Double trouble for Mal and chatty Sarah at Abingdon Marathon.

By Don Hale

*Mal Preece (*pictured above) was going well until he collected a hip injury during the Abingdon Marathon.

Double trouble for Mal and Sarah at Abingdon Marathon.

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

www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk

Two members of NWRRC took part in the Abingdon Marathon last weekend with Mal Preece running the full distance despite suffering a hip injury shortly after passing the half-way point, which scuppered any hopes of recording a new PB, and Sarah Ferguson Hudson, who ran the last half just to help support her friend but was later reprimanded by an official for chatting too much!

After the race, Mal confirmed: “I ran the Abingdon Marathon ran but alas no PB for me today. It was a fantastic flat course. I was on for a massive PB at halfway 3.17, but my hip gave way. I recommend this course however, for anyone chasing a new PB time.”


Sarah (*pictured right), added: “I think everyone is aware that I may talk too much, but I think I excelled myself today by being told off by a race marshal for chatting too much whilst running. I only ran the second half to keep my friend Emma Vadhesha company, as I am doing Marathon Eryri next Sat. I would definitely love to do the whole thing, and such a great 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

Fast runners dazzled in the sun at Llandrillo yn Rhos...plus NW parkrun round-up

By Don Hale
Image
*Rhos run director Dougie Graham at the front with some of the volunteers Fast runners dazzled in the sun at Llandrillo yn Rhos..plus some other NW parkrun results. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026   The bright sunny weather and a fast course attracted plenty of top club athletes to the Llandrillo yn Rhos 5k parkrun last Saturday with five out of the first six finishers all recording times of under 18 minutes! James Yarwood  (Wrexham AAC) was the first finisher overall with a new course PB of 16 minutes and 29 seconds, with visitor  Armon Williams  second in 17.17,  Gareth Griffith  third in 17.27, and veteran  Martin Green  (Meirionnydd RC) a narrow fourth in 17.36. It was a similar story for the ladies with  Beatrice Cordingley  (Sale Harriers) taking the first female spot with an excellent run, and a new course PB in 20.00 (18th overall), with visitor  Lizzie Slater  (South Che...
Read more

Tough Trimpell 20-mile challenge for Ben and Sarah...Plus Liverpool half marathon results

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - Ben and Sarah Hudson after their wet and windy race Tough Trimpell 20-mile challenge for Ben and Sarah...Plus Liverpool half marathon results Report by Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   North Wales endurance couple Ben and Sarah Hudson travelled to Lancaster last Sunday to compete in the tough Trimpell 20-mile race through the spectacular Lune Valley in cold, wet, and blustery conditions. Ben was in good form despite the challenge, and he was 153rd overall out of 346 finishers with an excellent time of 2 hours 45 minutes and 44 seconds. Sarah however said she was a bit off colour on the day, but she still rallied well to finish in 220th place in 3.05.21. After the race, Sarah confirmed:  “Did the Trimpell 20 miler today… great race! Ben was awesome on 2:46, and I did 3:05. It’s not chipped timed. Bit of a crazy, wet, and windy one, but it brightened up before the end.  I have had a stinking cold so was not even sure about doin...
Read more

NEW Sequel to the amazing serial killer crime novel -Leading a Double Life - by William Austin Johnson.

By Don Hale
Image
READ ABOUT WILLIAM AUSTIN JOHNSON'S LATEST SERIAL KILLER SEQUEL NOVEL: donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 :  Leading a Double Life Two (Book 2)  exciting new paperback by William Austin Johnson. NOW available on Amazon:   https://amzn.to/4awefr8 Synopsis: As a writer you somehow want to finish the story in your book with a good ending, but with this book I felt that I had run out of scenario’s to go on any further. Then one day out of the blue, a news story of a murdered family sparked my interest. I could not get this story out of my mind. So, as you can see from the title above. I was drawn back into trying to give these unspoken victims the justice that they deserved with the demise of Tony Fennel. To get the information that I needed on Fennel, of course, I had to go back to my old friend Mike Rodsinkski. Mike told me that he had missed me, and that he had several cases that he thought I could help him with. So came the scammers, the opportunist, a bent Police Officer...
Read more

