North Wales duo completed the gruelling Sea to Summit Challenge.

By Don Hale


*Pictured above and below - Cheryl Frost and Kay Hatton


North Wales Road Running duo completed the gruelling Sea to Summit Challenge...

Report by Don Hale. 

donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025


Two top veteran female athletes from North Wales Road Runners completed the gruelling Sea to Summit Offa’s Dyke Challenge on Sunday.


This was a very demanding race for Welsh international, club colleagues and friends Cheryl Frost and Kay Hatton, as the event covered 14-miles and some 3,700ft of ascent, and took the pair 3 hours and 40 minutes!

After the event, Kay said: “Cheryl and I have just finished the Challenge. It was a race, but most of us either ran/walked as there were numerous steep gradients and was very muddy!” 

     
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

Hot, humid and very busy at Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun - plus other parkrun results

By Don Hale
Image
*Above and below - Ready for action - some of the hard working volunteers at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday morning. Hot, humid and very busy at Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael  (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026   The Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun proved to be the most popular North Wales event on a warm Saturday morning, which again attracted a host of runners and walkers from all over the UK, and even from Australia, including members from the 5k Your Way, Move Against Cancer group for their regular end of the month gathering. Nine out of the first twelve finishing places were taken by first time entrants with  Paul Jones ( Shrewsbury AC) the first athlete home, recording a new course PB in 16.38, and he was chased by newbies  Conor Davies  second in 16.56, and  Niall Simmonds  (Southampton AC) third in 17.53. And well done to  Iain Burgess,  who ran extremely well in 4th place, despite ...
Read more

Deganwy 5-mile Charity Dash proved a winner once again.

By Don Hale
Image
*Josh Keogh (*above left) who was the eventual race winner at Deganwy, is shown leading the pack with rival Martin Green along Conwy Cob. Deganwy 5-mile Charity Dash proved a winner once again. Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Michael (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   It was another hot and humid, but most enjoyable evening for the annual Deganwy Dash run on Friday night, which was staged over a scenic 5-mile course from the promenade to the RSPB Nature Reserve and back. Well-organised by the hard-working  John Hatton, Carla Green,  and their dedicated team of volunteers, this event attracted 343 finishers and helped to raise many thousands of pounds for children’s cancer charities, and for many other worthy causes. It was also good to see so many local running clubs well represented including members from Prestatyn RC, NWRRC, Denbigh Harriers, Colwyn Bay AAC, GOG Triathlon, Eryri Harriers, Cybi Striders, Porth Eirias Runners, Buckle...
Read more

Young Charlie Sheen’s remarkable fundraising efforts for Alder Hey Hospital.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above centre - young Charlie Sheen is the boxing champion. Charlie Sheen’s remarkable fundraising efforts for Alder Hey Hospital...completing an astonishing 75 mile challenge. Rebecca Lou reports on Charlie’s 75-mile challenge. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 At just 12 years old, local boxing sensation Charlie Sheen from Colwyn Bay is already building a reputation as one of the brightest young sporting talents in Wales. Representing Dyffryn ABC, Charlie has shown incredible dedication, discipline, and determination both inside and outside of the ring. Previously recognised by the Daily Post, Charlie completed an astonishing 75-mile fundraising challenge, raising an incredible £6,017 for Alder Hey Children’s hospital.  Now, Charlie’s boxing journey has reached another outstanding milestone. After competing at the prestigious Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff, Charlie has officially been crowned a 3x Welsh National Champion — winning national titles three years in a row...
Read more

Christmas cracker at the NWRRC handicap race...plus other race results.

