Veterans at the Paul Popham Swansea Bay 5k Summer Series

By Don Hale

Veterans at the Paul Popham Swansea Bay 5k Summer Series.

Report and photos by David Gibson.

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk


The Paul Popham Swansea Bay 5k Summer series consists of three Wednesday evening events in May, June and July of each year and proves to be popular with south Wales runners of all ages. 

The Swansea Prom ‘there and back’ course starts at the Secret Bar and Kitchen near St Helens Rugby ground and heads towards the marina before turning back. The route can be breezy’ which makes judging pace a bit tricky but then it is the same for everyone.

Once again this year, VM70 Swansea Harrier Alan Davies produced three strong performances to receive the series veteran third place trophy despite being 71 years old!

The veteran podium places were:-

VETERAN FEMALE WINNERS

1st Place          Katie Williams           3M Gorseinon Road Runners

2nd Place          Sarah Christensen    Swansea Harriers

3rd Place          Sarah Cross

 

VETERAN MALE WINNERS

1st Place          David Clarke       Llanelli AC

2nd Place          Gareth Davey      Neath Harriers

3rd Place          Alan Davies         Swansea Harriers

Full report at: -

https://www.paulpophamrunningclub.co.uk/2024/07/16/swansea-bay-summer-5k-series-race-3-10th-july-2024/



*The Male vets winners (*above) at the Paul Popham Swansea Bay 5k race.

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

Superb gold medal run for young North Wales Regional champion Josh Mottram at the Twin Piers 10k.

By Don Hale
Image
* *A delighted young athletics star Josh Mottram after his race. Superb gold medal for young North Wales Regional champion Josh Mottram at the Twin Piers 10k. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 A massive well done to the enthusiastic and very talented young athlete Josh Mottram, who won a prestigious gold medal last weekend in the challenging Twin Piers 10k race as the North Wales Regional champion for his age category. The Colwyn Bay AC runner was second overall in his age cat, to another excellent young runner in Ryan Rutledge in 36.47, but he finished first as the Under-20 champion in the NW Regional competition, completing his race in just 39 minutes and 59 seconds.  His friends and club colleagues helped him to celebrate this great effort, and said the were very proud, as he finally dipped under the 40-minute mark for the first time over this distance for a deserved new PB, and he knocked an amazing 3 minutes 30 seconds off his time from last year's race. Josh w...
Read more

Freezing cold gale force winds proved a challenge for parkrunners...and for the hardy volunteers and marshals.

By Don Hale
Image
*Some members of the hardworking team of volunteers (*above) at a bitterly cold and windswept Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday with RD Dougie Graham in the blue vest. Freezing cold gale force winds proved a challenge for parkrunners...and for the hardy volunteers and marshals. Report by Don Hale. Conwy photos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com   It was a very stormy and rather windswept morning across much of North Wales last Saturday as many hundreds of parkrunners battled gale-force and blustery headwinds during their challenging 5k workouts. At  the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun , it proved a particularly tough battle along the seafront to Colwyn Bay and back from Rhos for over 2k on the outward leg, against freezing temperatures, and a swirling, gusty wind, plus a sandy course, but it was pleasing to note that so many plaudits were deservedly given en-route and afterwards, to the hard-working team of RD’s, marshals and volunteers. Despite all the handicaps, a...
Read more

North Wales Regional 10k champs - Roll of honour – Twin Piers 10k - plus race summary and all NW results.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - Karen Butler from NWRRC crosses the finish line to win her F65 age cat at the Twin Piers race last Saturday. North Wales Regional 10k champs - Roll of honour – Twin Piers 10k - plus full NW results and race summary on links. A huge well done to all the age category winners from last week’s Twin Piers 10k Regional Championship race from Llandudno Pier to Colwyn Bay. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael Finnie and John Hatton. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   *Josh Mottram (*above left), who won the MU20 award, and (*left) Kevin Slattery with his M70 trophy at the Arthur Bebbington -Twin Piers 10k race. Male champions: U20M: Josh Mottram Colwyn Bay AC 39.59 Sen Men: Owen Roberts 31.59 M35: Ben Harding (Meirionnydd RC) 32.59. M40: Dean Thomas (Maldwyn) 35.45 M45: Graeme Tunstall (GOG Triathlon) 38.43 M50: Dafydd Gwynn (Eryri Harriers) 37.46 M55: Anthony Davies (Eryri Harriers) 41.49 M60: Paul Garstang (GOG Triathlon) 42.07 M65: Arwel Lewis (Eryri Harriers) 47.19 M70:...
Read more

Ben and Sarah tackled one of the new National Trust 10k trail events around the UK.

