Podium finish for Jonathan Kettle at Caernarfon half-marathon.

By Don Hale

*A fast paced start for Jonathan Kettle as he heads away from the Castle.

Podium finish for Jonathan Kettle at Caernarfon half-marathon.

Report by Don Hale. Photos by Paul Brooks and Mick Hall.



*Some of the NWRRC members before the start of the Caernarfon half-marathon (pictured l-r) Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts, Stuart Culverhouse, Helen Hannam, Jamie Tharme and Vicky Taylor.

Seven members of NWRRC entered the new Caernarfon half-marathon last Sunday with two club runners finishing in the top-ten, and Jonathan Kettle enjoyed a podium finish in 3rd place.

Jonathan also won his VM45-49 age category and confirmed a steady performance to clinch his bronze medal placing in 1 hour 17 minutes and 22 seconds. He was closely followed by Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts, who was back on his home patch again and finished 5th overall and 2nd VM45-49 in 1.21.43.



*Jonathan Kettle with leading runners at the Caernarfon half-marathon.

Stuart Culverhouse ran very well and was 24th in 1.30.51, and Steve Roberts was another athlete in form, claiming 2nd place in his respective FV55-59 age cat and 35th overall in 1.37.36. 

Jamie Tharme enjoyed his race and finished 69th in 1.45.17. Helen Hannam recorded a great new PB in 106th spot in 1.53.54, and Vicky Taylor was pleased with her performance in 169th place in 2.04.47. After the race, a delighted Helen Hannam admitted: ‘Caernarfon half-marathon PB smashed! I’m absolutely chuffed to bits. I‘ve been training hard for that. It was a lovely course, well marshalled and great support throughout.’



*Helen Hannam claimed a great new PB at Caernarfon on Sunday.

*The race highlighted 284 finishers, and it was won by Rhodri Owen in 1.14.23, with Dion Griffith 2nd in 1.16.40, and Jonathan Kettle 3rd in 1.17.22. Clare Walton won the ladies race in 1.27.15.


*Caernarfon half-marathon provisional results:

https://www.runwales.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Overall-Results.pdf
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

North Wales quartet proud to run in the heat for Welsh Masters

By Don Hale
Image
North Wales quartet proud to run in the heat for Welsh Masters Report by Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   Four  very proud athletes from North Wales Road Runners competed as part of the Welsh Masters team in their match against England at the weekend during the Shrewsbury 5k Festival lap races. Jonathan Kettle, Steve Gardner Cheryl  Frost, and Will Williams  all spoke about their immense pride to have been selected to represent their country, and they each performed well despite the extremely hot and dry conditions. *Pictured right - Jonathan Kettle with Will Williams. In a very fast, packed, and high-quality encounter including 452 elite runners,  Jonathan   Kettle  finished in 89th place overall in just 17 minutes and 44 seconds, and he was 6th in his M50 age cat, whilst GB international veteran track and duathlon champion  Steve Gardner  was 135th in 18.50, and he was 6th in his M60 cat.  Will Williams ...
Read more

Guild Running Workshop along Colwyn Bay promenade.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - Chris Spillane and Steve Poupart at the running workshop. 'Guild Running Workshop' organised along Colwyn Bay promenade. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog North Wales athletics coaches Tony Price Jones, Jonathan Kettle and Hayley Price Jones, organised a 'Guild Running Workshop' recently in cooperation with Welsh Athletics along Colwyn Bay promenade. Tony confirmed:  “We were able to put fifteen new people through the course to help with Dalzell Runners, and also at Rhos, and at other local parkruns, and to be able to offer more Guilds opportunities. “The course was 500m, and I managed to get the entire course fees covered by some fantastic sponsors, including FatFace , who were the largest sponsor, but also many thanks to Chris Spillane and Co .” And praise should be given to athlete Jasper Mcqueen, from Porth Eirias Runners, who has also organised some previous Guild Running workshops.    *Above some volunteers and coaches in action ...
Read more

John’s water carriers came to the rescue at Rhos parkrun

By Don Hale
Image
*A seahorse was on the  run at the  Llandrillo  yn Rhos parkrun. John’s water carriers came to the rescue at Rhos parkrun Report by Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com coastandcountry.blog   There were scorching temperatures around the region last Saturday morning for all the North Wales parkruns, with some events and volunteers introducing water cups at the finish areas, together with some water pistols and water sprays en route to help keep everyone cool. At Llandrillo yn Rhos,  experienced volunteer and sports coach  John Hatton  - pictured right - came to the rescue and provided some large water carriers for all their runners after they completed their 5k promenade journey.  John confirmed:  “I decided to take lots of the water to Rhos, together with about 400 paper cups that I still had from the Deganwy Dash. They proved to be most welcome, and all the cups were used.”  And despite the soaring temperatures, one hardy entrant,  Ve...
Read more

Race 4 Life runners raise welcome for funds for important Cancer Charities.

