Steve Gardner competed in the British Masters Indoor 3000m champs in Sheffield.

By Don Hale


*Pictured above - NWRRC track star and record holder Steve Gardner.

Steve Gardner competed in the British Masters Indoor 3000m champs at Sheffield.

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

www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk

North Wales Road Runner Steve Gardner took to the track again last week and this time he travelled across the Pennines to compete for the Welsh Masters in the British Masters Indoor championships held in Sheffield.

Despite an excellent performance, the record breaking veteran Welsh athlete was slightly down on his best time for this distance, and faced some stern competition. 

After the event, Steve confirmed: “I competed in the British Masters Indoor Championships last Sunday. It was a very strong MV60 age category held over two races. I finished 2nd in the B race in a time of 10.43 which meant I was 10th overall taking into consideration the times of both races. I was 5-seconds slower than my PB but pleased with my performance on the day.” 


  

 

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

Good mix of varied ability athletes at a busy Rhos parkrun - plus NW results round up...

By Don Hale
Image
Good mix of varied ability athletes at a busy Rhos parkrun - plus NW results round up... Report by Don Hale. Conwy photos by Micheal Finnie. * *Steve Gardner is pictured right. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   It proved to be another bumper turn-out at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday with a generous mix of top junior and senior club runners, plus numerous first timers, social runners and walkers. Six out of the first ten finishers at  Rhos  were debutants, including many talented youngsters, all testing their paces against each other.  Surprisingly though, in a sprint finish, VM35 athlete  Aled Hughes  (GOG Triathlon) eventually claimed the top spot with a new course PB in 17 minutes and 11 seconds, whilst JM11-14 youngster  Finlay Potter  (Warriors Pentathlon & AC) finished just two-seconds behind Aled in 17.13, and  Craig Connor  (Chester Tri-Club) took the third spot, and he was only another f...
Read more

Good results for NW marathon runners

By Don Hale
Image
Good results for NW marathon runners   Picture right - Mal Preece from NWRRC ran  well  at the Boston marathon. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 North Wales Road Runner Mal Preece competed in the Boston Marathon last weekend, and despite a gruelling race and some very windy conditions, he finished just a few seconds away from recording a great new course PB. After the event he confirmed:  “Very tough and windy conditions, 40/50mph headwinds, but pleased with the time. Just 23 seconds away from my PB of 3:22:27!  Definitely a fast course with the right conditions. I’ll be signing up again for next year.” *On returning home, Mal later took part in the  Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun  on Saturday finishing in 117th place in 26.08. Cheryl Smashed her previous marathon PB. *Cheryl Frost (*pictured left) from NWRRC smashed her previous personal best time at the Newport Marathon on Sunday with a determined run in 3 hours 46 minutes and 20 seconds despite suffering f...
Read more

Trawsfynydd Lake race supported the South Snowdonia Mountain Rescue Team.

By Don Hale
Image
    *Pictured above - Jonathan Kettle (NWRRC) received his MV50 age cat award. Trawsfynydd Lake race in support the South Snowdonia Mountain Rescue Team. Report by Don Hale. Lake photos by John Hatton. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   Over two hundred athletes helped to raise thousands of pounds for the South Snowdon Mountain Rescue team on Sunday by competing in the North Wales SSSART Trawsfynydd 8.5-mile race around the Lake. This popular annual event combined a challenging, undulating, yet picturesque road and trail course through the (Eryri) Snowdonia National Park from near Blaenau, Ffestiniog, and attracted numerous experienced fell and trail runners from across the UK.   *The first finisher at the Snowdonia multi-terrain race was Stefan Sayer (Menai T&F) pictured left, with the first female athlete Lydia Sharpe, and Carla Green (NWRRC) Steffan Sayer  (Menai Track & Field) was the first finisher overall after recording an excell...
Read more

Coast and Country magazine promotes THE RUNNING BUG VIRTUAL RACES

By Don Hale
Image
Join the exciting world of Virtual Events that can be completed in your own time, with limited costs, genuine recognition and superb medals.   Special Coast and Country online sports feature by Aled Mawgan.   **SPECIAL MAGAZINE OFFER OF 10% DISCOUNT ON ALL ENTRIES:  Use this Social  Coupon Code:  COAST26   donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Are you a runner, a club athlete, cyclist, a keen walker, or even a dog walker, just intent on maintaining a certain level of fitness, with some new and exciting event that may be offered and enjoyed within your local community? If so, then have you considered taking part in some VIRTUAL EVENTS ranging from 1k, 5k, 10k, half marathon to marathons, with an additional opportunity to help fundraise for good causes, or just to complete a specific distance or challenge, in your own time, and at your own pace, either on your own, or with family and friends? Many regular runners and walkers are constantly compla...
Read more

