Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above and below right - NWRRC athlete Elizabeth Driscoll - enjoying the sun during her half-marathon in the Falkland Islands. North Wales Road Runner Elizabeth Driscoll took part in the Falkland Islands Stone half-marathon last weekend, and ran well to finish in 7th place overall, despite a potential injury problem, and a subsequent lack of training. Elizabeth, who is a RAF flight controller, is currently working on secondment in the Falkland Islands and has previously competed in some parkruns, a marathon, and several other running events during her stay.  She later confirmed: "I hardly had any training as my achilles has been niggling again, so very pleased to finish in 1 hour 58 minutes and 18 seconds. "It was a beautiful sunny day and almost no wind (unheard of down here). Summer is on its way!"

North Wales Cross Country Championships - Wrexham 6th January 2024... https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Report by Bernie Jones - North Wales XC League. The North Wales Cross Country Championships will take place at Ysgol Morgan Llwyd Wrexham on Saturday 6th January 2024. The timetable is as follows: 11-00am   Under 11irls   Approx. 1 Mile (1 small lap) 11-20am  Under 13 Girls/Under 11 Boys   Approx. 1.5 Miles (1 big lap) 11-45am  Under 15 Girls/Under 13 Boys   Approx. 2 Miles (2 small laps) 12.15pm  Under 17 Ladies/Under 15 Boys Approx. 3 Miles (2 big laps) 1.00pm  Under 20/Senior/Master Women/Under 17 Men/65+ Men Approx. 3.5 Miles (1 small/2 big laps) 2.00pm  Senior/Master Men/Under 20 Men Approx. 5.25 Miles (4 big laps) Entries are on-line only via the following link:   https://www.entrycentral.com/NorthWalesCCChamps Under 11's; 13's & 15's £5-00 entry fee. All others £9-00 Closing date for entries is 2nd January 2024. *SEE ALSO: Don Ha

  NORTH WALES CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE - SHREWSBURY https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk This is the latest update from Bernie Jones, the secretary of the NW XC League. The next North Wales Cross Country League will take place at a superb new course near Baschurch, Shrewsbury on Saturday 25th November 2023 *The venue and postcode is: PGL Boreatton Park Baschurch Shrewsbury SY4 2EZ Shrewsbury AC have developed some challenging routes in the fantastic surroundings of Boreatton Park. Please access the Park via the main gates. As usual first race, Under 15 Boys at 10-30am, followed by U15 Girls/U13 Boys; U13 Girls/U11 Boys and U11 Girls. The Women's Race (including M65+ and U17 Men will start at 1pm and the Men at 2pm. Please follow any instructions of where to park by the marshalls. Course maps are on the website as follows: Under 11 Girls:  http://www.northwalesxc.com/.../Under-11-Girls-Shrewsbury... Under 13 Girls/Under 11 Boys:   http://www.northwalesxc.com/

*The NWRRC quartet at the Anglesey 10k Trail Race last Sunday (l-r) Rob Fryer, Steve Mason, Tom Aindow, and Charlotte Rose Wilton-Jones. Podium places for Road Runners at Anglesey 10k Trail race...plus other race results. Report by Don Hale.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmasterathletics.co.uk A quartet of North Wales Road Runners competed in the challenging Anglesey 10k Trail race at Newborough last Sunday where two members claimed prestigious podium places. Amidst a quality entry of experienced club and social runners,  Steve Mason  led the NWRRC team home in 7th place overall, and he was pleased to finish 2nd in his M40 age cat in 44 minutes and 54 seconds.  Newcomer  Tom Aindow  enjoyed a steady performance in 11th place in 46.25, with  Charlotte Rose Wilton-Jones  also on fire, and finishing in   30th place overall, as the 7th female athlete with a great new course PB of 53.10, whilst veteran  Rob Fryer  continued his recent good form to claim the 3rd spot in his M60

  Cardiff Metropolitan University Indoor Christmas Classic including the 3,000m champs. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk. Contact Details: ethomas@cardiffmet.ac.uk Please contact the organiser, not OpenTrack, for all queries. *This is the link to the Cardiff Indoor Athletics meeting which includes the Welsh masters 3000m championships.   https://wales.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2023/GBR/cmetxmas/ Events at or nearing capacity: TJ Triple Jump - Female: 2 spaces remaining   PV Pole Vault - Female: 6 spaces remaining   TJ Triple Jump - Male: 2 spaces remaining   HJ High Jump - Male: 9 spaces remaining   HJ High Jump - Female: 4 spaces remaining   LJ Long Jump - Female: SOLD OUT   PV Pole Vault - Male: SOLD OUT   SP Shot Put - Female: 9 spaces remaining   LJ Long Jump - Male: 3 spaces remaining   60H 60m Hurdles - Female: 7 spaces remaining   600 600m - Male: 8 spaces remaining   Please do not enter sold-out events; your entry will be rejected. Cardiff Metropolit

*Harry Driscoll (*above) was the first NWRRC man home at Conwy. Splash and dash for talented visitors at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   It was another puddle-filled splash and dash at Conwy parkrun last Saturday, but the challenging conditions and cold weather failed to deter numerous talented club and social athletes from having a go on this saturated 5k course. The first three male finishers were all visitors, with the top placing going to  Robin Stacey  (York Acorn RC) in 17 minutes and 51 seconds, and he won his SM30 age cat. He was followed by teenager  Cian Wood  (Dudley & Stourbridge), who recorded a new PB of 18.05 and he won his JM15-17 cat, with  Daniel Clarke  (Daventry RR), on his debut, recording a good time of 18.42, and he finished 2nd in the same age cat as Robin. The first two female runners were young identical twins  Gwen  and  Ella Hayes , with just 8-seconds separating the pair, who both recorded new PBs, with Gwen narrow

*Left to right – Iris Holder, Roger Garland, Mel Garland, Dorothy Fraser, and Pat Gallagher. Special meeting at Aberdare track despite cancellation of WMAL T&F Championships... Report from Roger Garland - Welsh Masters at Aberdare: A very special “meeting” took place at The Ron Jones Stadium in Aberdare last summer. The Welsh Masters T&F Championships should have been held there on Saturday 29th July, but due to a shortage of officials/helpers the event was cancelled. However, as Mel and I had already booked hotel accommodation near Aberdare, we decided to go along anyway, for a training session at the Aberdare track. When we were joined by a few other people, we realised we had assembled a small group that comprised several of the most successful Welsh Masters female athletes of all time! Collectively, these ladies have amassed over 200 (yes, over two hundred!) Welsh Masters, British Masters, European Masters and World Masters medals. Roger Garland.