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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RNLI Llandudno 5K & 1K Fun Run 2026

By Don Hale
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  *Flashback to last year's RNLI 5k race on Llandudno prom. RNLI Llandudno 5K & 1K Fun Run 2026 donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 Race organiser John Hatton challenges runners to be part of something special and help save lives at sea by signing up for charity runs, hosted by Llandudno RNLI!  And John also added: " Just working on a race for next year 5k RSPB.  I came up with the idea, when I was invited to a site visit by the Contractors, Jennings.   "I have spoken to Helen the manager and she is really keen, we can have cafe as race HQ plus of course the toilets, it will help put back what they have lost over the time with the new course at Conwy." 💙 Sign up today and be a lifesaver! https://rnli.niftyentries.com/RLNI-Llandudno-5K-1K-Fun-Run-2026   *Just giving link if you want  to donate only https://www.justgiving.com/page/llandudno-rnli-5km-2026 🏃‍♂️  5km Run  – Open to all ages and abilities -  11:00am  👟  1km Fun Run ...
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Porth Eirias Runners successful take-over at the Llandrillo Yn Rhos parkrun

By Don Hale
Porth Eirias Runners successful take-over at the Llandrillo Yn Rhos parkrun... Introduction by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blog.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   It proved to be a spectacular take-over at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun on Saturday by Porth Eirias Runners (PER), with this rapidly expanding local club providing a host of supportive members to help volunteer and marshal at this popular weekly event. Despite a very gusty wind and some 435 runners to organise, plus some light-hearted banter and a challenge from a couple of boats from the Bay of Colwyn Sailing Club, it all went very well, and the event organisers posted their comments on Facebook.   PER Organiser Catrin Williams confirmed:  “Parkrun takeover. A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered, took part, or ran at parkrun this morning  Y Promenâd parkrun, Llandrillo-yn-Rhos “We had an amazing turnout of marshals, from first-time volunteers to experienced helpers, taking on a variety of roles. It was fan...
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THE LIBERATION OF JERSEY & WARTIME SECRETS: Some compelling wartime memories from three remarkable men...by Don Hale.

By Don Hale
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  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 ...
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50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL - IT'S NOW 50 YEARS SINCE THIS BRUTAL MURDER - TV documentary and best selling book - MURDER IN THE GRAVEYARD - BBC video and Harper Collins book.

By Don Hale
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MURDER IN THE GRAVEYARD:   The  BBC’s award-winning documentary, and best selling book by Harper Collins and author Don Hale:   https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/perryscope21/curation/5fbfda6b-ed53-4e19-8526-378b30b4f429 The Wendy Sewell murder September 1973 in Bakewell cemetery.   *VIEW THIS REVEALING BBC DOCUMENTARY NOW FOR FREE:  Length 28 mins 37 secs.  https://youtu.be/Y3Fe-KGQRUw It's your chance to examine the facts behind Britain's worst ever high profile miscarriage of justice where a man spent nearly 28-years in jail for a murder he  did not commit.   This is the award-winning BBC documentary produced by BBC Pebble Mill at Birmingham about the  Stephen Downing investigation - Murder in the Graveyard  - which examined the evidence that helped to eventually quash the conviction of a man jailed for nearly 28 years for a murder he did not commit - that of  Wendy Sewell in Bakewell cemetery in September 1973 . This exclusive ...
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Conwy parkrun returns to its original World Ranking course on 20/6/26

By Don Hale
Conwy parkrun returns to its original World Ranking course on 26/6/26 donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Message from Conwy Run Director Bethan Wyn Roberts Hi Conwy parkrunners, I am delighted to confirm that as of the 20th June 2026, the start of Conwy parkrun will revert to the RSPB. There will be some minor alterations to the way we start our event until all current building work at the site has been cleared away. The RSPB car park will be open and available to park runners from 08:15 am and will be closed no later than 08:40 am. After this time runners will need to utilise alternative parking at Tesco and Conwy Business Park. This is a new chapter for Conwy parkrun and I hope it will be treated as such. Now is the time to look forward with excitement and not to revisit old arguments. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the core group of amazing Run Directors and volunteers who have tirelessly worked to keep Conwy parkrun on the map. You truly ar...
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Great results for Welsh Master Ifan Lloyd at the BMAF T&F championships

By Don Hale
Great results for Welsh Master Ifan Lloyd at the BMAF championships Welsh Master athlete Ifan Lloyd recalls a successful hot day on the track at the BMAF championships. *My thanks to Ifan for sharing his unique experiences.   donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   A day out at the BMAF (British Masters) 1 mile and 10km track championships yesterday (30th May) at Horspath Athletics Track near Oxford.  With temperatures creeping to the high 20’s it was always going to be a challenge to run the one-mile race mid-morning and the 10km just two hours later! Extremely pleased to wind gold and finish first in the men 65-69 age category in both races especially as these were my first outdoor track races since 2021! Finish time of 5mins 36sec in the 1 mile and 39min 52s in the 10km. It wasn’t a day for heroically fast times due to the short gap between the races, and the heat. Ran the 10km at a progressive pace having started steadily and gradually got faster!  ...
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Top runner with twin buggy was the first finisher at Rhos event.

By Don Hale
Top runner with twin buggy was first finisher at Rhos event. donhaleblog.blog.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   James Yarwood (Wrexham AAC) was the first finisher at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday morning complete with his twin baby buggy in just 17 minutes and 26 seconds, but he was made to fight all the way by keen rival Iain Burgess in 17.42, with teenager Eben Jones third in 18.37. The bright and very breezy conditions failed to deter a large number of visiting athletes and walkers amongst the 435 finishers, with  Porth Eirias Runners  providing generous support and a take-over of many marshalling and volunteering positions. And Richard Peevor,  one of the Rhos parkrun officials also confirmed :  “Today has been a special day. A very special day. This was the first day that I ran the parkrun that I set up last year. I ran it with Barry Dickenson, one of our visually impaired runners. That was so fabulous and what this is all about!”  *The pa...
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Christmas cracker at the NWRRC handicap race...plus other race results.

By Don Hale
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*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...
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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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Proud moment for athletics coach John Hatton and a popular former midwife Sharon Buckley.

By Don Hale
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*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 ...
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