Update on Masters Road Race Championship Calendar 2026 - make a note of some important BMAF diary dates

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - flashback to a previous BMAF event. Update on Masters Road Race Championship Calendar 2026...make a note of some important BMAF diary dates. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Although the BMAF Executive has only two elected officers and an England Masters representative in post we are not a quorum, this concern has led to some delays and the ability to make decisions.  However, with the help of BMAF Services we are determined to continue to provide Championships at T&F, XC and on the Road. To that effect I am posting an update on future Road and Trail Championships to all athletes who have shown an interest in past events On the 28th June we return to the North Downs for our  30k British Masters Trail Championships . I am delighted to report that many who compete return and this year will be no different. The reasons are simple. It is possibly the best Trail race in the South. The  Marathon  is next and will be promoted in Ram...
Read more

Snowdonia Multi Terrain 8 Miler on Sunday 19th April - in aid of the South Snowdonia Search and Rescue Team

By Don Hale
Image
   Help  Events  Results  Register  Log in North Wales, SSSART Trawsfynydd  Multi Terrain 8 Miler Sunday 19th April 2026 donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog         Event Details ****Cymraeg isod**** Beautiful multi terrain 8.6 mile race around Trawsfynydd lake in Eryri/Snowdonia national park. A mostly fast course with one challenging hill on a mixed tarmac and fast trail  course. The Race will be under the Welsh Athletics / UK Athletics Rules. All proceeds are in aid of the South Snowdonia Search and Rescue Team.  The team is run entirely by volunteers, who are on callout 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to help those in need in the local area. The team is a charity, dependent on donations from the public, and the proceeds of the race will provide vital funds. Starting by the Magnox Power Station Car Park at 12:00 on Sunday 19th April.  Grid reference SH69052 37960, post code LL41 4DT;  Open to at...
Read more

COWFEST 2026 comes to North Wales in June 2026.

By Don Hale
Image
donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Dave Munday from parkrun North Wales has provided details of a unique series of events including one that's available in North Wales in June! Cowfest 2026 We are delighted to announce the four locations for Cowfest 2026 on 20th June. What is a Cowfest?! It's an annual gathering for UK tourists.  Curious to learn more? Search this page for highlights and details from previous years!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/2193251831088739 Scotland - Crathes Castle South - Dinton Pastures Wales - Erddig North - Ushaw Historic House You will find each event listed in the events section, where we will be sharing the latest updates and information for every location. We look forward to seeing you at Cowfest on 20th June 2026. Dave Munday:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/2193251831088739/user/1239379759
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

North Wales parkrun group trip to Dublin report from Saturday 11th April.

By Don Hale
Image
*Event organiser Dave Munday (*second from the right) with his North Wales group at the Father Collins parkrun near Dublin last Saturday. North Wales parkrun group trip to Dublin report from Saturday 11th April 2026... Special update from Dave Munday – the trip organiser - and the editor from parkrun North Wales. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog *Flying the flag (*above) for North Wales with a group including people who have competed all the regional parkruns, and (*below right) Andrew and Nan Roberts pictured at the Malahide parkrun. It was an early start as the ferry left Holyhead at 4a.m! The smiling faces from the parkrun tourists started to arrive and we were all in high spirits as we boarded the ferry and found somewhere to get our heads down for a few hours’ sleep, before we arrived in Dublin at 7am . Different groups were heading to different parkruns with Fairview, Father Collins and Malahide being the main three that people were heading towards. I was with a...
Read more

10,000th finisher milestone possible at Rhos parkrun this week?

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - flashback to a previous start at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun. 10,000th finisher milestone possible at Rhos this week? donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Report by Dave Munday, the organiser of the parkrun North Wales Facebook site.   As you all know this site is about promoting the 17 North Wales parkruns and especially the stats and figures that they produce. One thing other regions flag up is milestones on overall attendances since the parkrun started. In North Wales our highest overall attendance is Conwy parkrun with 111,614 finishers, it was such a shame that this site was not going for the 100,000th finisher, as that would have been great to capture that, and who was it that crossed the line, I will work it out and contact the Conwy parkrun team. This year, we will have different parkruns hitting different milestones and I will post up on here. The 1st one could be this weekend as  Y Promenâd parkrun, Llandrillo-yn-Rhos...
Read more