MURDER IN THE GRAVEYARD - Award winning BBC documentary

By Don Hale
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.

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

By Don Hale
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*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, ...
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Fast times and big numbers in both the Abergele 5k and 10k races

By Don Hale
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*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...
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BMAF Indoor Track Fixtures 2027

By Don Hale
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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.
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TALES OF A WILDLIFE TOURIST - A global journey of Adventure and Discovery by Colin Smith

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

By Don Hale
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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 ...
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Tough challenge for volunteers at North Wales parkruns.

By Don Hale
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*Pictured above - the rather wet start to the Conwy parkrun. Tough challenge for volunteers at North Wales parkruns. Report by Don Hale. Conwy photos by Michael (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   It was wild wet and very windy at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun and at most other North Wales events last Saturday morning with entrants later praising the hard-working run directors, volunteers, and marshalls for turning out on such a challenging day. Once again, the visiting speed merchants ignored the conditions to record numerous top 5k finishing times, but  James Yarwood  (Wrexham AAC) and his sturdy twin-buggy claimed first place yet again with a fast finish in just 18 minutes and 5 seconds.  Quite remarkably, the first six finishers all dipped under 19 minutes with JM15-17 athlete  Joe Culverhouse  (NWRRC) taking the second spot with a determined effort, and he was only two seconds adrift of James, with  Sion Hill  ...
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Updates on NW cross country league events

By Don Hale
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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...
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John and Michelle’s emotional run at the Pisa ‘Leaning Tower’ race.

By Don Hale
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John and Michelle’s emotional run at the Pisa ‘Leaning Tower’ race. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   GOG Triathlon couple John and Michelle Farrell finally recovered from their recent injury problems to compete in the spectacular International Pisa half-marathon last weekend. Described by the organisers  as one of the few sport events that donates all the proceeds to charity, it's also one of the fastest half marathons in Italy, with a unique arrival including the Piazza dei Miracoli, where the famous leaning tower awaits runners at the end of the race. The popular and talented GB international athletes, who have both battled a spate of various injuries for much of this year, ran the course together and finished well in 1 hour 56 minutes and 50 seconds. On his return home John confirmed : “Who better to run the Pisa half Marathon with but my beautiful best friend and wife Michelle Farrell, after a year of recovering f...
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Spectacular 5k fundraising race on the prom for the RNLI.

By Don Hale
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*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...
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