Ben and Sarah’s ultra 14-mile Coastal Challenge.

By Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025

*Pictured above Ben and Sarah Ferguson Hudson at their ultra coastal run.

Ben and Sarah’s ultra 14-mile Coastal Challenge.

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

North Wales ultra-distance couple Ben and Sarah Hudson competed in the challenging 14-mile Northumberland Coast Trail Run last Sunday, which closely followed the coastal path from Beadnell Harbour to the Alnmouth Estuary through an area of outstanding natural beauty.

The route started on sand, then onto road, sand, trail, road, and finished on sand again at Alnmouth. This dynamic duo ran the race whilst on holiday and after the event Sarah explained: “We are away with Ben’s family in Northumberland and did a 14-mile trail race along the coast. 

“It was tough going but stunning, with lots of delightful sandy miles. Ben snuck under two hours, and I did around 2.24. It was certainly a challenge that’s for sure. A good turn out and it was really well organised!”

*The final results confirmed that Ben finished well in 97th place out of 370 entrants, in a time of 1.58.18, and Sarah was 258th in 2.24.19.






 

 

Don Hale is a best-selling British author and former investigative journalist. He has been Journalist of the Year on three separate occasions in the past. and his extensive campaign to help free Stephen Downing for a murder he did not commit, won him both the Campaign and National Journalist of the Year Awards, A former regional newspaper editor, he was awarded an OBE in 2002 for campaign journalism. He has also been a lead investigator in several other successful, high-profile, miscarriage of justice and human rights cases. He has written several best selling books including - Murder in the Graveyard a true crime mystery story. There is also Buster Crabb - Ian Fleming's Favourite Spy, and Mallard about the battle to create the fastest steam loco in the world against the challenge from Nazi Germany, and more lately, there is The Jersey Boys and Liberation, about the secret stories of occupied Jersey during WW2, told by several resistance heroes and historians.

Comments

Post a Comment

Your comments are welcomed on all posts

Most recent posts

Wet and windy at Caernarfon for the half marathon championships...plus GNR and other results...

By Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025
Image
 *Pictured above - many members of the NWRRC team at the Caernarfon half marathon last Sunday. Wet and windy at Caernarfon for the half marathon championships... Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   There was a good entry of more than six hundred elite, club and social runners at the Caernarfon half marathon last Sunday, which was staged in unusually wet and windy weather but saw the top male and female athletes retain their titles. This event was also part of the  North Wales Regional Half-Marathon Championships , and it also attracted many top athletes from all around the UK, and it was well organised by RunWales. Tomos Roberts  (Meirionnydd RC) was the overall winner in 1 hour 11 minutes and 26 seconds, with  Chris Pownall (Cybi Striders) second in 1.15.42, and  Steffan Sayer  (Menai T&F), third in 1.15.45. *The first female finisher was  Emma Alofs  (Cybi Striders) in 1.27.49, and  Eleanor Ashcroft  (Denbigh H...
Read more

Stop the Cancellation of Running Events in Wrexham - please sign the petition. Helena Tipping 10k

By Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025
Image
*The late Helena Tipping, pictured above at the World Veterans 10k championships held in Vancouver, Canada, in 1986. Stop the Cancellation of Running Events in Wrexham - and please sign the petition... Important introduction by Don Hale: 5/9/2025.  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 *My thanks to my running colleague Martin Green who has alerted me to an extraordinary decision made by Wrexham County Council Borough Council, to try to cancel running events on Wrexham Industrial Estate,  and  in the Isycoed area, which will affect many events including the famous Helena Tipping 10k race , which helps to raise tens of thousands of pounds for worthwhile charities. Martin said:  “Would appreciate if any of my running friends could sign this petition, as some council official is trying to ruin a race that’s been going longer than me.”   And  Mike Edwards, a r etired chartered surveyor and local government officer, runner, cyclist and swimmer,  has just organised...
Read more

Quest for the Hallowed Key - by Krissy Millington - A compelling story of adventure, danger and magic - promoted by Coast and Country online.

By Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025
Image
Quest for the Hallowed Key: A compelling story of adventure, danger and magic by Krissy Millington.   donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 A compelling story of adventure, danger and magic - promoted by Coast and Country magazine...This is a link to the SPECIAL AMAZON PROMOTION :   https://amzn.to/41zUYjy This book is now available with a few purchase options via  Amazon. They  include a greyscale version as a paperback and/or the Kindle Ebook: *Krissy Millington – all her book options:   https://amzn.to/46n57Sh   *Paperback (greyscale version):   https://amzn.to/4pm0n7X *Kindle Ebook (greyscale version):  https://amzn.to/46k6pgP   Other options include  full colour versions of her paperback and Kindle Ebook:   *Paperback (full colour version):   https://amzn.to/4plmk72   *Kindle Ebook full colour version):   https://amzn.to/4nNASen About the book:   The lives of two young brothers who have little in common are changed ...
Read more

Tail end visitors boosted the numbers at North Wales parkruns...plus other results...

By Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025
Image
  *Pictured above - friendly volunteers at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun (l-r): Cheryl Frost, John Hatton and Carla Green Tail end visitors boosted the numbers at North Wales parkruns...plus other results... Report by Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   At the tail end of the holiday season, and with the weather still reasonable, most North Wales parkruns still recorded bumper attendances boosted by a host of visiting athletes. At the  Newborough Forest parkrun , seven out of the first ten finishers were all visitors from varied parts of the country, and they also recorded some excellent times.  The same applied to nearby  Nant y Pandy , with six out of the first ten finishers making their course debuts, and many other events also reported increased number from travelling runners. It was good to note that a promising young athlete in  Josh Mottram  (Colwyn Bay AC), celebrated his 100th parkrun last Saturday at  Conwy  by finishing 3rd overa...
Read more

Mid Terrace 3-bed house for sale - Llandudno LL302YX - FIVE MINUTES FROM THE SEA (£170,000).

By Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025
Image
WINLLAN AVENUE, LLANDUDNO LL30 2YX. (£170,000):   Enfys Estates are delighted to bring to the market a spacious three-bedroom, two reception room mid terrace house, For Sale with No Onwards Chain.    https://enfysestates.co.uk/property/winllan-avenue-llandudno-ll30/1122305/   Situated on the West Shore of Llandudno, close to all local amenities and transport links that Llandudno has to offer and within walking distance of spectacular beaches, the famous Victorian pier and easy access to the wonderful Great Orme. Being conveniently located, there really is something for everyone with this property.     In brief, the spacious accommodation comprises of- Entrance hallway, spacious lounge with bay window, dining room with storage cupboard with access to the combi boiler, fitted kitchen with space for a fridge/freezer and washing machine with plumbing, and access to the rear yard. To the first floor are two double bedrooms both with feature fireplaces and one si...
Read more

Join the Penrhyn Castle Dark Run 2025 – Light Up the Night for Hope House Children’s Hospices!

By Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025
Image
 *Pictured above - Gwennan Charlton and her family at the Penrhyn Castle event. Penrhyn Castle Dark Run Join the Penrhyn Castle Dark Run – Light Up the Night for Hope House Children’s Hospices! donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 Get ready for a magical evening at the stunning Penrhyn Castle as we light up the night for a truly special cause. The Dark Run is a family-friendly event in support of Hope House Children’s Hospices, offering a fun and unique 3K route (or 1.5K for little legs) through the beautiful castle grounds – all after dark!   October 18th 2025, 6pm Our warm up will begin at 6.10pm and at 6.30pm sharp we will start the run! Every participant will receive a bespoke glow-in-the-dark medal and a goody bag to remember the night. Dress up in your brightest, most glowing outfits (optional, but encouraged!) and help us bring light and hope to local families who need it most. We kindly ask each runner to raise as much as they can – every pe...
Read more

Join the Conwy Dark Run 2025 – Light Up the Night for Hope House Children’s Hospices!

By Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025
Image
*Pictured. above - flashback to a previous Conwy Dark Run for charity. Conwy Dark Run 2025. Join the Conwy Dark Run – Light Up the Night for Hope House Children’s Hospices! donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 Get ready for a magical evening at the Conwy Quay as we light up the night for a truly special cause. The Dark Run is a family-friendly event in support of Hope House Children’s Hospices, offering a fun and unique 4K route (or 2K for little legs) with the estuary backdrop – all after dark! October 25th 2025, 6pm.   https://www.hopehouse.org.uk/conwy-dark-run-2025 Our warm up will begin at 6.10pm and at 6.30pm sharp we will start the run! Every participant will receive a bespoke glow-in-the-dark medal and a goody bag to remember the night. Dress up in your brightest, most glowing outfits (optional, but encouraged!) and help us bring light and hope to local families who need it most. We kindly ask each runner to raise as much as they can – every pe...
Read more

Martin and Carla Green on top form at the Golden Ball 20-miler.

By Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025
Image
Martin and Carla (*pictured above) both won their age cats at the Golden Ball 20-mile race at Lancaster. Martin and Carla Green on top form at the Golden Ball 20-miler. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 Martin and Carla Green both won their respective veteran age categories at the Golden Ball 20-mile race on Sunday, which part of the Lancaster Races series of events. Now competing for  Meirionnydd RC , Martin was in fine form again, and he finished 5th overall and won his MV50 cat in a very good time of 1 hour 57 minutes and 54 seconds, with Carla, from  North Wales Road Runners , also winning her FV50 age cat in 46th place, and she was the fourth female finisher in 2.30.21. For Martin, this was his second race over the weekend after first competing for his club in the Mid Cheshire 5k race on Friday night, where he recorded another excellent time of just 16 minutes and 18 seconds.  After his 20-mile race on Sunday, Martin confirmed : “My biggest ever month...
Read more

Karl battled the elements to complete the tough ‘Ring of Fire’ race.

By Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025
Image
*Pictured above - Karl Morris on his ultra race along the Coastal Path. Karl battled the elements to complete the tough ‘Ring of Fire’ race...and well done to Martin Joy in his ultra race. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   North Wales Road Runner Karl Morris battled against heavy rain, gales, and a severe lack of sleep, to record a tremendous performance in the tough ultra ‘Ring of Fire’ race around the Anglesey Coastal Path last weekend. This is one of the most gruelling challenges in the country, and for this experienced endurance athlete, his demanding journey began at Holyhead’s Breakwater Park, and followed a continuous loop covering some 131 miles, and just over 11k elevation along the island’s picturesque coastal pathway. Karl’s determination to complete the course was evident by his overall race stats, with his family and friends able to watch and admire his progress online. He eventually finished well in 47th place out of 112 starters – and in an incredib...
Read more

North Wales parkrun results round-up - plus Kevin has a spin around Oulton Park!

By Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025
Image
* Veteran athletes Kay Hatton and Mike Hayton (*above) both won their respective age cats with good times at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun last Saturday. North Wales Parkun results round-up: plus Kevin Higgins in a spin at the Oulton Park race circuit. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 Good number of visitors, first-timers and PBs at NW parkruns. There were good numbers and numerous personal best times at most North Wales parkruns once again last weekend as hundreds of mixed ability athletes, including loads of visitors and first-timers, enjoyed the last of the summer events in the continued good weather.   *Penrhyn:   Ewan Brown  tore around the  Penrhyn Castle parkrun  last Saturday morning in an amazing new PB time of just 15 minutes and 49 seconds to additionally win his VM35 age cat. He was followed by  Nicolas Seguin  in 18.17, and  James Coleman  (Eryri Harriers) in 18.33. The first female finishers at Penrhyn included:  Mabli Bates ...
Read more