Fast dash to ‘Race the Train’ at Caernarfon.

By Don Hale


*A passenger's view (*above) of runners as they attempted to 'Race the Train,' at Caernarfon last Wednesday night.

Fast dash to ‘Race the Train’ at Caernarfon.

Report by Don Hale. Most photographs by Steve Jeffery.

The popular ‘Race the Train’ event proved to be an enjoyable summer dash for two hundred and fifty-eight runners last Wednesday night with more than half the starters finally managing to beat the Highland locomotive and its entourage back to the start at Caernarfon.

The unique 5k course in perfect weather conditions led to a very fast downward dash for a mixed entry of local elite club and social runners with seventeen athletes dipping under 17-minutes, and 47 people in total beating the magic 20-minute mark.

The race was eventually won by Luke Northall (Wrexham AC) in 15 minutes and one-second, and he was just 7-seconds ahead of rival Tom Roberts (Meirionnydd) in 15.08, and Math Roberts from hosts (Eryri Harriers) in 15.24. 

North Wales Road Runners entered six members with many claiming course PBs. Gethin Wyn Jones was the first club man home in 26th place in 18.43, with Ben Hudson and Karl Morris running hard together with Ben finishing 40th in 19.31, and Karl 43rd in 19.41.


*Gethin Wyn Jones (*above) enjoyed a great run at Caernarfon and (*below left) Ben and Sarah Ferguson Hudson, with Elizabeth Driscoll (*right).



Sarah Ferguson Hudson was 77th and 6th in her FV35 cat in 21.16, with Elizabeth Driscoll 134th and 4th in her FV55 cat in 23.32, followed by Rachel Morris who ran well to dip under the 30-minute mark in 29.20.



*Rachel and Karl Morris (*above) at the 'Race the Train' dash.


* Other well-known local runners included Chris Yorke (Prestatyn RC), who finished 10th and he was 1st MV50 in 16.54, and Gemma Moore (Eryri Harriers) 1st FV35 in 17.58. And plaudits too for youngster Josh Mottram (Ysgol Bryn Elian) beat the train in his sponsored charity run for Conwy Connect for Learning Disibilities and finished 79th overall in 21.22. The train finally arrived back at Caernarfon, I am told, in just 23-minutes, with 115 runners successfully managing to ‘Race the Train.’

 

*This is the link to the provisional results for the Race the Train event:

https://my.raceresult.com/212448/results?fbclid=IwAR3Q52Zq4zMZJnAqHj0qf3CsO_ptmjj2dQ3vZLzthJoAsrknVpK4l1dN_zI


*You can follow Josh’s progress and help with his fundraising plan via this link:

https://gofund.me/0de685d0


*This is the link to last week's blog story about Josh Mottram's charity run:-in.html

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2022/07/josh-mottram-plans-to-beat-train-in.html


 

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

Your comments are welcomed

Most recent posts

Runners battled the elements at the new Llandudno 10 miler and half marathon

By Don Hale
Image
*North Wales Road Runners at the start of the Llandudno 10 mile and half marathon. Over 1,000 runners beat the weather at the new 10 mile and half marathon races... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   It was wild, wet, and windy for over 1,000 hardy athletes on Sunday for the Victorian 10 mile and half marathon races which started with a loop along Llandudno promenade before heading out towards Colwyn Bay, and a reverse route home. The mass pack of runners had to negotiate a challenging course and a fierce and swirling headwind, with some heavy showers thrown in for good measure along their tough journey. And yet despite the brutal conditions it still failed to deter numerous elite entrants with M35  James Yarwood  (Wrexham AAC) winning the half marathon race in a very good chip time of just 1 hour 16 minutes and 43 seconds. He was followed by M50  Martin Green  (Meirionnydd RC) in 1.18.57, and M35...
Read more

