Welsh Masters Athletics Photo special from the Inter-area indoor champs by Roger Garland.

By Don Hale

Welsh Master and photographer Roger Garland captures some of the action from the recent Inter-Area Indoor championships at Lee Valley...

 
 


  

 
 
 





 






 


 

 

 















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.

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

By Don Hale
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*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...
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Update on Masters Road Race Championship Calendar 2026 - make a note of some important BMAF diary dates

By Don Hale
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*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...
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10,000th finisher milestone possible at Rhos parkrun this week?

By Don Hale
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*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...
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Bright and breezy for plenty of visitors at North Wales parkruns - results and reports from around the region

By Don Hale
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*GOG Triathlon super-vet Liz Evans (*above) at the Conwy parkrun. Bright and breezy for plenty of visitors at North Wales parkruns...results and reports from the region. Report by Don Hale. Conwy photos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog There were plenty of visitors and first timers at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday where a variety of mixed ability athletes and walkers celebrated some bright sunshine on a cold and windy morning. The first three finishers were all visitors, but they each recorded some excellent debut times with  Oliver Bernstein  the first man home in 16 minutes and 59 seconds, followed by fell runner  Michael Corralles  second in 17.25, and  Patrick Connors  (Lordshill Road Runners) in 17.29. *Pictured above left - Iain Burgess, with Nic Brook There were some great performances too by local athletes  Iain Burgess,  who was 5th with a new course PB on 17.35, and second in his VM40 a...
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Coast and Country magazine promotes THE RUNNING BUG VIRTUAL RACES

By Don Hale
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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...
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COWFEST 2026 comes to North Wales in June 2026.

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

By Don Hale
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   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...
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Visitors set a hot pace on a cold, frosty morning at the Rhos parkrun – plus other results and reports from the region.

By Don Hale
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*Runners listen to the briefing at the start of the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun. Visitors set a hot pace on a cold, frosty morning at the Rhos parkrun – plus other results and reports from the region... Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 Pictured above and below - the mass start of the Rhos parkrun. It was another jam-packed and fun-filled occasion on Saturday morning at the new Llandrillo yn Rhos (Y Promenade) parkrun last Saturday following a record-breaking attendance on Christmas Day. Despite the freezing temperatures and a generous covering of heavy frost around the region, with the icy conditions causing the cancellation of rival events at  Conwy  and at  Nova , the Rhos parkrun, possibly aided by a light layer of sand at key points, was given the green light, much to the delight of 576 eager entrants. And many runners later expressed their gratitude to the run director  Dougie Graham  and his RD colleagues,...
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THE MAGNIFICENT JAPANESE J-LEAGUE - Paul Stroud's exciting new book about Japanese football.

By Don Hale
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*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...
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Parkrun boss finally makes a belated statement about the latest controversy to remove important records! But ignores the real reason!

By Don Hale
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Parkrun boss finally makes a belated statement about the latest controversy to remove important record! But is it just a smokescreen to cover up a previous row over transgender athletes? By Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It's taken about a week for Russ Jefferys, the CEO of parkrun global to belatedly make a statement about last Thursday’s controversial decision to remove male and female, first, and fast finishers, plus age grades, and age category records from their website. It is something that has naturally attracted strong debate up and down the country, and no doubt at numerous parkruns across the world! But I still question whether this latest debacle is just a smokescreen to try to hide, and hence remove any existing records relating to transgender athletes! Parkrun came into being many years ago following a great idea by several like-minded runners, who organised a timed 5k run in their local park, and so from a small acor...
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