By Don Hale
Image
*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...
Read more

Conwy parkrun under threat due to new proposals - SAVE CONWY PARKRUN GROUP FORMED.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - some of the new SAVE CONWY PARKUN group after their meeting last Saturday morning at the RSPB site at Conwy. *Blogstory about the SAVE CONWY PARKRUN campaign on the NWNW back page. Conwy parkrun under threat due to new proposals  Report by Don Hale https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   The future of Conwy parkrun is currently under threat after Welsh Parkrun officials have decided to impose new changes to this picturesque 5k course, which include plans for a different start area on Conwy Cob, with alternative car parking arrangements. This parkrun has been out of action for about twelve weeks due to construction work on part of the course for a multi-million-pound cycle track, but just as runners were preparing to re-start their activities, they have now been hit a series of interventions, restrictions, and demands on the event organisers by parkrun officials who have continued the suspension of this popular event. Just a few years ago however, this event was vo...
Read more

Promenade packed for a bumper bonanza at Rhos parkrun.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - popular sports coach, veteran athlete, and charity fundraiser John Hatton is presented with a special cake at Rhos parkrun by NWRRC club colleague Elizabeth Driscoll for his 400th stint as a volunteer at various venues. Promenade packed for a bumper bonanza at Rhos parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy  of Michael (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog *Above - the start of the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday. The warmer weather and the Bank Holiday weekend attracted another bumper attendance of over five-hundred runners and walkers to the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday morning. The event also recorded plenty of personal best times, and visitors from across the UK, who enjoyed this exciting flat, and picturesque promenade route, with the first three finishing places all going to first-timers. Jonathan Shaw  (Steel City Striders) was the first finisher overall and he was delighted with an excellent debut time...
Read more

English for Daily Conversation in Japan: Author Paul Stroud's being book promoted by Coast and Country online magazine

By Don Hale
Image
Special Coast and Country online magazine feature. coastandcountry.blog English for Daily Conversation:  Paul Stroud's latest books on AMAZON: Special Amazon deals:  *This is a link to all Paul Stroud's books on Amazon:   https://amzn.to/462ly6g donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 Paul Stroud is an English teacher in Japan and he has written numerous very interesting books about his life and work in Tokyo...and his passion for Japanese football... English for Daily Conversation: 50 topics and over 700 questions for conversation practice in the EFL classroom. About the author: Paul Stroud: My name is Paul Stroud, the author of the recently released EFL conversation text 'English for Daily Conversation', and the preceeding 'English Forum' series of materials for oral communication practice.  Additionally, I authored a couple of books on my experiences living and teaching for the past 20 years in the land of the rising sun titled 'Living in Japan: The Good, Bad, and ...
Read more

Proud moment for athletics coach John Hatton and a popular former midwife Sharon Buckley.

By Don Hale
Image
*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 ...
Read more

Public response to Conwy Parkrun's statement about recent behind the scenes activity.

By Don Hale
Image
Response to Conwy Parkrun's potentially controversial statement about the latest behind the scenes activities... Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com Following the statement issued by Conwy parkrun officials on Thursday afternoon, it would now seem that their comments have attracted widespread controversy, confusion and much anger, with many volunteers and regular runners and supporters, demanding to air their personal views in response. This feature contains some varied reactions etc:   *I have therefore included a link and a copy of the parkrun statement from 29/5/25 which appeared on my blog, and on the Conwy Parkrun’s Facebook page from yesterday. And in addition, I have also included – in the interests of fairness and accountability – the latest updated statement from Conwy parkrun officials, which seems to have attracted further controversy and debate, together with the pubic reaction:   *This is a link to the original statement on my blog from Conw...
Read more

NEW Word Search puzzle books by Val Crowson - Volumes 1 & 2 each of 100 puzzles now available on Amazon.

By Don Hale
Image
Special Coast and Country online magazine book reviews. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog NEW Search for the Words puzzle book by Val Crowson - Volumes 1 & 2 each of 100 puzzles now available on Amazon. Search for the Words Volume 1: A collection of 100 distinctive and individually created word searches just for you. Enjoy! By South African author and puzzle book creator Val Crowson.   This unique book is an interesting collection of 100 distinctive and individually created word searches. The Words can be found horizontally, vertically or backwards, but not diagonally. The letters that make up these words can be used more than once and can overlap. Circle the remaining letters to reveal the hidden answer in each puzzle.   *This is the link to the book now available on Amazon:   https://amzn.to/3RcI9ta   Search for the Words Volume 2: A collection of 100 distinctive and individually created Word Searches by author Val Crowson.   Another ...
Read more