Plenty of visitors at blustery North Wales parkruns.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - some of the many volunteers at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun who commemorated the WWF and nature theme. Plenty of visitors at blustery North Wales parkruns. Report by Don Hale. Conwy photos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog It was cold and blustery for many hundreds of parkrunners across North Wales last Saturday morning, but many events still reported good attendances and fast times. At  Llandrillo yn Rhos,  where they commemorated WWF and a nature theme, they again celebrated with a generous number of 443 participants, including plenty of visitors from across the UK. The first finisher was debutant  Aidan Thomas,  who was the runaway leader, finishing in just 17 minutes and 22 seconds. The second placed athlete remained unknown, but  Jeremy Pena  took the second spot in 18.41.  *The first female was visitor  Emma Knowles  (9th overall) who enjoyed a great debut run in 19.10, with  ...
Read more

COWFEST 2026 comes to North Wales in June 2026.

By Don Hale
Image
donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Dave Munday from parkrun North Wales has provided details of a unique series of events including one that's available in North Wales in June! Cowfest 2026 We are delighted to announce the four locations for Cowfest 2026 on 20th June. What is a Cowfest?! It's an annual gathering for UK tourists.  Curious to learn more? Search this page for highlights and details from previous years!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/2193251831088739 Scotland - Crathes Castle South - Dinton Pastures Wales - Erddig North - Ushaw Historic House You will find each event listed in the events section, where we will be sharing the latest updates and information for every location. We look forward to seeing you at Cowfest on 20th June 2026. Dave Munday:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/2193251831088739/user/1239379759
Read more

Artist Elizabeth Haines confirms her Open Studio dates over the Easter holidays with some exciting new paintings and pastels.

By Don Hale
Image
*Headland Moon (*above) by Elizabeth Haines. Artist Elizabeth Haines confirms her Open Studio dates over the Easter holidays with some exciting new paintings and pastels. Special Coast and Country arts spotlight. coastandcountry.blog donhaleblog.blogspot.com The much admired Pembrokeshire artist Elizabeth Haines will be staging an Open Studio event on Easter Saturday, Sunday, and Monday with a showing of many of her exciting new works created during the snow towards the end of last year. *Pictured above left - Shrubs in Snow, and High Moon. Elizabeth explained:  “Many of my paintings are based on the Preselis, where I’ve lived for 50 years. They may evolve from studies of a particular place - my sketchbooks are full of drawings of the landscape both at home and abroad, as well as anything else which seizes my attention. I draw all the time. “My picture subjects evolve from things which I have seen and contemplated: often I start again on top of a discarded image, some of which may ...
Read more

TIME TO TAKE ON THE BEAST - the Beast of Bryn - charity races on 23rd August 2026

By Don Hale
Image
Beast of Bryn 2026 :  23 August 2026 donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 Beast of Bryn 2026 (Bwystfil Y Bryn): Info from Paul Bulmer. https://beastofbryn.fullonsport.com/event/beast-of-bryn-2026/profile We are delighted to be hosting the Beast of Bryn 2026 (Bwystfil Y Bryn) BRAG (Bryn Residents Action Group) established this race in 2011 and it quickly grew in size and reputation. Much of the history of the race can be found on the BRAG  website . The management of the race was outsourced for a few years, but since 2024 has been fully managed by  BRAG. The event is held under UK Athletics rules with the registration number TR-26-5. We have two distances to choose from – approximately 6.5 miles (10.5km) or 10.5 miles (17km) with total climbs of approximately 288 or 556 Meters. The 10.5-mile route can also be part of the  Welsh Athletics Masters Championship  for affiliated runners. The route passes through the mountains of Afan Forest Park, with stunning view...
Read more

Welcome to parkrun North Wales - an exciting new initiative from Dave Munday.

By Don Hale
Image
Welcome to parkrun North Wales Dave Munday launches an exciting new online site for NW parkrunners. Special report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026   This an exciting new initiative from the well-known, popular parkrunner and local  athlete Dave Munday, who is ready to provide a regular summary of all North Wales parkruns. He explained this week:  " This is the site I am using for the round-up of all 17 North Wales parkruns, stats on numbers attending etc.  "The parkruns are continuing to grow in North Wales, and this group is for regular local parkrunners and visitors to our wonderful events throughout the region.  "Weekly stats and information will be shared, but please use it to tell your own parkrun journey, achievements and milestones, and also to connect with other parkrunners." *For more details please check out this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2193251831088739
Read more

Karl and Rachel Morris hit top gear at the Oulton Park Metric Marathon.

