donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026

Newport Harriers members shine at the recent Welsh T&F championships at Yate. Introduction by Don Hale. Photos and results courtesy of Newport Harriers. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Well done to all at Newport Harriers following some great performances at the recent Welsh Masters Athletics track and field championships at Yate. This a summary of some of their outstanding club results courtesy of  Newport Harriers Athletic Club Welsh Master Champs, Yate 28th June. Another day where our Master athletes continue to inspire us. We had a good representation in Yate - well done to everyone who competed.    If you’re over 35 please feel free to get in touch and we will put you in touch   W&M35 Lisa B HT =age Pb, Shot  Mark B HT, shot  Matt HK 100m PB, 200m PB W&M40  Eleri J 100m PB, 200m  Rhiannon J 200m PB, 400m PB, LJ  Naomi H 3k age PB, 5k  Samson C 100m, 200m  Dean J 1500m, 3k  M50   Ia...

*Helen Hannam takes time out to relax after completing another Race 4 Life. Race 4 Life runners raise welcome funds for Cancer Charities Well done to all the local runners who took part in the recent Race 4 Life 5k and 10k races for important Cancer Charities. The latest event was held in Rhyl on a very breezy weekend. This is just a brief mention of some of the many competitors and charity fundraising entrants who took part at Rhyl. Intro by Don Hale.   donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   *NWRRC member Helen Hannam - pictured right - said:  “My third Race 4 Life 2026 in Rhyl marks my 8th  Year of Smashing Races to Smash Cancer. Very happy that I managed to run it all, but my injury seems to be ok now. Thank you as always to chauffeur and photographer extraordinaire Lee.  Very happy with my sub 30 minutes for 5k after my injury, in 29.32.” https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/.../helens-race...   *Josie Davies:   “ All done and dust...

*Pictured above - Chris Spillane and Steve Poupart at the running workshop. 'Guild Running Workshop' organised along Colwyn Bay promenade. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog North Wales athletics coaches Tony Price Jones, Jonathan Kettle and Hayley Price Jones, organised a 'Guild Running Workshop' recently in cooperation with Welsh Athletics along Colwyn Bay promenade. Tony confirmed:  “We were able to put fifteen new people through the course to help with Dalzell Runners, and also at Rhos, and at other local parkruns, and to be able to offer more Guilds opportunities. “The course was 500m, and I managed to get the entire course fees covered by some fantastic sponsors, including FatFace , who were the largest sponsor, but also many thanks to Chris Spillane and Co .” And praise should be given to athlete Jasper Mcqueen, from Porth Eirias Runners, who has also organised some previous Guild Running workshops.    *Above some volunteers and coaches in action ...

Artist Elizabeth Haines’s exciting new ‘Thin Places’ exhibition in Fishguard...14th July until 29th August 2026. Special Coast and Country online art feature. coastandcountry.blog donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 *Pictured above and below - some of Elizabeth's paintings in the Peppers Gallery. The much-admired Pembrokeshire artist Elizabeth Haines will be staging an exhibition of her latest and exciting paintings from Tuesday 14th July at Peppers in West Street, Fishguard until 29th August. This week Elizabeth confirmed:   This is to let you know about my forthcoming exhibition at  Peppers (West Wales Arts Centre) in Fishguard.  The theme is  Thin Places:  a term rooted in ancient belief, but referring to any physical location where the boundary between the mundane world and the divine or spiritual realm is felt to be especially permeable. It’s often used to describe sacred sites, perhaps associated with ancient ritual, or areas of great natural beauty. In a ‘thin ...

