Don Hale Blog

*Some NWRRC team members at the Holyhead 5-mile race and NW championships. Medals galore for Road Runners in North Wales 5-mile Championship race at Holyhead. Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Steve Jeffery and John  Hatton.   The Holyhead Breakwater 5-mile race attracted a talented mix of over one-hundred elite and club runners for another exciting event following a three-year absence due to Covid-19 restrictions. Well organised by Kevin Clark and his team at Cybi Striders as part of the Holyhead Festival and run over a challenging out and back course from Newry Beach, this year’s race was additionally selected as part of the North Wales championships, and despite some breezy conditions along the long Breakwater barrier, many athletes still recorded some excellent times, and won prestigious medals. The overall race was won by  Alex Poulston  (Wirral AC) in 26 minutes 51 seconds, with  Sam Gunning  (Cybi Striders) 2nd in 27.06, and  Ian Edwards  (Eryri Harriers) 3rd in 28.03.  The fir

*Gethin Wyn Jones was the first NWRRC finisher at Conwy. Close finish for athletes at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   Just over 200 runners took part in last Saturday’s Conwy parkrun, with the leading pair of elite athletes battling all the way for the top-spot, and they were only separated on the line by just one second over this challenging 5k course. Rivals  Adam Jones  and  James Yarwood  (Abergele Harriers) raced nip and tuck throughout, with Adam eventually finishing 1st, with a sprint finish, in a very fast time of 16 minutes and 57 seconds, with James, despite recording a great new PB, having to be content with 2nd place in 16.58.  In another quick dash event, the first nine runners all dipped under the 20-minute barrier, and three out of the first four finishers recorded new PB times.  North Wales Road Runners  only entered four members this week due to several fixture clashes but still recorded three podium age cat places, including two excellent

Steve Forsyth (*above) led the club team at Helena Tipping 10k.  Road Runners celebrated great performances at Helena Tipping 10k and at Dolgellau 5-mile races. Report by Don Hale. Several NWRRC members braved the heat and made the journey to Wrexham last Sunday to take part in the popular  Helena Tipping 10k race. *Pictured (*above left) Steve Forsyth and (*right) Will Williams at the 10k. Many celebrated fast times including Steve Forsyth , who was the first club man home in 30th place in just 34.47, and club colleague  Will Williams finished  126th in 39.45, with  Gethin Wyn Jones  160th in 41.46, and  Jamie Tharme  264th in 46.08.   *Pictured above - some NWRRC members at the Helena Tipping 10k (l-r) Kevin Higgins, Kelly-Marie Alford, Mandy Owen and Cai Roberts. Cai Roberts  continued his good form in 302nd place in 48.45, with  Kevin Higgins  impressing again in 388th spot in 54.28. And  Kelly-Marie Alford  ran well to finish 393rd in 54.53, with  Mandy Owen  building back her fit

*Another deserved parkrun win for Mark Jessett (*above). Mark Jessett wins narrow victory at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Steve Jeffery.   Road Runner Mark Jessett celebrated a deserved victory at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday following his impressive performance on this challenging 5k course and finished just eleven seconds ahead of a very determined rival. Mark was the first NWRRC member home and he also won his M35-39 age category in 17 minutes 41 seconds to confirm his recent excellent form. And promising teenager  Morgan Kendall  finished a close 2nd in 17.52. but won his SM18-19 age cat, with  Robert Cordle  3rd, and 1st MV40-44 cat in 18.05. The event attracted two-hundred and twelve finishers, including a team of fifteen Road Runners, who claimed seven cat podium places with three members also winning their respective age cats. *Pictured (*above left) Gethin Wyn Jones and (*right) John Dalzell. Gethin Wyn Jones  ran his fastest parkrun this year to finish

*A passenger's view (*above) of runners as they attempted to 'Race the Train,' at Caernarfon last  Wednesday night. Fast dash to ‘Race the Train’ at Caernarfon. Report by Don Hale. Most photographs by Steve Jeffery. The popular ‘Race the Train’ event proved to be an enjoyable summer dash for two hundred and fifty-eight runners last Wednesday night with more than half the starters finally managing to beat the Highland locomotive and its entourage back to the start at Caernarfon. The unique 5k course in perfect weather conditions led to a very fast downward dash for a mixed entry of local elite club and social runners with seventeen athletes dipping under 17-minutes, and 47 people in total beating the magic 20-minute mark. The race was eventually won by  Luke Northall  (Wrexham AC) in 15 minutes and one-second, and he was just 7-seconds ahead of rival  Tom Roberts  (Meirionnydd) in 15.08, and  Math Roberts  from hosts (Eryri Harriers) in 15.24.  North Wales Road Runners  ente

Martin Green beat the heat and the hills to win Mulberry half-marathon... Report by Don Hale. Most photographs by Steve Jeffery.   Road Runner Martin Green was the runaway winner of the tough Mulberry half marathon race last Sunday, and despite the very the warm conditions and an extremely hilly course, he still finished more than three and a half minutes ahead of his nearest rival. The NWRRC athlete, who has enjoyed some equally superb performances over the same distance in recent weeks, ran home in just 1 hour 22 minutes and 16 seconds to additionally win his MV45 age category. Martin also led a team of eight club runners over this challenging route, which started and finished on the beach next to Mulberry Marina before crossing into the Snowdonia National Park and included the gruelling long gradient up the Synchant Pass before heading back towards Conwy. *A great run from Nic Brook (*above left) and the 1st lady from Alice Johnston. Nic Brook  (Eryri Harriers) finished 3rd in 1.26.

Great running from Steve Mason (*pictured above) at Conwy Parkrun but two teenagers led the way in hot conditions... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   It was another hot, dry, and dusty race at Conwy parkrun last Saturday where a considerable number of visiting athletes ensured it was a fast pace at the sharp end with two teenagers eventually claiming their share of glory over this challenging 5k course. Visiting youngsters  Harri Kendall  (Manchester Metropolitan University AC) and  Morgan Kendall  finished in 1st and 2nd positions respectively, with the two SM18-19 athletes dominating the event from start to finish.  Harri also claimed a new PB of 17 minutes 47 seconds, with Morgan recording 18.06, followed by  Osian Griffiths , the 1st SM30 in 18.35. The 1st Lady runner was  Hailey Fletcher  (Sedbergh School RC) in 20.38. The event attracted over 200 runners with many also preparing for local endurance events. North Wales Road Runner Steve  Mason continued his purple p