Kelly and Cai defy the weather to finish Brynkinalt 20k trail race

By Don Hale


*Kelly-Marie Alford performed well despite the horrendous weather

Kelly and Cai defy the weather to finish Brynkinalt 20k trail race

Report by Don Hale.


Kelly-Marie Alford and her partner Cai Roberts braved a variety of horrific and very challenging weather conditions last Sunday to take part in the tough Brynkinalt 20k trail race as part of the Adrenaline Sporting Events, Running Festival.

The pair ran very well together and finished jointly in 28th place in 2 hours 16 minutes 47 seconds. Kelly was also 8th Lady, but she said how horrendous the conditions suddenly became with mixed and then severe weather throughout.

She explained: ‘We ran together. The first lap was so hot, and because it was a trail race we were running through trees, the air was humid and so hard to breathe. Just before finishing the first lap, I said to Cai that I was quitting and doing no more, I was so fed up.

‘The second lap though was like a monsoon with thunder and lightning. We were running through thick, sloppy mud. It was definitely an experience - that's for sure. I won't be rushing out to get trail shoes any time soon.’



*Cai Roberts and his partner Kelly-Marie Alford

*The overall event recorded that 34 endurance athletes finally finished, and the race was won by Andrew Davies 1st in 1.17.09, with 2nd Andrew Birch 1.29.43, and 3rd was Sally Ellis in 1.30.28

 

*Final results link:

https://results.sporthive.com/events/6817519082066149376/races/2654

 

Don Hale is a former award winning investigative journalist and now a best-selling author who has created a very popular blog post linked to numerous social media sites. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025.

Comments

Post a Comment

Most recent posts

Conwy parkrun celebrated its 500th event in style - plus results round-up

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above left - Iain Burgess leads the way towards the finish at Conwy parkrun's 500th event on Saturday. Conwy parkrun celebrated its 500th event in style. *The start of Conwy parkrun at the RSPB Nature Reserve. Conwy parkrun commemorated their 500th parkrun event last Saturday morning with a bumper attendance backed by a host of visiting club and social members and followed by cake and celebrations. There was a generous turn-out from Porth Eirias Runners, St Asaph City Striders, GOG Triathlon, NWRRC and many other locals clubs, and it was good to record that talented local athlete  Iain Burgess  was the first man home in 18 minutes and 20 seconds. Iain was quickly followed by debutant  Jacob Andrews  in 18.30, and fellow newcomer  Owen McCarthy  in 18.45. The first female was another local athlete (4th overall) in  Anna Drinkwater  (Eryri Harriers) in 18.52, with  Suzy Overton  (Lindley RC) second with a new course PB in 21.44, ...
Read more

Fast times and big numbers in both the Abergele 5k and 10k races

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - some North Wales Road Runners at the start of the 5k and 10k races at Abergele. (left to right): Kevin Slattery, Rob Fryer, Jenny Appleton, and Karen Butler. Fast times and big numbers in both the Abergele 5k and 10k races... Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   Nearly six hundred elite, club, and social runners competed in the Abergele 5k and 10k races on Sunday with many recording some very fast chip times in near perfect weather conditions along the promenade. And quite a number of entrants remarkably took part in both events, and in the earlier 5k race with 196 entrants, this was won by  Ed Slaughter  (Swansea Harriers) in just 15 minutes and 19 seconds, with  Andrew Moore  (Bangor University AC) second in 16.27, and  Aaron Dodwell  a very close third in 16.28.  The first female finisher was  Elinor Mattey  (Parc Bryn Bach RC) in 18.13, with  Hannah Thomas  (Maldwyn Harr...
Read more

BMAF Indoor Track Fixtures 2027

By Don Hale
Image
BMAF Indoor Track Fixtures 2027 Three Great British 2027 winter events organised by the British Masters Athletics Federation In Wales, Scotland, and England, in that order. Wales - Indoors in January Indoor Pentathlon, 3000m and Open Events will take place on Saturday 23rd January 2027 at National Indoor Athletics Centre, Cardiff Scotland - Indoors in February Indoor Championships will take place on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st February 2027 at Glasgow International Arena England - Outdoors in March Winter Throws will take place on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th March 2027 at Horspath, Oxford Keep checking our fixtures page for more details as they emerge.  https://bmaf.org.uk/fixtures/ Thanks to Wendy Kane for giving us plenty of advance notice.
Read more

Good numbers and times at the Llanrug 5k championship race.

By Don Hale
Good numbers and times at the Llanrug 5k championship race. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   There was a good turnout of over two-hundred runners at the midweek Llanrug 5k championship race despite the wet and windy conditions, and quite remarkably, the first eighteen finishers all dipped under eighteen minutes! Meirionnydd athletes  Tomos Roberts and Ifan Dafydd  took the first two finishing places with  Huw Gwynn  (Eryri Harriers) third. Tomos recorded a superb time of just 15 minutes and 37 seconds, with Daffyd close behind in 15.42, and Huw in 16.29. The first female was  Tilly Edwards  (Cybi Striders) in 18.01, with  Tinka Vinks  (Eryri Harriers) the runner-up in 19.14, and  Elliw Haf Roberts  (Eryri Harriers) finished third in 19.52. *North Wales Road Runners  had 15 members involved and young  Joe Culverhouse  led the team home with an outstanding performance in 25th plac...
Read more

Proud moment for athletics coach John Hatton and a popular former midwife Sharon Buckley.

