Josh Keogh battled elements and rival to win Jersey Coastal trail half-marathon

By Don Hale

Josh Keogh battled elements and rival to win Jersey Coastal trail half-marathon.

Report by Don Hale.

 

North Wales athlete Josh Keogh won the “Round the Rock” coastal trail half-marathon in Jersey last weekend following a battle against the elements and some tough competition.

This popular annual race, which was delayed from last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, followed a problematic course from the Watersplash at St Ouen, near Les Mielles Nature Reserve, and along the twisting and undulating coastline to St Helier.

Josh from NWRRC, who was visiting family members on the Island, eventually completed his challenging run in 1 hour 34 minutes and 58 seconds, with Rahul Kini 2nd in 1.35.45, and Polly Arthur 3rd in 1.47.01. The event recorded twenty-four hardy finishers, with the last runner coming home in 4.19.39.


Following his half-marathon success, Josh (*Pictured above centre) admitted: ‘It was a fantastic race. The elements were in full force throughout the event and especially around the South-West corner of the island, which were slightly challenging. 

‘It was a very competitive race with Rahul, who finished second. I just managed to pull away in the last two-miles to take the win.’

 

*This is a link to the Jersey race results:

https://www.webscorer.com/racedetails?raceid=249876&did=288087

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

Local athletes shine at the Bangor 10k and half-marathon races.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above left Steve Bozier, with Gwen Charlton, and Kevin Slattery at the Bangor races last Sunday. Local athletes shine at the Bangor 10k and half-marathon races... Report by Don Hale.  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   A large field of 633 club and social athletes took part in the Bangor 10k and half-marathon races on Sunday, well organised by RunWales, with many top locals claiming prestigious podium places. In the 10k event,  Martin Sunderland  (Bangor University) was the first finisher in 34.15, and he was followed by  James Coleman (Meirionnydd RC) in 35.58, and  Tomos Jones   (Rhedwyr Hebog) in 36.26. The first female was visitor  Katie Harries  in 41.14, and Bangor University’s  Poppy Jones  was the runner-up in 41.25, with  Margot Sayer  (Eryri Harriers) third in 43.50. North Wales Road Runner Steve Bozier   (*pictured right) won his VM45 age cat in 17th place out of 230 finishers in...
Read more

North Wales parkrunners celebrated 22 years of UK events

By Don Hale
Image
*Dave Munday from North Wales parkrunners with fancy dress friends at Prestatyn to celebrate the anniversary of the first event in the UK. North Wales parkrunners celebrated 22 years of UK events Report by Don Hale. Rhos on Sea photographs by Michael (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog *Pictured above - the start of the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun, and (*below) Rhos officials in their commemorative tu-tu's and next is the line of young volunteers. Participants at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun maintained their top North Wales attendance spot once again last Saturday morning with many entrants wearing tu-tu’s or fancy dress costumes to help commemorate 22-years of UK parkruns. The picturesque 5k flat course along the promenade continues to attract numerous top runners determined to improve their personal best times over this short distance, and this week was no exception with visitor  Matthew Hammond  (Kimberley & District) claiming the first pla...
Read more

Stiff competition as youngsters battled the buggy! North Wales Parkrun Results:

By Don Hale
Image
*Conwy parkrunners are pictured on the Cob with the Castle in the background North Wales Parkrun Results: Stiff competition as youngsters battled the buggy! Report by Don Hale. Conwy photographs by Michael (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   There was a keen battle for top placings at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday morning with James Yarwood and his twin buggy facing stiff competition from youngsters Finley Potter and Eben Jones. James  (Wrexham AAC) - pictured right - eventually claimed the top spot in 17.02, but he was pressed all the way around this picturesque 5k course by JM11-14 athlete  Finlay  in 17.21, and JM15-17 youngster  Eben  (Warriors Pentathlon & AC) in 18.11. And quite amazingly, the first ten finishers all dipped under 19 minutes! The first female finisher was  Samia Jones  (Menai T&F) on her debut (11th overall) in 19.24, and she was followed by  Elise 0’Neale with a new ...
Read more

Bright and breezy at the popular RNLI 5k race on Llandudno prom.