Official 2026 Red Nose: Design-Yer Nose - on behalf of Comic Relief now available on AMAZON

By Don Hale
Image
Official 2026 Red Nose: Design-Yer Nose- on behalf of Comic Relief: Now available on Amazon: Just £2.50. *This is the link to your Amazon order:   https://amzn.to/4rIOrgv Visit the Comic Relief Store 4.5  4.5 out of 5 stars       (257)   |  Search this page   Amazon's Choice  60K+ bought in past month £2.50  £ 2. 50    Price history   Pay  £2.50  £0.00 for this order.  Get a £50 Amazon Gift Card upon approval  for the Amazon Business Amex Card.  Representative 37.6% APR Variable.  Amazon is a credit broker.   Tomorrow FREE Returns  Save 5%  on any 4  Qualifying items  |   Terms Size Name: One Size *This is the link to your Amazon order:   https://amzn.to/4rIOrgv   Style Name: Design-Yer Nose.  Sold on behalf of Comic Relief.  ·         100% of all profits go to Comic Rel...
Read more

England Masters Athletics Association - ENTRY FORMS/TIMETABLE FOR INTER-AREA T&F EVENT AT CORBY 7/9/24.

By Don Hale
Image
England Masters Athletics Association Inter-Area Outdoors Track and Field Challenge 2024 Rockingham Triangle Athletics Stadium, Jimmy Kane Way, Rockingham Rd, Corby NN17 2FB Saturday 07 September 2024 EMAA invites you take part in the upcoming outdoors Inter-Area Track and Field Challenge. Age Groups: M35, M50, M60, M70, W35 W50, W60, W70 Events: 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500, 3000, 2000m Race Walk, 400/300 hurdles, 4x100 relays.  High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Pole Vault, Shot Put, Discus, Hammer, Javelin ENTRY FORM AREA CLUB: CLUB CONTACT NAME: ADDRESS: The entry fee is £175 and a bank transfer would be the preferred method of payment. Bank details: Eastern Masters AC (EMAC) Sort Code 30-96-17 Account Number 01909164 Reference: AREA CLUB INTERAREA (e.g. EMAC INTERAREA). Deadline to enter: 31 July 2024. Email entry forms and any questions to: Carey Hollick, EMAA Track & Field Secretary emacchairperson@yahoo.com EMAA...timeable: Don Hale Blog: Inter-Area Outd...
Read more

THE MAGNIFICENT JAPANESE J-LEAGUE - Paul Stroud's exciting new book about Japanese football.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - author Paul R Stroud with his wife Marie at a Japanese match. Special NW Coast and Country Author Spotlight Feature Welcome to another new author feature in conjunction with Amazon. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026   ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Paul R Stroud.    MAGNIFICENT J-LEAGUE: From the tribal warfare of England’s terraces to the respectful exuberance of the beautiful game in Japan. An English fan’s ... what sets the J-League apart from the rest. Paperback – 24 June 2025. J リーグ    サッカ グサッカ *This is an Amazon link to Paul Stroud’s new paperback book - MAGNIFICENT J-LEAGUE:   https://amzn.to/428zEBI *This the Amazon link to  Paul Stroud's new ebook link to the MAGNIFIECEN J-LEAGUE :   https://amzn.to/45OvfH2 *This is the link to Paul Stroud's other books on Amazon:   https://amzn.to/3HWPSab   The author of Magnificent J-League, Paul Stroud, provides us with a fascinating insight into what it has been like fol...
Read more

SEARCH FOR THE WORDS - An interesting and exciting 200 page book about WORDSEARCH PUZZLES