By Don Hale
Image
*Great performances from Karl and Rachel Morris (*pictured above). Karl and Rachel Morris hit top gear  at the Oulton Park Metric Marathon... Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   North Wales couple Karl and Rachel Morris competed in the Oulton Park Metric Marathon last Sunday and they both recorded some excellent finishing times around this iconic motor racing circuit. Karl, who represented NWRC, came 17th overall out of 58 finishers in a very good time of 2 hours 20 minutes and 18 seconds around six laps of the racetrack, and he was fourth in his M45 age category.  And Rachel also hit top gear and celebrated in style following an amazing new PB, which smashed her previous metric marathon results, mainly due to her intense marathon training. Rachel finished second in her W45 age cat in 3.10.30, and she was the 13th female, in 52nd place overall. After her race, Rachel confirmed:  “The TCS London Marathon is only eleven weeks t...
Read more

Please support SPORT in Conwy...John Hatton appeals for urgent support for top sports event

By Don Hale
Image
*John Hatton above - with Dame Laura Kenny - at last year's awards. Please support SPORT in Conwy...  John Hatton appeals for urgent support for top sports event... special report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog The well-known, award-winning athletics coach and charity fundraiser John Hatton is appealing for urgent  help and new ideas to both  save and support Sport Conwy. With all the current cost of living problems to contend with, and a succession of funding reductions, especially in relation to sport, he has come up with an innovative idea that might appeal to local businesses, support groups, and community organisations to help keep Sport Conwy going! John explained: “I am on the committee for Sport Conwy, and we have been supporting local sports for 30 years, this year. However, financial cutbacks and grants that we usually apply for have been dramatically cut,  I have come up with a new scheme to fill our void in finances,...
Read more

Welsh Masters at the Indoor Inter-Area track & field Championships at Lee Valley on 14th March

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - some of the many talented Welsh Masters athletes at Lee Valley. Welsh Masters at the Indoor Inter-Area track & field Championships at Lee Valley on 14th March 2026. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Joe Horner reports from last weekend's events. Well done to our athletes who competed last weekend: W70 Nicky B - HJSB, Shot 60m SB W55 Juliet S - 60m  Age PB 200m  M40 Samson C - 60m  4 x 200m  W40 Rhiannon J - 4 x 200m  W40 Eleri J - 200m 4 x 200m  M55 Jim M - LJ  W55 Lou K - 1500m  800m  M60 Paul Y - HJ PV    Special event report and photos courtesy of Joe Horner .     *Some exciting action photos courtesy of Joe Horner. First  of all, my heartfelt thanks for making Adrian and my job so straight forward! We had no idea what we were signing up for and all your efforts made it run a lot smoother than we expected (or feared!)  If you haven't see...
Read more

Victory for Steve Gardner at the Scottish Sprint Duathlon

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - track champion and Welsh International athlete Steve Gardner. Victory for Steve Gardner at the Scottish Sprint Duathlon Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   Welsh International track athlete Steve Gardner won his age category in a prestigious Duathlon Sprint event in Edinburgh last weekend. The Team GB athlete, and  NWRRC  member, who was representing his second claim club  GOG Triathlon , improved on his previous impressive result - and a silver medal - at the recent Welsh Sprint Duathlon Championships just a fortnight ago, to win his MV60-64 cat following a strong overall performance. Steve later said:  “I competed for  GOG Triathlon Club  in the East Fortune Sprint Duathlon, located on a racetrack to the East of Edinburgh. The events consisted of 5k run, a 20k cycle, and a final 2.5k run.  “Finishing in 1st place in my veteran age group was an improvement on my 2nd place at the Welsh Champs ...
Read more