By Don Hale
Image
*Members of the  Llandudno RNLI team pushed their inflatable craft around  the 5k course last Sunday and cheered on by hundreds of  spectators, Bright and breezy at the popular RNLI 5k race on Llandudno prom... Report by Don Hale.  Most RNLI photos courtesy of Caitlin Faye photography. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   *Pictured above - the NWRRC team at the start of the RNLI 5k race. It was very bright and very breezy on Sunday morning for the popular Llandudno RNLI 5k race on Llandudno promenade, as some 355 mixed ability athletes and walkers, helped to raise tens of thousands of pounds for such a worthy cause. Well organised by  John Hatton  and  Catherine Tudor Jones  from the RNLI, this event was also well supported by many sponsors, and even the weather provided a welcome boost after the previous day’s heavy downpours, and later many participants praised the attendance of so many essential volunteers and marshals. And...
Read more

Start of the Urban Night Races in Llandudno.

By Don Hale
Image
Start of Urban Night Races in Llandudno...   donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Event organiser  Gwen Charlton  confirmed the start of the popular local night race series next week and said: “ The first of our Urban Night Races kicks off on Thursday 8th October, and we’re starting on our home ground in Llandudno!   "Hope to see lots of you there! It’s cheap to enter, with options to run solo, as a team or alongside a junior."  * Enter here:   https://pre-entries.co.uk/.../r/Cid3vRzXQzu3zml8waXgqQ
Read more

Local quartet ran well in the Berlin Marathon.

By Don Hale
Image
*Will Evans and his daughter Molly at the Berlin Marathon. Local quartet ran well in the Berlin Marathon. Report by Don Hale.  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   A quartet of local runners took part in the famous Berlin Marathon over the weekend, and they all celebrated following good performances. This prestigious televised event is one of the major World Marathon Championships and attracts many of the top global athletes who compete for record finishing times and bumper pay rewards. The local runners, however, simply ran just for fun, and to share the amazing experiences, and this year included  Emma Alofs  (Cybi Striders) who dipped well under the three-hour mark with an excellent time of 2 hours 54 minutes and 33 seconds.    *Emma Alofs (*above left) with Nia Lister. Will Evans  (NWRRC) was also pleased with his result in 3.08.27. And plaudits also went to Will’s daughter and club colleague  Molly Evans , who recorded 4.11.04...
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

Splash down for Conwy parkrunners on puddle-filled course.

By Don Hale
Image
. *Another good run from Steve Mason (*pictured above) at Conwy parkrun. Splash down for Conwy parkrunners on puddle-filled course. Conwy parkrun 2/4/22.  Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery.   Conwy parkrun resembled a waterlogged cross-country course last Saturday, with a mass of deep puddles, and entrants having to splash their way around, and battle with the cold, damp conditions, and a steady drizzle. Despite all these climatic problems, the event still attracted 163 finishers including runners from as far afield as Darlington, Keswick, Hyndburn, Eden, and Rossendale, with five elite athletes in the top-13 all claiming new PBs, and the first 11 finishers dipping under 20-minutes. Nic Brook  (Eryri Harriers) was the first man home to additionally win his MV45-49 age cat in 17 minutes and 56 seconds, with  Daniel Wellings  2nd overall and 2nd in the same age cat as Nic in 18.37, with  Chris Yorke  3rd, and 1st in his MV50-54 cat in 18.49. No...
Read more

Join the Penrhyn Castle Dark Run – Light Up the Night for Hope House Children’s Hospices! October 17th 2026.

By Don Hale
Image
Join the Penrhyn Castle Dark Run – Light Up the Night for Hope House Children’s Hospices! donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Get ready for a magical evening at the stunning Penrhyn Castle as we light up the night for a truly special cause.  The Dark Run is a family-friendly event in support of Hope House Children’s Hospices, offering a fun and unique 3K route (or 1.5K for little legs) through the beautiful castle grounds – all after dark!  October 17th 2026, 6pm Our warm up will begin at 6.10pm and at 6.30pm sharp we will start the run! Every participant will receive a bespoke glow-in-the-dark medal and a goody bag to remember the night. Dress up in your brightest, most glowing outfits (optional, but encouraged!) and help us bring light and hope to local families who need it most. We kindly ask each runner to raise as much as they can – every penny goes towards supporting the vital work of Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith. Important ...
Read more