By Don Hale
Image
*Helen Hannam takes time out to relax after completing another Race 4 Life. Race 4 Life runners raise welcome funds for Cancer Charities Well done to all the local runners who took part in the recent Race 4 Life 5k and 10k races for important Cancer Charities. The latest event was held in Rhyl on a very breezy weekend. This is just a brief mention of some of the many competitors and charity fundraising entrants who took part at Rhyl. Intro by Don Hale.   donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   *NWRRC member Helen Hannam - pictured right - said:  “My third Race 4 Life 2026 in Rhyl marks my 8th  Year of Smashing Races to Smash Cancer. Very happy that I managed to run it all, but my injury seems to be ok now. Thank you as always to chauffeur and photographer extraordinaire Lee.  Very happy with my sub 30 minutes for 5k after my injury, in 29.32.” https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/.../helens-race...   *Josie Davies:   “ All done and dust...
Read more

Artist Elizabeth Haines’s exciting new ‘Thin Places’ exhibition in Fishguard. 14th July to 29th August 2026.

By Don Hale
Image
Artist Elizabeth Haines’s exciting new ‘Thin Places’ exhibition in Fishguard...14th July until 29th August 2026. Special Coast and Country online art feature. coastandcountry.blog donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 *Pictured above and below - some of Elizabeth's paintings in the Peppers Gallery. The much-admired Pembrokeshire artist Elizabeth Haines will be staging an exhibition of her latest and exciting paintings from Tuesday 14th July at Peppers in West Street, Fishguard until 29th August. This week Elizabeth confirmed:   This is to let you know about my forthcoming exhibition at  Peppers (West Wales Arts Centre) in Fishguard.  The theme is  Thin Places:  a term rooted in ancient belief, but referring to any physical location where the boundary between the mundane world and the divine or spiritual realm is felt to be especially permeable. It’s often used to describe sacred sites, perhaps associated with ancient ritual, or areas of great natural beauty. In a ‘thin ...
Read more

Coast and Country magazine promotes THE RUNNING BUG VIRTUAL RACES

By Don Hale
Image
Join the exciting world of Virtual Events that can be completed in your own time, with limited costs, genuine recognition and superb medals.   Special Coast and Country online sports feature by Aled Mawgan.   **SPECIAL MAGAZINE OFFER OF 10% DISCOUNT ON ALL ENTRIES:  Use this Social  Coupon Code:  COAST26   donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Are you a runner, a club athlete, cyclist, a keen walker, or even a dog walker, just intent on maintaining a certain level of fitness, with some new and exciting event that may be offered and enjoyed within your local community? If so, then have you considered taking part in some VIRTUAL EVENTS ranging from 1k, 5k, 10k, half marathon to marathons, with an additional opportunity to help fundraise for good causes, or just to complete a specific distance or challenge, in your own time, and at your own pace, either on your own, or with family and friends? Many regular runners and walkers are constantly compla...
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

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

Repeat performance by one man and his child buggy at Rhos parkrun - plus NW results round-up

By Don Hale
Image
Repeat performance by one man and his child buggy at Rhos parkrun - plus NW results round-up. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael (Pat) Finnie, and others. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   It was very warm and very breezy for hundreds of runners and walkers at all North Wales parkruns last weekend, and the Llandrillo yn Rhos 5k event attracted another bumper attendance, where James Yarwood (*pictured right) once again finished first in 17.47, accompanied by his young twins in a child buggy! The Wrexham AAC runner was chased all the way though by young  Joe Culverhouse  (NWRRC), a talented soccer player and junior referee, who won his JM15-17 age cat with a determined effort in 18.19, with  Gemma Moore  (Eryri Harriers) the first female, and in third place overall in 18.30.  Abbie Robinson  was the second female in 21.30, with  Bethan Parry  third with a new course PB in 22.23.  *There were 468 finishers at Rhos. * N...
Read more

Triathlon sprint success for veteran Kevin and GOG members

By Don Hale
Image
*Master veteran Kevin Slattery on the last lap of his final 5k race. Triathlon sprint success for veteran Kevin and GOG members Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   Master veteran Kevin Slattery, the chairman of North Wales Road Runners, won his VM70 age category at the prestigious Llandudno Open Sprint Triathlon championships staged recently from the town’s promenade. Despite very warm and blustery conditions, which included a tough swim, bike, and a 5k run, with the swim slightly reduced due to the challenging conditions - and a cycle race twice around the Great Orme - Kevin eventually triumphed to huge acclaim after finishing his two-lap run in a very good time! Following his event, Kevin, who is pictured right - he modestly confirmed:  “It was a well-managed event in good conditions, although windy in places, and great support from spectators.  “It included a 500m swim (reduced from 750 because of the wind) 14.06; twice around the G...
Read more