Steve Gardner smashes 800m Welsh record at World Masters Athletics champs in Sweden.

By Don Hale

*Pictured above - Steve Gardener at the World Masters champs in Sweden.

Steve Gardner smashes 800m Welsh Masters record at World Masters Athletics champs in Sweden.

Report by Don Hale.

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com


North Wales Road Runner, Welsh Master, and Team GB track athlete Steve Gardner smashed his own previous best record time in the 800m event during the World Masters Athletics Championships in Sweden last week with an improved time to set a new Welsh Masters Athletics record.

Competing on the track in Bjorlanda, Sweden, on 15th August, for Team GB, the M60 veteran ran home in 2 minutes 22.26 seconds. He was also the 3rd British athlete and the 1st Welshman, finishing 23rd overall based on the times over seven heats. There were 72 starters. 

And in the 1500m held over the past few days, he recorded another excellent PB finishing in 5.07.05, in 24th place overall, as the 4th British athlete, and once again he was understood to be the 1st Welshman. There were 57 starters over three heats.  

*Chris Pruski, the results coordinator from WMAL confirmed to Steve this week: “On behalf of Welsh Masters Athletics Limited please find a certificate attached, recognising your achievement at the World Masters Athletics Championships and improving your own 800m record. Many congratulations.”


*Steve Gardner (*above) on track for success during the World Championships.



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

Young Charlie Sheen’s remarkable fundraising efforts for Alder Hey Hospital.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above centre - young Charlie Sheen is the boxing champion. Charlie Sheen’s remarkable fundraising efforts for Alder Hey Hospital...completing an astonishing 75 mile challenge. Rebecca Lou reports on Charlie’s 75-mile challenge. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 At just 12 years old, local boxing sensation Charlie Sheen from Colwyn Bay is already building a reputation as one of the brightest young sporting talents in Wales. Representing Dyffryn ABC, Charlie has shown incredible dedication, discipline, and determination both inside and outside of the ring. Previously recognised by the Daily Post, Charlie completed an astonishing 75-mile fundraising challenge, raising an incredible £6,017 for Alder Hey Children’s hospital.  Now, Charlie’s boxing journey has reached another outstanding milestone. After competing at the prestigious Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff, Charlie has officially been crowned a 3x Welsh National Champion — winning national titles three years in a row...
Read more

Good numbers and times at the Llanrug 5k championship race.

By Don Hale
Good numbers and times at the Llanrug 5k championship race. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   There was a good turnout of over two-hundred runners at the midweek Llanrug 5k championship race despite the wet and windy conditions, and quite remarkably, the first eighteen finishers all dipped under eighteen minutes! Meirionnydd athletes  Tomos Roberts and Ifan Dafydd  took the first two finishing places with  Huw Gwynn  (Eryri Harriers) third. Tomos recorded a superb time of just 15 minutes and 37 seconds, with Daffyd close behind in 15.42, and Huw in 16.29. The first female was  Tilly Edwards  (Cybi Striders) in 18.01, with  Tinka Vinks  (Eryri Harriers) the runner-up in 19.14, and  Elliw Haf Roberts  (Eryri Harriers) finished third in 19.52. *North Wales Road Runners  had 15 members involved and young  Joe Culverhouse  led the team home with an outstanding performance in 25th plac...
Read more

Bright and breezy for plenty of visiting parkrunners

By Don Hale
Bright and breezy for plenty of visiting parkrunners Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 There were plenty of visitors to a bright and breezy parkrun at Llandrillo y Rhos last Saturday morning with debutants claiming the first three male finishing places, and the first female spot. Andrew Walmsley  (Chorlton Runners) was the first finisher overall in 17.20, with  Jack Kay  (Sinfin RC) second in 18.18, and  James Jones  (Chester Tri Club) third in 18.31. Debutant  Flo Hughes  was the first female finisher in 19.46, and she was followed by teenager  Elen Edwards  (15th overall) n 20.38, with  Laura McKenzie  (Betsi Runaways) third, in 22.21. *North Wales Road Runners  had six members at Rhos with  Cheryl Frost  the club’s first finisher in 22.44, and she also won her VF60 age cat.  Richard Scamans  was next home in 23.04, and  Steve Mason  looked back to his best again in 99th place in ...
Read more

North Wales group on the run at HMP Berwyn.

