Don Hale Blog

*Carla Green from NWRRC was the first female finisher at Nova. Hot, humid and windswept at Nova’s Prestatyn parkrun...plus other parkrun results round-up... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com It was a very hot and humid despite a very strong and blustery wind at the Nova parkrun at Prestatyn last Saturday, with a generous attendance of some 255 mixed ability athletes and walkers, who all braved the refreshing sea breeze and sandy atmosphere. Two male visitors and course debutants grabbed their places in the top three as fast finishers with  Aaron Dodwell becoming the first male runner home on his debut in 18.44, with  Dafydd Montgomery  2nd in 19.17, and debutant  Harry Brewster  3rd on his debut in 19.30. The first female finisher was  Carla Green  (NWRRC), in 14th place overall, and she also won her VW50 age cat in 21.34. Prestatyn RCs  Lisa Lines  claimed the 2nd spot in 22.33, with  Sali Wheway  3rd with a new ...

*Pictured above - far right - NW author and runner Paul Stroud, with his  son Leo and daughter Emily at the start of the Tokyo Tower climb race.  *A  nervous moment for dad Paul (*above left), as his son Leo awaits the white starting flag  prior to his climb up the iconic tower. North Wales author and runner tackled the famous Tokyo Tower climb with his son Leo and daughter Emily. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Marie Stroud. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com Prolific author and keen runner Paul Stroud, who writes for the North Wales based publishers Coast & Country, and this blog, took part in the gruelling Tokyo Tower race climb last week for a second year, with his teenage son Leo, and daughter Emily. Now based in this vibrant Japanese city, ex-pat Paul made a brave effort to tackle the 600 plus stairs at this iconic landmark, which took the athletes up to the main deck, about 150 metres above ground.  The race included many hundreds of staggered entrie...

*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. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   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/44ljjKi *This the Amazon link to  Paul Stroud's new ebook link to the MAGNIFIECEN J-LEAGUE:   https://amzn.to/45OvfH2   The author of Magnificent J-League, Paul Stroud, provides us with a fascinating insight into what it has been like following football, at different times, and in different places, over the past 50 years.  It...

Special NW Coast and Country Author Spotlight Feature. Welcome to another new author feature in conjunction with Amazon. ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Wendy Lee and her new novel French Days, French Voices.   When Wendy Lee moved to the French Mediterranean coast, le Midi, she was asked by a health service colleague 'how difficult can it be to lead a simple life?' Twenty-five years later she, her partner and a second edition Cocker Spaniel called Lola, are still leading, some might say, a simple life. Although in her head still English, but now speaking quite good French, she is never heard saying 'Mustn't grumble' or 'getting there.' Wendy Lee likes to think that this experience has changed the way she understands home. Her family live in England and she sees them often.  French Days, French Voices is her first non-fiction book.  Told through the eyes of French villagers using snapshots, anecdotes, illustrations and poetry it is intended for anyone interested in a di...

*Pictured above left - Daniel Huws and Dave Munday - after completing their incredible 50k charity challenge to help fundraise for Cancer charities, and (*below), the start of their campaign. Longest Day for NW athletes who ran ten different parkruns in a day for Cancer charity... Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   On the longest day of the year, last Saturday 21st June, two athletes completed a tough Cancer Charity challenge, by completing ten 5k runs on ten different parkrun courses within fourteen hours! Daniel Huws  and  Dave Munday  first began their incredible marathon fundraising event for  MOVE Against Cancer  on Yns Mon, at Newborough Forest at 6am, and they finally finished their gruelling day on home soil at the Nova Prestatyn course at about 8pm.   They were all run on genuine, varied and undulating 5k parkrun routes within North Wales, but as all the events started at 9am, obviously they could only run in one live ...

*Swansea Harrier and Welsh  Master Ifan Lloyd ran the Comrades Marathon. Welsh Master endurance athlete  Ifan Lloyd tackled the famous Comrades Marathon in South Africa, and success for WMAL duo at the Masters Match half-marathon at Swansea. Introduction by Don Hale. Story forwarded courtesy of David Gibson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Swansea Harrier and Welsh Master Athletics veteran Ifan Lloyd tells of his recent gruelling and dramatic experiences of running the famous Comrades Marathon on 8th June 2025. This year was the down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, some 56.32 miles distance, with an overall drop of over 800metres, on a hot and stifling day. Just about managed to finish in one piece to earn a back-to-back medal for completing the race on two consecutive years.  To be honest I had no right to start the race given the hamstring tendinopathy, and even less of a right to finish.  I had done no decent training ses...

    *Steve and Dave Gardner (*above) collected a hat-trick of gold medals. Three gold medals for father and son at the Welsh Masters T&F Championships... Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Super veteran Dave Gardner won two gold medals at the WMAL Track & Field Championships at Yate on 8th June, with his veteran track star son Steve, also striking gold following a great performance in the 800m race. The talented North Wales Road Runner won the javelin event and his V85 age cat with what is expected to be another Welsh record and claimed another prestigious gold medal in the shot competition. His son Steve was also on top form, and he won a gold medal in the 800m race. After the event Steve confirmed : “My dad won two gold medals at the weekend, winning the javelin, and most likely extending his current Welsh V85 age cat record with a throw of 16.13m pending ratification from Chris Pruski at Welsh Masters Athletics.  “His second gold ...

*Some race action photos above from the recent Welsh Masters T&F champs at Yate. *Pictured above - the Pocket Rocket - Juliet Sidney who won two gold medals. Six of t he best for Wynn and two gold for Juliet at the recent Welsh Masters T&F champs at Yate... Report by Don Hale https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Well done to Wynn Howe for a tremendous effort in winning six medals from six events at the recent Welsh Masters T&F champs at Yate, and to Juliet Sidney for her golden double in the sprints. One Welsh Masters athlete however raised a very important point to me by saying that no one has bothered to send in a report about this important event, Unfortunately, this is a common problem that I have had ever since becoming involved with WMAL. There is plenty of pre-publicity but little or no results and reports sent in for publication, so come on lads and lassies, don't be shy, let the website know about your efforts! Chris Pruski, the reco...