Don Hale Blog

Steve Forsyth (*above) finished 1st at a bright and breezy Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   It was bright and breezy for 179 finishers at Conwy parkrun last Saturday with numbers heavily depleted due to several fixture clashes, or athletes recovering from some midweek exertions. Ten Road Runners took part with  Steve Forsyth  the 1st placed finisher in 18 minutes dead, to additionally claim the top-spot in his MV40 age cat. Steve just managed to hold off a strong challenge from promising youngster  Math Thomas  (Menai Track & Field) who was the runner-up with a fine performance in 18.23, and the winner of his JM15-17 cat, with  Dave Hughes  3rd with a PB in 18.30. *Will Williams (*above) had a good result, finishing 5th at Conwy. The NWRRC team  claimed three other age cat wins and  Will Williams , who finished 5th overall, also won his MV45 cat with a new PB of 18.54. And  Steve Mason  was back on home ground again and finished 8th overall and 3rd in h

*Iwan Evans, Gethin Wyn Jones and Rory Middleton at the start of the race. Bumper turn-out at Felinheli for return of the 10k race. Report by Don Hale.  Photographs by Natasha Kettle and Gwyl y Felinheli Festival.   The Ras Gwyl Felinheli Festival 10k race returned with a bumper turn-out last Wednesday as nearly 250 top club and social runners took part in this challenging event on a warm and near perfect evening. Delayed since 2019 due to numerous pandemic restrictions, this is probably one of the toughest half-marathons in North Wales with competitors having to battle a very challenging course and run mainly off-road, and along numerous steep trails, and through dense woodland. The overall race proved very tight at the sharp end with  Adam Jones  from event hosts Eryri Harriers, eventually taking the honours to win in 32 minutes and 57 seconds, with  Tomos Jones  (Meirionyydd RC), 2nd in 33.14, and  Ifan Dafydd  3rd in 32.26. The Ladies race winner was  Anna Bracegirdle  (Sale Harrie

*Andrew Hale (*pictured above) is preparing for his tough challenge. Fundraising charity walk up Kinder Scout for Bluebell Wood Hospice. Report by Don Hale. My eldest son Andrew Hale is fundraising for Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice . Check out their @JustGiving page and please donate if you can. Thank you! https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/halopeaks?fbclid=IwAR2NQHTIKyLhRhvmIuWg1Vg_WukYg7mQjXZb0FgLqZGYqoVEvs0ohlbUYKY On Friday (July 1st) Andrew and some colleagues will be helping to raise money for Bluebell Wood Hospice by walking up Kinder Scout (Highest Peak in Derbyshire) with colleagues.  Bluebell Wood is an amazing place for families who need care and support at the most difficult times in their lives.  *If you have 5 minutes read some of the stories here: https://www.bluebellwood.org/Listing/Category/stories  it  really brings home what they do! So please help me and all my colleagues raise a huge amount of cash to help keep the hospice open for many years to come! h

Tired legs but four age cat wins for Road Runners at Conwy parkrun - plus other race results. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   There were many tired legs at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday with numerous Road Runners and other local athletes still recovering from their Friday night 5-mile charity ‘Dash’ at Rohan’s Run in Deganwy. Despite being something of a recovery run, eight seniors and two junior members of NWRRC still turned out amongst the 168 finishers and collected four age category wins.  And it proved to be a memorable occasion for young  Alfie Shiland  (Colwyn Bay AC) who claimed his first ever parkrun victory with a great new PB over the 5k course in 17 minutes 39 seconds and 1st place in his JM11-14 age cat. Alfie was always in the mix with club rivals and eventually outsprinted the field to celebrate his win after four previous efforts as a runner-up.  The Ladies title went to the very talented  Alice Johnston  (Les Croupiers) with a great new PB of 19.19, ju

*The start of Rohan's run with Steve Forsyth (*left) and Simon Cole and (*below) Martin Green and Josh Keogh, ahead on Nic Brook and Iwan Evans. Rohan’s Run raised over £7,000 for Children’s Cancer Charities. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery and Sandra.   Over £7,000 was raised for a children’s cancer charity last Friday night at Rohan’s Run in Deganwy, which attracted nearly three-hundred runners, who helped to commemorate the life of an extraordinary young student, Rohan Ingley, who tragically lost his life to leukaemia in August 2018, aged just 17. Originally named the Deganwy Dash, this popular race changed its name a couple of years ago in tribute to Rohan, from Abergele, who was a remarkable scholar and a very keen sportsman.  The event however has had to be postponed several times due to the Covid-19 pandemic and this year has been the first time since 2019 that it’s been possible to stage the race in his name.  Celebrated classical Welsh soloist Sioned Terry also

*Deganwy Dash race official John Hatton (*above) with Beverly Miles Chance meeting at Tesco led to Beverly donating funds to Deganwy Dash cancer charities in memory of her mother.  Report by Don Hale.   A chance meeting in Tesco at Llandudno Junction this week by joint Deganwy Dash race official John Hatton with checkout worker Beverly Miles led to a surprise but welcome cash donation towards children’s cancer charities. John, who has helped to organise and promote this popular 5-mile Dash for many years with NWRRC colleague Carla Green, said this year’s event, which will be held tonight (Friday 24th June) at 7pm, will now be known as Rohan’s Run, in memory of an extraordinary young student, Rohan Ingley, who tragically  lost his long battle with leukaemia in August 2018, aged just 17. *Rohan Ingley (*above), who tragically lost his life in August 2018. Rohan from Abergele, was a highly talented all-rounder, who excelled at sport and music, and was a very popular student at the King’s