Please support SPORT in Conwy...John Hatton appeals for urgent support for top sports event

By Don Hale


*John Hatton above - with Dame Laura Kenny - at last year's awards.

Please support SPORT in Conwy... 

John Hatton appeals for urgent support for top sports event... special report by Don Hale.

donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026

coastandcountry.blog

The well-known, award-winning athletics coach and charity fundraiser John Hatton is appealing for urgent help and new ideas to both save and support Sport Conwy.


With all the current cost of living problems to contend with, and a succession of funding reductions, especially in relation to sport, he has come up with an innovative idea that might appeal to local businesses, support groups, and community organisations to help keep Sport Conwy going!


John explained: “I am on the committee for Sport Conwy, and we have been supporting local sports for 30 years, this year. However, financial cutbacks and grants that we usually apply for have been dramatically cut, I have come up with a new scheme to fill our void in finances, and to help maintain this service to clubs and individuals. 


"The idea is for 50 companies in Conwy County to donate £100 per year, which will cover our short fall in finances. We are all volunteers, and I am desperate to keep Sport Conwy operating, and I would appreciate any help or support that you people can think of.


*See John's attached leaflet below: If you can help please contact:

hattonjohnd@gmail.com

caroline.jones@conwy.gov.uk


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

Most recent posts

Eryri Marathon weather problems provided a boost for parkruns

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - the start of the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun. Marathon weather problems provided a boost for parkruns. Report by Don Hale. Rhos photos by Michael (Pat) Finnie. The amazing sunrise picture at Rhos parkrun was taken by run director Dougie Graham. donhaleblog.blogspot.com coastandcountry.blog News of the exceptional but necessary weather postponement of the popular Eryri Marathon on Friday provided an unexpected boost to many North Wales parkruns, during a slight, but welcome window of opportunity on Saturday morning. Conwy and Llandrillo yn Rhos parkruns were two fine examples of extra interest due to storm forecasts, with both venues reporting hundreds of visiting athletes from around the UK to the start of their respective events from runners and their supporters, who had already made and paid for their marathon travel plans. The first three finishers at Rhos were all visitors and indeed seven out of the first ten were quality debutants, providing some very fast times ...
Read more

North Wales athletes and officials celebrated at the Welsh Athletics awards night

By Don Hale
Image
  *Pictured above left - Bernie Jones the new President of Welsh Athletics with the outgoing President Graham Finlayson. WELSH ATHLETICS AWARDS NIGHT. Several North Wales athletes and officials celebrated at the Welsh Athletics awards night this week.  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Kay Hatton  from the N.W.R.A.C said: “It was a successful evening at the WA wards, and congratulations  to  John Mussum  - WA Coach of the Year, and to  Menai Track & Field  - WA Club of the Year; and to  St Asaph City Striders , who were awarded  Run Wales Group of the Year.  “At the WA AGM earlier in the day  Bernie Jones  was appointed WA President, and  Ann Lewis and Sharon Wyn Owen  will receive the WA Meritorious Award. Well-deserved and well done to everyone.”  The new President Bernie Jones later confirmed: 'Proud and humbled to be made President of Welsh Athletics yesterday receiving the chai...
Read more

BMAF Indoor Track Fixtures 2027

By Don Hale
Image
BMAF Indoor Track Fixtures 2027 Three Great British 2027 winter events organised by the British Masters Athletics Federation In Wales, Scotland, and England, in that order. Wales - Indoors in January Indoor Pentathlon, 3000m and Open Events will take place on Saturday 23rd January 2027 at National Indoor Athletics Centre, Cardiff Scotland - Indoors in February Indoor Championships will take place on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st February 2027 at Glasgow International Arena England - Outdoors in March Winter Throws will take place on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th March 2027 at Horspath, Oxford Keep checking our fixtures page for more details as they emerge.  https://bmaf.org.uk/fixtures/ Thanks to Wendy Kane for giving us plenty of advance notice.
Read more