By Don Hale
Image
  South African puzzle book author Val Crowson publishes a fascinating new SEARCH FOR THE WORDS book...  And a special note from the author's daughter in law Mariska Crowson... Coast and Country online magazine promotion. 🧩  Can you say these WORDS really fast?     🐺  Wolf Flow   😴  Sleep Peels   🚚  Deliver Reviled   🏌️‍♂️  Flog Golf   🏆  Drawer Reward   🍰  Stressed Dessert   ⚔️  Raw War   ☕  Faced Decaf   🎨  Decal Laced   They might twist your tongue but in Val Crowson’s new wordsearch puzzle book, you can take your time to find them!  😉   Search for the Words is a fun and challenging wordsearch book created by South African author Val Crowson, designed to test your mind, improve your focus, and bring a smile while you play.     🧠  Perfect for puzzle lovers, teachers, book club readers, or anyone who enjoys a good brain workout!  ...
Read more

Blustery winds for Road Runners at club’s Christmas handicap race - plus other results and New Year events.

By Don Hale
Image
*Members of NWRRC (*pictured above), prior to the start of the Christmas handicap race at West Shore. Blustery winds for Road Runners at club’s Christmas handicap race...plus other  results and New Year events. Report by Don Hale. Main photos by Kevin Slattery and John Hatton. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Twenty-five members of North Wales Road Runners took part in the annual Christmas handicap race last Sunday, but they had to battle with cool and very blustery head and sidewinds as they negotiated a challenging four-mile course along part of the Great Orme. Following a tough route out from West Shore and climbing up the Orme to the old WW2 gun sites and past what’s known as ‘ Millionaires Row ,’ the runners then turned via a further muddy track before returning back to the start. This popular event, well organised by John Hatton, Martin and Carla Green, and a team of willing volunteers and marshals attracted a bumper attendance, which in...
Read more

Cronkle and the Hedgehog is the latest illustrated children’s adventure book by Sebastian Stumblebum,

By Don Hale
Image
Coast and Country spotlight book feature:    Cronkle and the Hedgehog   – another new p aperback by Sebastian Stumblebum with some superb illustrations by Cerys Edwards.   donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Now available from Amazon:   https://amzn.to/3Meh9qG   Cronkle and the Hedgehog is the latest book from established children’s author Sebastian Stumblebum, and forms part of the ‘Cronkle’ series of books.    Illustrated throughout with colour artwork created by talented artist Cerys Edwards. Follow Cronkle and his friends as they hurry to rescue Spike the Hedgehog, who has become trapped in a dangerous net. Suitable for children of all ages. Coast and Country spotlight book feature: The Adventures of Skye and Other Tales of Enchantment  -  exciting  new children's p aperback by Sebastian Stumblebum - with some superb illustrations by Cerys Edwards. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   The Adventures of Skye and Other Tales of E...
Read more

Welsh Masters Indoor Championship results from Cardiff - and news about Newport Harriers athletes.

By Don Hale
Image
The Welsh Masters Indoor Championship results from last weekend's events at Cardiff...and some additional news from Newport Harriers athletes in action. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Rod Davies from Welsh Masters Athletics has kindly compiled a list of the times and age category winners from last weekend’s – Welsh Masters Indoor Championships at Cardiff on 24/25/26th  January 2026. *The 400 & 1500m events were held on Jan 25th.  *Also details of individual results from Newport Harriers members: Newport Harriers Athletic Club   is with  Welsh Masters   and  Cardiff Met Athletics . Well done to our amazing Master athletes who competed this weekend - they all did fab  BMAF Indoor Pentathlon, 3k champs and open, at Cardiff on 24th January 2026. W70 Nicky B Pentathlon W55 Lou K 5th Pentathlon M60 Paul Y 6th Pentathlon and  400m W55 Juliet S 60m 200m400m M50 Jim M 200m400m LJ M40 Samson C...
Read more