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

Landmark 10,000th runner at the new Rhos on Sea parkrun - plus other results round-up

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above (l-r): Rhos Run Directors' Chris Spillane, Sharon Hughes and Richard Peevor with the amazing 10,000th parkrun landmark certificate, and (*below) the commemorative golden token.  Landmark 10,000th runner at the new Rhos on Sea parkrun - plus other results round-up... Report by Don Hale. Rhos photos by John Hatton, and Conwy by Michael Finnie. coastandcountry.blog donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 It was another fun-packed occasion at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday morning in perfect conditions where local athlete Darren Dentith became the 10,000th person to complete this spectacular promenade course in just twenty-three events. Backed by another massive attendance with some 439 finishers including a generous assortment of elite, club, social runners and walkers, the celebrations were enhanced by a large group of supporters and participants from the  5k Your Way, Move Against Cancer group. The outstanding and rapid success of this popular seaside event ...
Read more

Double boost for Welsh Master Steve Gardner with two new international Team GB dates for Sprint Duathlons in 2027.

By Don Hale
Image
*Steve Gardner - pictured above and below - at the British Champs where he was representing Tim Tri Cymru. Double boost for Welsh Master  Steve  Gardner with two new international Team GB dates for Sprint Duathlons in 2027. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Welsh Master and track star Steve Gardner has just been selected to represent Team Great Britain in his MV60 age category at two major international Sprint Duathlon Championships during next year following his success at some prestigious recent events. This week, he confirmed:  “It’s been an exceptionally good few weeks lately. Within the last half hour, I have received an email confirming that I have qualified to represent Great Britain - age group team in the World Sprint Duathlon Championships in Edmonton Canada 2027 following my performance at the British Sprint Duathlon Champs at Oulton Park recently.  “And just seven days earlier, after winning the V60 age group at the Scottish Sprint Duathl...
Read more

Ben and Sarah on track at the Bath and Bristol Railway 10k Race

By Don Hale
Image
Ben and Sarah (*pictured above)  and on track at the Bath and Bristol Railway 10k Race. Report by Don Hale coastandcountry.blog donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026   Road Runners Ben and Sarah Hudson were on track for success at the Bath and Bristol Railway 10k race last weekend, the day after also taking part in the Kingsway parkrun at Gloucester. Following her run on Sunday, Sarah confirmed: “ Fun weekend back in the Shire for my brothers 50th, and of course we had to sneak in some running…at the lovely Kingsway parkrun in Gloucester on Saturday, and then a cheeky little 10k with Relish the Great Outdoors  on Sunday. “We stuck to the 10k this time, but it’s a great route and there were lots of distances available. Ben was 34th overall and 8th in his age category in 43.52. I was the 12th lady out of 237, and 2nd in my age category in 49.29, so well chuffed.  “We made our debuts at the Kingsway parkrun in Gloucester on Saturday, which was a great little course. Ben was 21s...
Read more

Good mix of varied ability athletes at a busy Rhos parkrun - plus NW results round up...

By Don Hale
Image
Good mix of varied ability athletes at a busy Rhos parkrun - plus NW results round up... Report by Don Hale. Conwy photos by Micheal Finnie. * *Steve Gardner is pictured right. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   It proved to be another bumper turn-out at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday with a generous mix of top junior and senior club runners, plus numerous first timers, social runners and walkers. Six out of the first ten finishers at  Rhos  were debutants, including many talented youngsters, all testing their paces against each other.  Surprisingly though, in a sprint finish, VM35 athlete  Aled Hughes  (GOG Triathlon) eventually claimed the top spot with a new course PB in 17 minutes and 11 seconds, whilst JM11-14 youngster  Finlay Potter  (Warriors Pentathlon & AC) finished just two-seconds behind Aled in 17.13, and  Craig Connor  (Chester Tri-Club) took the third spot, and he was only another f...
Read more

Trawsfynydd Lake race supported the South Snowdonia Mountain Rescue Team.

By Don Hale
Image
    *Pictured above - Jonathan Kettle (NWRRC) received his MV50 age cat award. Trawsfynydd Lake race in support the South Snowdonia Mountain Rescue Team. Report by Don Hale. Lake photos by John Hatton. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   Over two hundred athletes helped to raise thousands of pounds for the South Snowdon Mountain Rescue team on Sunday by competing in the North Wales SSSART Trawsfynydd 8.5-mile race around the Lake. This popular annual event combined a challenging, undulating, yet picturesque road and trail course through the (Eryri) Snowdonia National Park from near Blaenau, Ffestiniog, and attracted numerous experienced fell and trail runners from across the UK.   *The first finisher at the Snowdonia multi-terrain race was Stefan Sayer (Menai T&F) pictured left, with the first female athlete Lydia Sharpe, and Carla Green (NWRRC) Steffan Sayer  (Menai Track & Field) was the first finisher overall after recording an excell...
Read more

Fast runners dazzled in the sun at Llandrillo yn Rhos...plus NW parkrun round-up

By Don Hale
Image
*Rhos run director Dougie Graham at the front with some of the volunteers Fast runners dazzled in the sun at Llandrillo yn Rhos..plus some other NW parkrun results. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026   The bright sunny weather and a fast course attracted plenty of top club athletes to the Llandrillo yn Rhos 5k parkrun last Saturday with five out of the first six finishers all recording times of under 18 minutes! James Yarwood  (Wrexham AAC) was the first finisher overall with a new course PB of 16 minutes and 29 seconds, with visitor  Armon Williams  second in 17.17,  Gareth Griffith  third in 17.27, and veteran  Martin Green  (Meirionnydd RC) a narrow fourth in 17.36. It was a similar story for the ladies with  Beatrice Cordingley  (Sale Harriers) taking the first female spot with an excellent run, and a new course PB in 20.00 (18th overall), with visitor  Lizzie Slater  (South Che...
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

Coast and Country magazine promotes THE RUNNING BUG VIRTUAL RACES

By Don Hale
Image
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...
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

Good results for NW marathon runners

By Don Hale
Image
Good results for NW marathon runners   Picture right - Mal Preece from NWRRC ran  well  at the Boston marathon. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 North Wales Road Runner Mal Preece competed in the Boston Marathon last weekend, and despite a gruelling race and some very windy conditions, he finished just a few seconds away from recording a great new course PB. After the event he confirmed:  “Very tough and windy conditions, 40/50mph headwinds, but pleased with the time. Just 23 seconds away from my PB of 3:22:27!  Definitely a fast course with the right conditions. I’ll be signing up again for next year.” *On returning home, Mal later took part in the  Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun  on Saturday finishing in 117th place in 26.08. Cheryl Smashed her previous marathon PB. *Cheryl Frost (*pictured left) from NWRRC smashed her previous personal best time at the Newport Marathon on Sunday with a determined run in 3 hours 46 minutes and 20 seconds despite suffering f...
Read more