By Don Hale
North Wales group on the run at HMP Berwyn. Special report courtesy of event organiser Dave Munday. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 So today (Saturday 6th June 2026) was a special day for this group as some of us went to HMP Berwyn for a parkrun.  This moves some of us on to club 19 and Club 18 in the North Wales parkrun group, and has also given us a chance to make an even stronger connection with the most difficult to get an entry to parkrun in the North Wales region. The Governor at the prison has said there could be another opportunity to do this unusual and extraordinary parkrun again in October of this year, I will keep in touch with them and post up details nearer the time. So a few weeks ago I sent in all the information of the runners as everyone had to be fully security checked before we arrived and today we had to all go through checks and identification before been allowed in the prison. The only items we were allowed were the clothes we were running in, car keys, se...
Read more

THE LIBERATION OF JERSEY & WARTIME SECRETS: Some compelling wartime memories from three remarkable men...by Don Hale.

By Don Hale
Image
  THE LIBERATION OF JERSEY & WARTIME SECRETS:  Some compelling wartime memories from three remarkable men...by Don Hale.   donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 New paperback book. Available on Amazon:   https://amzn.to/3Keb4Jw The Jersey Boys and Liberation!   Some compelling wartime memories from three remarkable men...  Now available from Amazon in paperback, ebook or audio versions: Special Coast and Country online magazine feature... Amazon audio book:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F2HQ2VN4 Paperback:  https://amzn.to/3Keb4Jw Kindle ebook:  https://amzn.to/46ew7TP This is the true story of two remarkable Jersey Boys, and an eventual Liberator, who were all teenagers at the start of World War Two, but soon became embroiled in a variety of dramatic events following the Occupation of Jersey in the Channel Islands by German Forces during 1940-45. Joe  Miére  (* pictured above ), was a constant thorn in the side of the Nazi invaders and ...
Read more

English for Daily Conversation in Japan: Author Paul Stroud's being book promoted by Coast and Country online magazine

By Don Hale
Image
Special Coast and Country online magazine feature. coastandcountry.blog English for Daily Conversation:  Paul Stroud's latest books on AMAZON: Special Amazon deals:  *This is a link to all Paul Stroud's books on Amazon:   https://amzn.to/462ly6g donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 Paul Stroud is an English teacher in Japan and he has written numerous very interesting books about his life and work in Tokyo...and his passion for Japanese football... English for Daily Conversation: 50 topics and over 700 questions for conversation practice in the EFL classroom. About the author: Paul Stroud: My name is Paul Stroud, the author of the recently released EFL conversation text 'English for Daily Conversation', and the preceeding 'English Forum' series of materials for oral communication practice.  Additionally, I authored a couple of books on my experiences living and teaching for the past 20 years in the land of the rising sun titled 'Living in Japan: The Good, Bad, and ...
Read more

Deganwy 5-mile Charity Dash proved a winner once again.

By Don Hale
Image
*Josh Keogh (*above left) who was the eventual race winner at Deganwy, is shown leading the pack with rival Martin Green along Conwy Cob. Deganwy 5-mile Charity Dash proved a winner once again. Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Michael (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   It was another hot and humid, but most enjoyable evening for the annual Deganwy Dash run on Friday night, which was staged over a scenic 5-mile course from the promenade to the RSPB Nature Reserve and back. Well-organised by the hard-working  John Hatton, Carla Green,  and their dedicated team of volunteers, this event attracted 343 finishers and helped to raise many thousands of pounds for children’s cancer charities, and for many other worthy causes. It was also good to see so many local running clubs well represented including members from Prestatyn RC, NWRRC, Denbigh Harriers, Colwyn Bay AAC, GOG Triathlon, Eryri Harriers, Cybi Striders, Porth Eirias Runners, Buckle...
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

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

Back to the mud and hills for the first cross-country fixture at Bangor

By Don Hale
Image
*The NWRRC ladies team at Bangor (*l-r) Cheryl Frost, Gwennan Charlton and Kay Hatton. Back to the mud and hills for the first cross-country fixture of the season at Treborth, Bangor. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery and Lesley Goodson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Five members of North Wales Road Runners entered the first North Wales Cross-Country League fixture of the season, well-organised by hosts Eryri Harriers at Treborth, near Bangor, last Saturday, and staged over a rather muddy, hilly, and challenging series of varied courses. With different distance routes offered in respect of ages, and male and female races, ranging from juniors to masters, the general feedback was most encouraging with many runners welcoming a positive return to some sort of normality following an enforced period of uncertainty. NWRRC members ran in either the senior women’s race, or the senior men’s event, over approximate distances of 3.5-miles, or 5.5...
Read more