Don Hale Blog

*Mark Jessett (*above) was the first NWRRC runner back at the Conwy Parkrun. Bumper holiday entry at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos Steve Jeffrey.   Nearly 300 entrants of all ages and abilities were welcomed to an unusually sun-drenched Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning for the traditional bumper holiday event. With many local club athletes including NWRRC runners busy preparing for the later Easter 5k Dash on the prom, the top placings went to visitors  Craig Derbyshire  M30,   in 1st place in 17 minutes 35 seconds, with  Oliver Bernstein  M30, (Chorlton Runners) 2nd in 17.51, and junior athlete  Sam Gunning  JM15-17, finishing 3rd in 17.58. Only three Road Runners took part in the warm 5k challenge this week with  Mark Jessett  finishing 6th overall and 2nd in his MV35 age cat in 18.50, with  Steve Mason  27th and 4th in his MV 45-49 cat in 22.16, and  Dave Spofforth 172nd in 29.38.  *Steve Mason (*above) with another fine run at Conwy last Saturday. Dave however ran wi

*Cheryl Frost (*above left) with NWRRC club colleague Kay Hatton and a Cybi fundraising official at the Treborth track last Saturday. Special 24-hour track challenge success by Cybi Striders for Ukraine appeal: latest news £3,320 raised by 4,537 laps. Report by Don Hale.   Dozens of local runners of all ages and abilities took part in a special 24-hour track ‘Run for Ukraine’ fundraising appeal, organised by Cybi Striders last weekend. Staged on the Treborth 400-metre athletic track, near Bangor, event organisers welcomed  anyone and everyone to take part, with entrants invited to run as many, or as few laps as possible for a donation, and as part of a unique challenge, which began at 9 am on Saturday morning and continued until the same time on Sunday. A club official confirmed:  “We are a small Anglesey based running club who like so many have been appalled to see the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine unfold. This 24-hour run is our way of showing support and raising much needed funds f

* Some of the many young benefactors (*pictured above) of Steve Forsyth's Gambian kit appeal. Steve's kit appeal for Gambia proves a huge success. Report by Don Hale.   Steve Forysth’s appeal for any unwanted running shoes and kit has proved a huge success with the first batch of donations delivered to underprivileged young sportsmen and women last week. The North Wales Road Runner also helped organise the delivery of several carloads and boxes of kit to the Gambian Police Athletic Team who began an urgent distribution to youngsters in readiness for a series of races in their country. *NWRRC athlete Steve Forsyth (*above left) with colleagues Don Hale and Will Williams as they helped collect unwanted trainers and sports kit for Gambia at Conwy parkrun. Steve was also able to send back these  exclusive  photographs from different groups who were absolutely thrilled to receive this kit from hundreds of North Wales supporters which included running clubs at Llandudno, Prestatyn, D

*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