By Don Hale
Image
*John Hatton (*above left), with Sharon Buckley at the Conwy half-marathon. Proud moment for athletics coach John Hatton and a popular former community midwife Sharon Buckley. It was a proud moment this weekend for athletics coach, MC and promoter, John Hatton as he saw his new running protegee  Sharon Buckley – a well-known former North Wales midwife - cross the finish line at the challenging Conwy half-marathon with a remarkable time. John, who is heavily involved with North Wales Road Runners , Conwy parkrun , and is also a keen supporter and promoter of a host of charity events, confirmed: “Over the last 6 months I have been training Sharon, who is 60, to run her first half-marathon which she did today in 2.34.17, which is a fantastic achievement. “Sharon was a highly respected midwife in North Wales, and at one time she received an award as the top midwife in the Betsi Cadwalader Health Board for her dedicated service to the community.” *John Hatton was on hand last ...
Read more

Updates on NW cross country league events

By Don Hale
Image
Updates on NW cross country events and results... Report by Don Hale.  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Two North Wales Road Runners  competed in the  North Wales cross country league  fixture at Llanerch, St Asaph recently, with veteran  Karen Butler ( *pictured right)  finishing second in her FV65 age category and 81swt overall out of 145 entrants in 33 minutes and 45 seconds; whilst colleague Gwen Charlton was pleased to finish in 121st place in 39.38.  *Full results on the NWCCL Facebook page. *NWCCL: Fixture 2 Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay:   Bernie Jones,  the secretary/referee of the North Wales cross country league had provided an update on their next event and confirmed: “We’re quickly onto the second fixture, which is at  Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay on Saturday 31st October 2026.   "If any athletes who aren’t registered who want to run, please let me know at the latest by Wednesday 28th October   and I wi...
Read more

Christmas cracker at the NWRRC handicap race...plus other race results.

By Don Hale
Image
*North Wales Road Runners are pictured (*above) just before the start of the festive handicap race on the promenade at Rhos on Sea. Christmas cracker at the NWRRC handicap race. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Twenty-four members of NWRRC took part in the annual Christmas club handicap race, which this year was staged from the Rhos on Sea clock tower to the renovated far end of the promenade and back over a 4.5-mile course. Well organised with times recorded and verified by  Carla Green  and  Elizabeth Driscoll , with support from other members, the handicap rules this time included each runner having to hand in their watches and mobile phones, and the need to predict their finishing times, so that no one knew their exact pace, or whether their estimated times were likely to be accurate, until they actually reached the finish line. The top three female winners , who were the closest to their times included the winner –  Kay Hatto...
Read more

Carla Green beat Tyson Fury to the punch with a great victory at Tatton Park 10k race.

By Don Hale
Image
*Carla Green (*pictured above) enjoyed a great win at Tatton Park. Carla Green beat Tyson Fury to the punch with a great victory at Tatton Park 10k race. Report by Don Hale.   North Wales Road Runner Carla Green stormed home to claim the prestigious 1st female prize at the Tatton Park 10k last Saturday and finished almost a minute and a half ahead of her nearest rival – and over eleven minutes ahead of World heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury! Carla, who battled with injury problems last season, put in a gritty, and determined performance in very wet and rainy conditions around this spectacular course, and was delighted by her win and her VW50 age category victory in a fast time of 41 minutes and 9 seconds. She finished 23rd overall and didn’t pull any punches, competing against some 550 quality entrants, which included the World heavyweight champion  Tyson Fury , who is 6 feet 9 inches tall, and weighs about 19 stone, together with his boxing brother  Tommy . The cel...
Read more

Spectacular 5k fundraising race on the prom for the RNLI.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above and below - the fast start of the spectacular 5k fundraising race on the prom at Llandudno for the RNLI. Spectacular 5k fundraising race on the prom for the RNLI. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Caitlin Faye and others. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 It was a spectacular morning on Llandudno promenade last Sunday as bright warm sunshine greeted over 300 athletes and their supporters to an amazing 5k fundraising race for the town’s essential RNLI group Well organised by race director  John Hatton  and backed by a large and enthusiastic team of hard-working volunteers and marshals, this event attracted a wealth of elite, club and social runners, who recorded some very fast times in near perfect conditions; and this event also included some very popular junior races for children and their parents. John later confirmed:  “I have been working with  Catherine Tudor-Jones , who is the Community Manager. She was so thrilled the event went so well. Originally, th...
Read more

TALES OF A WILDLIFE TOURIST - A global journey of Adventure and Discovery by Colin Smith

By Don Hale
Image
                             TALES OF A  WILDLIFE TOURIST Tales of a Wildlife Tourist  - A Global Journey of Adventure and Discovery :  Author:  Colin Smith, Norfolk, UK.  Publication Date:  October 2026. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog A new travel narrative takes readers on unforgettable journeys across the globe, sharing the thrill of exploration and encounters with some of the world's rarest and most unusual wildlife. From Tigers to Bears and Turtles to chameleons, with over 1300 bird sightings, including the deadly Southern Cassowary.                   TALES OF A  WILDLIFE TOURIST         A Global Journey of Adventure and Discovery Norfolk-based wildlife enthusiast Colin Smith announces the release of Tales of a Wildlife Tourist, a vivid, humorous account of adventures across 19 c...
Read more