By Don Hale
Image
*Ben and Sarah Hudson (*pictured above) completed the new National Trust 10k trail event at Aberdaron. New National Trust 10k trail events around the UK. Report by Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Do you fancy a run around an ancient World Heritage site, or through varied and rugged landscapes? The free monthly 10k Trust10 trail runs are a great way to get some exercise, make friends, and to enjoy nature? That is exactly what two experienced North Wales Road Runners and ultra-distance athletes tried out last weekend at Aberdaron, and although it was not a race, the fascination of a new event and the competitive nature of  Ben and Sarah Hudson  led to both members achieving first places in their respective male and female categories. After the event, Sarah confirmed: “ We did a lovely event at the weekend put on by the National Trust; the Trust 10k or Taclo 10. They are not timed (and it’s a case of bring your own watch) but they are at various National trust locat...
Read more

Frank from Funchal meets Dancer by J M Martlew: A story of barriers, determination and cats.

By Don Hale
Image
Frank from Funchal meets Dancer: A story of barriers, determination and cats:   By J M Martlew. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 This is the link to the book: https://amzn.to/47qPdsd *NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON AUDIO LINK: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F3P7D9JF*Amazon   *ALSO ON EBOOK AND PAPERBACK : https://amzn.to/49SJmeC     A true account of Frank, a starving street cat from the island of Funchal who travels to the UK on a plane. There he joins Dancer; a traumatised street cat who was lost in London.  Both were emaciated and near to death when found but end up rescued and now living in their forever home in Sussex. Dancer hates Frank and would happily send him back on a plane if she could. J M Martlew recalls her own journey from a childhood rescuing street cats, lessons learnt as an NHS nurse in a children’s burns unit in Scotland; to finding street cats Dancer and Frank.  This touching memoir ends with her discovering no matter where you come from in ...
Read more

Fast times from the gun at the Twin Piers 10k and North Wales championship race...

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above – some of the NWRRC team at the start of the Twin Piers race.   Fast times from the gun at the Twin Piers 10k and North Wales championship race... Report by Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Over 300 quality athletes competed in the annual Arthur Bebbington Twin Piers 10k race last Saturday afternoon, which covered a scenic route between Llandudno to Colwyn Bay piers. Entrants came from a vast range of nationwide running clubs and social runners, with the event well organised by  Colwyn Bay AC , and it also formed part of the  North Wales Regional 10k championships. Meirionnydd RC  claimed a unique hat-trick in the 10k with three of their team taking the first three finishing places overall.  Owen Roberts  was the runaway winner of the race in a fast gun time of 31 minutes and 59 seconds, with  Ben Harding  second, and a minute adrift in 32,59, whilst  Gwion Roberts  took the third spot, and he was almost a mi...
Read more

The Adventures of Skye and Other Tales of Enchantment - exciting new children's paperback by Sebastian Stumblebum.

By Don Hale
Image
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 Enchantment is the latest book from established children’s author Sebastian Stumblebum.    Talented artist Cerys Edwards created the illustrations throughout the book. Join Skye the fairy and the other fantastic characters on their adventures of fun, enchantment and mystery. Suitable for children of all ages. Now available from Amazon:   https://amzn.to/4pgMkjy 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 lat...
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

John and Carla’s Deganwy Dash voted the ‘Best Sporting Event of the Year,’ and raises thousands for Children's Cancer Charities.

By Don Hale
Image
*Picture above - Deganwy Dash race organisers John Hatton and Carla Green John and Carla’s Deganwy Dash voted the ‘Best Sporting Event of the Year,’ and raises thousands for Children's Cancer Charities. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   The Deganwy Dash was voted the Best Sporting event of the year within Conwy County at the annual Conwy Sports Awards last Friday night at Venue Cymru. Well organised by  John Hatton  and  Carla Green  from  North Wales Road Runners , this popular annual 5-mile race from Deganwy Quay to the RSPB Nature Reserve, and back via Conwy Cob, always attracts over 350-plus mixed ability runners who raise thousands of pounds for charity. The main charity includes generous donations to Children’s Cancer charities, and for the past few years it has been run in memory of a young local student Rohan Ingley, who sadly lost his life due to cancer, and has been known as 'Rohan's Run.' Award...
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