWRRC member home in just 2 hours 48 minutes and 45 seconds for 468th place overall, despite a late injury scare, with  Josh Keogh  also running well in 850th place in 2.56.00, and  Stuart Culverhouse  performed well again in 4,496th place in 3.39.47.   *Josh Keogh (*above left) with Stuart Culverhouse (*right). Steve Roberts  was pleased to finish 7,248th in 4.02.22, and partners  Cai Roberts  a

. *Another good run from Steve Mason (*pictured above) at Conwy parkrun. Splash down for Conwy parkrunners on puddle-filled course. Conwy parkrun 2/4/22.  Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   Conwy parkrun resembled a waterlogged cross-country course last Saturday, with a mass of deep puddles, and entrants having to splash their way around, and battle with the cold, damp conditions, and a steady drizzle. Despite all these climatic problems, the event still attracted 163 finishers including runners from as far afield as Darlington, Keswick, Hyndburn, Eden, and Rossendale, with five elite athletes in the top-13 all claiming new PBs, and the first 11 finishers dipping under 20-minutes. Nic Brook  (Eryri Harriers) was the first man home to additionally win his MV45-49 age cat in 17 minutes and 56 seconds, with  Daniel Wellings  2nd overall and 2nd in the same age cat as Nic in 18.37, with  Chris Yorke  3rd, and 1st in his MV50-54 cat in 18.49. North Wales Road Runners  entered ei

*Steve Forsyth's brother Echen  Omega (*above)  smashes the Gambian 10k record in borrowed trainers -  and  won a major cash prize! Report by Don Hale.   North Wales Road Runner Steve Forsyth was celebrating after reporting that his brother Echen Obega, won a top Gambian 10k event last weekend and smashed the country’s race record after borrowing his trainers and completing just six weeks of extra training! Steve, who has recently returned to Wales from his home country, has been busy these past few weeks collecting unwanted shoes, and sports kit for underprivileged young sportsmen and women in Gambia, explained: ‘This result has  literally turned this man into a national hero overnight. I’m so proud of you bro, I just wish I had been in Gambia to see it.’  He confirmed: ‘My little brother was competing in my trainers, and in just six weeks, he literally went from running 30-miles a week with no motivation, to fast forward - running 100-miles a week, and only going on to win the Ba

*Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts (*above) won a silver medal at the Welsh Duathlon. Silver and bronze medals for Road Runners at Welsh Duathlon championships at Harlech... Report by Don Hale.   Two NWRRC athletes collected prestigious silver and bronze medals in their respective age categories after competing in the Welsh Duathlon Championships at Harlech last Sunday. Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts  and  Richard Eccles  competed in the Harlech Sprint Duathlon event which involved two varied runs interspersed with a tough bike ride. The race attracted 101 finishers, with Llyr winning a silver medal in his M40 age cat in 10th place overall, in a total time of 1 hour 10 minutes and 56 seconds, whilst Richard also finished well in 26th place overall, and he was 3rd in his M50 cat for a bronze medal in 1.17.55. Llyr’s splits included a 5k run in 19.01, a 20k plus cycle ride in 40.49, and a final run in 9.11.  After the race, Llyr admitted: ‘My legs were filled with lactate on the steps to the finish at Harl

RNLI fundraising appeal for runners to support their Mayday Mile challenge... Report by Don Hale. Photo Steve Jeffery.   The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has launched an urgent fundraising campaign for individual runners or running clubs to help them promote and support their Mayday Mile Appeal. *Flashback to the last RNLI appeal with John Hatton (*above right) from NWRRC handing a fundraising cheque from the club to an RNLI official in Llandudno. Catherine Tudor, the community manager, for North and Mid Wales, confirmed: ‘RNLI lifesavers answer Mayday calls and rescue others, but this May, we’re asking for your help, so will you answer our call? ‘As the beaches fill up this summer, our lifesavers will be at their busiest. With more people drawn to the water, more people will get into danger. It could be you or someone you love, and crews needs to be ready, and that takes lifeboats, training kit, lifeboat stations, and fuel. ‘Can you help get our lifesavers ready for resc

*Stuart Culverhouse (above) enjoyed another good performance at the Conwy Parkrun. Hot pace for top athletes at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   It was an incredibly bright, sunny, and warm start for nearly two-hundred Conwy parkrunners last Saturday morning with the first eleven athletes setting a hot pace to record some superb times and all dipping under the twenty-minute barrier. Ian Lawton  (Mersey Tri) was the first finisher overall in a very fast time of just 16 minutes and 4 seconds over this challenging 5k course, with  James Yarwood  (Abergele Harriers) 2nd despite a great new PB, and finishing exactly one minute behind Ian in 17.04, whilst local junior  Alfie Shirland  (Colwyn Bay AC) claimed 3rd place with another good run in 17.43 to win his JM11-14 age cat.                      *Will Williams (*above) turned in another great run in 7th place. North Wales Road Runners  entered eleven senior members and one junior with  Will Williams  continuing

*Elizabeth Driscoll (*above) collects her 1st Lady prize following her success at the World’s most southerly marathon on the Falkland Islands. Report by Don Hale.   North Wales Road Runner Elizabeth Driscoll finished as the 1st Lady last Sunday at the highly challenging Stanley Marathon on the Falkland Islands and added to her already impressive set of results in other varied races on this most southerly outpost. To give its official title, the Standard Chartered Bank Stanley Marathon, is widely regarded as one of the most challenging marathon courses, with participants rewarded by magnificent views around the Islands’ capital, Stanley. It is also an AIMS certified event which confirms its position as the World’s most southerly marathon. Elizabeth, who is an RAF Flight Control Officer, is currently based on the Falkland Islands as part of her duties, and regularly takes part in numerous and varied sporting events. Her other recent successes include winning the Ladies title in three Cap

*North Wales Road Runners (*above and l-r) Steve Forsyth, Don Hale, and Will Wiilams with a car boot full of donated sports gear for Gambia at the Conwy Parkrun last Saturday. Steve Forsyth launches appeal for unwanted sports kit for Gambian runners. Report by Don Hale.   NWRRC member Steve Forsyth this week praised the support of local runners as he launched his appeal for any unwanted or spare sports kit for underprivileged young athletes in Gambia, The popular and talented runner, who has recently returned from his homeland overseas after visiting family and friends, is hoping to collect as many items as possible for numerous promising young sportsmen and women in Gambia, who desperately need any surplus trainers, t-shirts, running vests, socks, shorts, gloves, hats, scarves or even any unused gels! Many youngsters are said to be busy training for a variety of local races in Gambia including the forthcoming Banjul marathon events but have limited protective shoes and sports clothing