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

Your comments are welcomed

Most recent posts

Steve Gardner smashed the record at the NW steeplechase open race

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - Steve Gardner smashed another record at The North Wales Endurance  open meeting at Deeside last weekend. (Photo by Bill Scrivens). Steve Gardner smashed the record at the NW 1500m steeplechase open race... Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   NWRRC veteran and team GB athlete Steve Gardner competed in the North Wales Endurance open race meeting at Deeside last Friday night and recorded a new personal best time of 5 minutes 22 seconds and smashed the record in the 1500m steeplechase race. Steve confirmed: “There were no medals awarded as this was just an open meeting. I ran with the girl's as the barrier height for them is the same height as V60 male at 76.2cm, the barrier height for men is higher, and I finished 2nd overall. “I  raced on Friday night and achieved a new PB, which just dipped under my previous best of 5.23.83, which currently stood as UK V60 All Time best performance.  “Whilst V60 steeplechase cham...
Read more

Bank Holiday bonanza at North Wales parkruns.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above  - the start of the Bank  Holiday parkrun at Rhos on Sea. Bank Holiday bonanza at North Wales parkruns Report by Don Hale. Photos at Rhos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   The Bank Holiday weekend brought in plenty of first timers and mixed ability entrants to the various North Wales parkruns, which were again blessed by mild and sunny weather. Llandrillo yn Rhos  was the top venue yet again with 511 people enjoying the unique atmosphere of this new and exciting promenade dash, where visitor  Robin Stacey  (York Acorn AC) was the first finisher overall in just 17 minutes and 6 seconds. Aidan Thomas  was the runner-up in 17.55, with JM15-17 athlete  George Ledshaw  celebrating an impressive performance with a new course PB of 18.00.  And it was interesting to see local athlete  Simon Cole  (GOG Triathlon) starting at the back of this large entry to eventually finish in 4th pl...
Read more

Welsh Masters Athletics track and coaching session at Tonypandy.

By Don Hale
Image
Welsh Masters Athletics track and coaching session at Tonypandy. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk WMAL are going to stage their first Masters track session with coaching at Tonypandy track on 20th May. Meet at 10am for a warm-up. The spring group will be taken by Eric Oram, and the middle distance group by Brett Davis, then retire to a nearby café afterwards.  
Read more

BMAF Road Race report and calendar for 2026.

By Don Hale
Image
BMAF Road Race report and calendar for 2026... donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 Special note from Walter Hill, the BMAF  Road race secretary. I note that a Road Report is on the agenda and for those who are not on our mass e-mailing list it is copied below.  I will be in Majorca on a training camp for cyclists at the time of the Council meeting and will be finishing off the team dinner . However, I still aim to sign in wi-fi dependant ,if I don't appear please accept my apologies.  On a personal note, Glen and I have continued to ensure a Masters Service is provided with the help of BMAF Services. I  must also record my thanks to VAC and the IOMVAC in helping me promote the BMAF 5K and the Marathon for 2026. Best wishes, Walter Hill. BMAF Road Race Sec. Update on Masters Road Race Championship Calendar 2026.. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 Although the BMAF Executive has only two elected officers and an England Masters representative in post we are not a quorum, this con...
Read more

Ben and Sarah tackled their 26th marathon on Tyneside.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - Ben and Sarah Hudson at their latest marathon  race. Ben and Sarah tackled their 26th marathon on Tyneside. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   Ben and Sarah Hudson took part in the challenging Newcastle and Gateshead marathon last Sunday – which was their 26th marathon! Ben finished in 3:48:59 and Sarah in 4:10:29, and 3rd in her age cat.  After her race , Sarah confirmed: “Such a cool weekend exploring Newcastle… including the Newcastle and Gateshead Marathon, our official marathon number 26.  "No where near my fastest (or my slowest for that matter) and it was certainly a little toughie with some interesting weather thrown in for good measure, but I loved it all the same.”  
Read more

Landmark 10,000th runner at the new Rhos on Sea parkrun - plus other results round-up

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above (l-r): Rhos Run Directors' Chris Spillane, Sharon Hughes and Richard Peevor with the amazing 10,000th parkrun landmark certificate, and (*below) the commemorative golden token.  Landmark 10,000th runner at the new Rhos on Sea parkrun - plus other results round-up... Report by Don Hale. Rhos photos by John Hatton, and Conwy by Michael Finnie. coastandcountry.blog donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 It was another fun-packed occasion at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday morning in perfect conditions where local athlete Darren Dentith became the 10,000th person to complete this spectacular promenade course in just twenty-three events. Backed by another massive attendance with some 439 finishers including a generous assortment of elite, club, social runners and walkers, the celebrations were enhanced by a large group of supporters and participants from the  5k Your Way, Move Against Cancer group. The outstanding and rapid success of this popular seaside event ...
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

Welsh Masters Athletics - Results and photos from the EMAA Inter-area indoor event Lee Valley.

By Don Hale
Image
*The Welsh Masters Athletics relay team -  Ian Broadhurst, Andy Weetman, Michael David Smith and Brett Davis. *Andy Rushbrook and Peter Hawney after their shot put comp etition. Welsh Masters Athletics - Results and photos from the EMAA Inter-area indoor event Lee Valley... https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Thanks to some members of Welsh Masters Athletics, I have included some photos and reports from last weekend's English Masters Athletic Association (EMAA) competition at the Lee Valley indoor stadium. This event included the Inter-area challenge championships. My thanks to Brett Davis and members of Newport Harriers for the contents. The results can be viewed on the following links.  https://www.thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=673430 https://bmaf.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2025/GBR/emaa-inter-area-indoors/event/ Brett Davis, a top international competitor, and a director of Welsh Masters Athletics said: "The results are still provi...
Read more

Quest for the Hallowed Key - by Krissy Millington - A compelling story of adventure, danger and magic - promoted by Coast and Country online.

By Don Hale
Image
Quest for the Hallowed Key: A compelling story of adventure, danger and magic by Krissy Millington.   donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 A compelling story of adventure, danger and magic - promoted by Coast and Country magazine...This is a link to the SPECIAL AMAZON PROMOTION: This book is now available with a few purchase options via  Amazon. They  include a greyscale and a colour version as a paperback and/or the Kindle Ebook:   *Paperback (greyscale version):   https://amzn.to/4pm0n7X *Kindle Ebook (greyscale version):  https://amzn.to/46k6pgP   About the book:   The lives of two young brothers who have little in common are changed forever when they visit their aunt and uncle on a remote Yorkshire farm. Their quest is to find a precious Hallowed Key and keep the world safe. With the help of an enchanted Lamb, mighty Dragon, fearless Wolf, and aristocratic Ram, they courageously battle the dark forces of the evil Mawkrons and, in so doing, forge an u...
Read more