Gwennan Charlton enjoyed her night race in the woods.

By Don Hale


*Gwennan Charlton (*above) on the finish line after her Torchlight Trail race.

Gwennan enjoyed her night race in the woods.

Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk

 

NWRRC athlete Gwennan Charlton took part in the Sandman Black Diamond Torchlight Trail 5k plus event last Saturday night which was set amidst the pine trees and sand dunes of Newborough Forest, Anglesey. 

Staged during the Sandman Triathlon weekend, the events offered either a 5.3k, or a 10.6k trail race option, promising a very special experience for all those taking part. The trail races started and finished in the village and took runners around the forest trails before welcoming them back at the end of their adventure.


It was primarily a fun-run for all abilities, and for people who love trail running but perhaps wanted to try something different. Gwennan certainly enjoyed her night-out and finished 8th overall, and she was also the 4th female finisher in 37 minutes 29 seconds, and she just missed out on a podium place by a mere 4-seconds! 

The overall race winner was George Staples (Black Diamond) in 23.36. After the race, Gwennan said: “We set-off at 8pm through the forest with our head torches and it was such a lovely atmosphere.”

 

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

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

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

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

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

OVER £9K RAISED FOR THE RNLI FOLLOWING THE 5K RACE ON THE PROM

By Don Hale
Image
Read about the amazing success of the RNLI 5k fundraising race on Llandudno prom  - also featured in the NW Weekly News. *Race organiser John Hatton has just confirmed that £9,180 was raised for the RNLI following a very successful race on Llandudno prom. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 : Bright and breezy at the popular RNLI 5k race on L... https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026/09/bright-and-breezy-at-popular-rnli-5k.html?spref=tw  
Read more

North Wales parkrun results round-up from a very wet morning.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - the start of the Landrillo yn Rhos parkrun. North Wales parkrun results round-up from a very wet morning... Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Michael (Pat) Finnie, John Hatton, and Rhos parkrun officials. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   *Run directors and volunteers (*above) near the finishing funnel at Rhos, and (*below) the NWRRC  Marshalls, pacers and volunteers last Saturday. Nearly four-hundred mixed ability athletes and walkers took part in a very wet and windy Llandrillo yn Rhos 5k parkrun last Saturday morning, which attracted a generous number of additional volunteers and six pacers from North Wales Road Runners. This local athletic club boosted the run director’s established team of supporters and their regular and excellent team of volunteers and marshalls, with all credit given to everyone involved on such a horribly wet day. Visitor  Simon Croft  (Red Fose Runners) was the first finisher overall in just 16 minu...
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

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

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

North Wales veteran athlete Steve Gardner sets the fastest 2000m steeplechase time this year!

By Don Hale
Image
*Steve Gardner (*above centre) on the podium at the  BMAF championships at Derby last weekend where he set  the fastest time this year in his particular  V60 event. North Wales athlete Steve Gardner sets the fastest 2000m steeplechase time this year at V60. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk North Wales Road Runner and Welsh Master Steve Gardner competed in the BMAF championships at Derby over the weekend and set the fastest time this year in the 2000m steeplechase race in his respective veteran age category. The Team GB member and track champion at various distances over the past few seasons was delighted with his outstanding gold medal performance in this three-day event at Derby’s Moorways Stadium, and he finished in first place overall, and he was the first V60 athlete in a mixed gender event. After his race, Steve confirmed:  “ Leading the race from gun to tape, I finished six seconds faster tha...
Read more