Don Hale Blog

*Carolyn Arber pictured above at Colwyn Bay after winning her age cat. Welsh Masters newbie Carolyn Arber celebrates Metric Marathon race success on former home patch. Intro by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It’s always good to receive notifications from Welsh Athletics members, and this week I was pleased to read a note from  Carolyn Arber , who is a WMAL newbie, who coincidentally took part in a longer version of the same Metric marathon, and half marathon races as myself, last weekend organised by RunWales. The following report is based on her own personal experiences.   Running down Memory Lane by Carolyn Arber:   I am a new member of Welsh Masters and last Sunday I ran in the Colwyn Bay Metric Marathon. I was born in Colwyn Bay but live in Cheshire so was determined to have a medal and T shirt with my place of birth on.  It was a windy old course to Penrhyn Bay, twice, but was lovely to take a trip down Memory Lane. Starting in Eirias

*Juliet Sidney (*back right) is pictured with her team mates in Poland. Medal winner and 'pocket rocket' Juliet Sidney talks about her recent success at the European championships at Torun in Poland. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Welsh Master sprinter and medal winner Juliet Sidney has recalled her exploits from the European Championships at Torun in Poland from last week. Juliet, who is perhaps better known as the ‘Pocket Rocket,’ competed in the 60m, the 200m and relay events. Although she was a little disappointed with her efforts in the earlier heats for the 60m race, Juliet deservedly made it to her first ever 200m indoor W55 final, and later ran as part of the bronze medal winning relay team. She later confirmed: “It was a  week of ups and downs. I finished with a bronze medal in the W50 4 x 200 relay, with thanks to my team  mates  Fiona Steele , Sarah Loades , and Stefano Dornbusch.  They all ran amazing legs to

Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts (*pictured above) wins qualification to the GB Team for 2025 Duathlon Championships. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmasterathletics.co.uk North Wales Road Runner Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts has gained qualification to the GB Team after finishing 3rd in his respective age category during a 2025 Duathlon Championships qualifying event, held last Sunday on the East Fortune Race Circuit, near Edinburgh. Welsh master Llyr competed in a 5k run, followed by a 21k bike ride, and a final 2.5k run, with his excellent times, and age cat position ensuring him an automatic qualification. His very fast times for each event included his first run of 5k in just 18 minutes, the 21k cycle race in 36 minutes, and the final 2.5k run in 9 minutes. After the event, he confirmed: “I secured my qualification for the 2025 championships by finishing in the top-four of my age group at this event (I missed out at Castle Combe at the beginning of March). “Overall, I

*Some of the NWRRC team pictured above at Colwyn  Bay (back row l-r): Dave Jones, Phil and Carol Moss, Rob Fryer, Rachel Morris, Sarah Jones, Daniel  Henley, and (*front row), Don Hale, Mike Hayton and Cheryl Frost. Medals galore and PBs for NW Road Runners at the Colwyn Bay Metric races... Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Lesley Goodson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmasterathletics.co.uk   Nearly three-hundred mixed ability runners took part in the challenging Colwyn Bay Metric Marathon, and Metric Half-Marathon races, run together last Sunday in cool and very breezy conditions. Well-organised by RunWales, and well supported by numerous volunteers and marshalls, including a generous number from Porth Eirias Runners, the entrants had to battle with very strong and blustery headwinds on the re-routed four-mile outward course towards Penrhyn Bay from the start on the running track at the Eirias Park Stadium. The Metric half-marathon  (13.1 kms/8.13 miles), attracted 87 run

North Wales Regional Championships 2024 Contact Details: amy.edwards@welshathletics.org Please contact the organiser, not OpenTrack, for all queries Start Lists  Enter Here 38 days, 7 hours, 18 min to go   Competitors   (8) North Wales Outdoor T&F Championships Saturday 11th May @ Deeside Stadium. *Link to entries:  https://wales.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2024/GBR/nwrac/?fbclid=IwAR2Lav-BHvDo8tge4EJDiW0japunlxFuhyY40sFVQEFl-U3tOSlD1aVyROI Masters will compete in Senior events using appropriate equipment. (U11's not eligible for Regional Championships therefore strictly no u11's entries). NORTH WALES Eligibility 1. Birth: born within the area covered by N.W.R.A.C. 2. Residence: Continuous current residence within the area covered by N.W.R.A.C. for at least 9 months. 3. Retention: An athlete may retain his/her existing qualification to represent N. Wales and compete in the N. Wales Regional Championship, provided that he/she has not represented another Region or County, nor compe

*Adam Lemalle (*above) was the first NWRRC club runner at Conwy parkrun. Fast times and a good turn-out at Conwy parkrun despite the cold and blustery conditions... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmasterathletics.co.uk   Despite a bitterly cold day, and a strong blustery wind, nearly two-hundred entrants still braved the elements and recorded some fast times over the challenging but relatively dry 5k course at Conwy parkrun last Saturday morning. The event once again attracted a large number of visiting club and social runners from across the UK and Ireland, as part of an early Easter break, and plaudits were again handed to NWRRC member and parkrun volunteer  John Hatton , for his sterling efforts to help improve part of the start area. GOG Triathlete  Simon Cole  was the first runner home with an impressive time of just 17 minutes and 35 seconds to additionally win his VM40 age cat, and at the time of writing, the second placed runner remained unknown, b

Fast competitive game and deserved draw for Kinmel Bay against the League leaders. Report and photos by Barry Griffiths (KBFC media officer). https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com Kinmel Bay FC (1) v Penmaenmawr Phoenix FC (1) at Y Morfa 16 March 2024. KBFC warmed up in Conwy Mind shirts reminding all the importance on mental health and sharing awareness. Pen was welcomed to Y Morfa with a team photo in cold but mainly dry and soft ground conditions well supported with food available. With Pen heading the table and KBFC at 7 this was a fast competitive game. A close call corner against the Bay in the first half left the teams equal at no score for the second half. Liam Griffiths assisted by Lee Stokes scored the goal for Pen in the 58th minute a lead quickly leveled by Paddy Hamid 4 minutes later.  Injured Olly Gray was replaced by Christopher Evans 5 minutes after the Bay goal and despite Pen’s Paddy Hold getting a blue card in the 83rd minute the score from this well matched fixture was h

    *Jamie Tharme (*above), enjoyed his sight-seeing marathon in Rome. NWRRC weekend results and reports round-up - Rome, Nantwich, and the Wirral. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk It was another busy weekend on the road for several members of the North Wales Road Runners including Jamie Tharme's trip to Rome for the marathon. Jamie Tharme  competed in the  Rome Marathon  on Sunday and enjoyed his run, finishing well in 3 hours and 52 minutes.  After the race he said : “Rome marathon, nice and chilled taking in the sights, but that extra 1.5km was the hardest few miles of my life. It was tough in that heat too, but the views were spectacular !" Carla back in action at the Nantwich 10k. *Nantwich: Carla Green  made a welcome return to racing after a long absence and performed well to finish in 114th place overall in 42.57 in the Nantwich 10k, and she also claimed the 2nd spot in her FV50 age cat. *Pictured above - Carla Green