Repeat performance by one man and his child buggy at Rhos parkrun - plus NW results round-up. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael (Pat) Finnie, and others. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   It was very warm and very breezy for hundreds of runners and walkers at all North Wales parkruns last weekend, and the Llandrillo yn Rhos 5k event attracted another bumper attendance, where James Yarwood (*pictured right) once again finished first in 17.47, accompanied by his young twins in a child buggy! The Wrexham AAC runner was chased all the way though by young  Joe Culverhouse  (NWRRC), a talented soccer player and junior referee, who won his JM15-17 age cat with a determined effort in 18.19, with  Gemma Moore  (Eryri Harriers) the first female, and in third place overall in 18.30.  Abbie Robinson  was the second female in 21.30, with  Bethan Parry  third with a new course PB in 22.23.  *There were 468 finishers at Rhos. * N...

*Master veteran Kevin Slattery on the last lap of his final 5k race. Triathlon sprint success for veteran Kevin and GOG members Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   Master veteran Kevin Slattery, the chairman of North Wales Road Runners, won his VM70 age category at the prestigious Llandudno Open Sprint Triathlon championships staged recently from the town’s promenade. Despite very warm and blustery conditions, which included a tough swim, bike, and a 5k run, with the swim slightly reduced due to the challenging conditions - and a cycle race twice around the Great Orme - Kevin eventually triumphed to huge acclaim after finishing his two-lap run in a very good time! Following his event, Kevin, who is pictured right - he modestly confirmed:  “It was a well-managed event in good conditions, although windy in places, and great support from spectators.  “It included a 500m swim (reduced from 750 because of the wind) 14.06; twice around the G...

*Pictured above - some of the NWRRC members at the Felinheli 10k - (l-r): Will Evans, Stuart Culverhouse, Hannah Griffith, Adam Lemalle, Steve Roberts and Kevin Slattery. A close finish at the blustery Felinheli 10k race in midweek   donhaleblog.blog.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   It was very warm and windy for the challenging Felinheli 10k race in midweek, with three members of Meirionnydd RC finishing within the top four places overall. Tomos Roberts  and team-mate  Daniel Kashi  actually shared the exact same finishing chip times of 32 minutes and 21 seconds in a very close-run contest, with  Ifan Dafydd  claiming fourth place in 33.41; whilst in between the club rivals, was the promising youngster  Noa Vaughan,  who finished third in 32.53. In addition, there some excellent performances by many of the top ten finishers including  Steffan Sayer  (Menai T&F) in sixth place in 34.57, and from  Ian Edwards  (Eryri Har...

*Sean and Steve McCormack both won gold medals in the same race. Medal and PB success at the Welsh track & field championships at Yate Report by Don Hale, with input from Brett Davis and Steve Gardner. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   There was a good turn-out and plenty of medal success and PBs at the recent Welsh Masters Athletics track and field championships staged at Yate on 28th June. This prestigious event attracted nearly 500 Masters in total from a variety of clubs across the UK for a highly competitive national encounter, which again included the Welsh finals. And we are fortunate to have some excusive reports from a unique race in which a father and son both won gold medals, and some extraordinary news of an unfortunate mistake where a controversial lap counter failed, yet the athlete in question still won a silver medal; and in in contrast, a report from an international track champion who struck gold in two track events. Welsh Masters Athletics ...

*Pictured above - the three leading athletes at Rhos parkrun. Bright, breezy and plenty of visitors at North Wales parkruns. Report by Don Hale.  Photos by Michael (Pat) Finnie, Garteth Southworth and others. coastandcountry.blog donhaleblog,blogspot.com/2026   There were plenty of visitors at the bright and breezy Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun including - two out of the first three male finishers, and the third placed female athlete - all making their course debuts. Adam Jones  was the eventual first and fast finisher with an amazing new course PB of 15.42, but he seemed to run side by side for much of the event with visiting rivals  Daniel Kashi  (Sale Harriers) and  Gavin Thomas Stuart,  who later shared the same finishing times of 15.45.  *Gemma Moore  (Eryri Harriers) fresh from her midweek record-breaking success at the  Mish Mash 5k , was the first female finisher in 18.26 (10th overall), with  Ellen Baugh  (Denbigh Harrier...