Conwy parkrun celebrated its 500th event in style - plus results round-up

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above left - Iain Burgess leads the way towards the finish at Conwy parkrun's 500th event on Saturday. Conwy parkrun celebrated its 500th event in style. *The start of Conwy parkrun at the RSPB Nature Reserve. Conwy parkrun commemorated their 500th parkrun event last Saturday morning with a bumper attendance backed by a host of visiting club and social members and followed by cake and celebrations. There was a generous turn-out from Porth Eirias Runners, St Asaph City Striders, GOG Triathlon, NWRRC and many other locals clubs, and it was good to record that talented local athlete  Iain Burgess  was the first man home in 18 minutes and 20 seconds. Iain was quickly followed by debutant  Jacob Andrews  in 18.30, and fellow newcomer  Owen McCarthy  in 18.45. The first female was another local athlete (4th overall) in  Anna Drinkwater  (Eryri Harriers) in 18.52, with  Suzy Overton  (Lindley RC) second with a new course PB in 21.44, ...
Read more

North Wales runners in America and on Sunshine Beach in Japan

By Don Hale
Image
*GOG Triathlon members John and Michelle Farrell in Atlanta.   North Wales runners in America and Japan donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog *AMERICA:  Just a week or so after competing in the  Pisa half marathon  race in Italy, the popular and Internationally acclaimed GOG Triathlon couple  John and Michelle Farrell  went globe-trotting yet again, this time to Atlanta, USA, to take part in the  Northside Belting parkrun  during a short break, with Michelle claiming the first female spot in a time of 23.44. John later admitted:   " On our travels again, on the way to Miami, Michelle convinced me to stop off at Atlanta to do a parkrun! Brilliant route and lovely people and we even met fellow Welsh travellers as well as the bother of a friend of Michelle’s! You couldn’t write it! Last week Pisa, this week Atlanta! Oh and Chelle was First Lady lol" *Nia Lister is pictured above with fellow parkrunners near Kyoto in Japan. Japanese ...
Read more

Llandudno Urban Night race success despite the rain

By Don Hale
Image
  *Pictured above - Llandudno Urban Night Race official Gwen Charlton.  Llandudno Urban Night Race success despite the rain Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com coastandcountry.blog   The recent Llandudno Urban Night Race attracted a good number of mixed ability male, female and junior orienteers to this event despite the rain, and this was the first of an exciting new series of similar races planned for many North Wales towns this winter. There was keen competition for honours in Llandudno, and the overall senior male winner was  Michael Corrales (*pictured below right),  a top fell and mountain runner with 970 points, and in second place was  Thomas Prebble  with 860 pts, with  Paddy Walsh  a close third with 840 pts. Jenny Williamson  was the female winner with 830 points, with  Debbie Morgan  a close second with 820 pts, and  Sarah Barnwell  third with 740 pts.  * The top three juniors included : Firs...
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

Carla Green beat Tyson Fury to the punch with a great victory at Tatton Park 10k race.

By Don Hale
Image
*Carla Green (*pictured above) enjoyed a great win at Tatton Park. Carla Green beat Tyson Fury to the punch with a great victory at Tatton Park 10k race. Report by Don Hale.   North Wales Road Runner Carla Green stormed home to claim the prestigious 1st female prize at the Tatton Park 10k last Saturday and finished almost a minute and a half ahead of her nearest rival – and over eleven minutes ahead of World heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury! Carla, who battled with injury problems last season, put in a gritty, and determined performance in very wet and rainy conditions around this spectacular course, and was delighted by her win and her VW50 age category victory in a fast time of 41 minutes and 9 seconds. She finished 23rd overall and didn’t pull any punches, competing against some 550 quality entrants, which included the World heavyweight champion  Tyson Fury , who is 6 feet 9 inches tall, and weighs about 19 stone, together with his boxing brother  Tommy . The cel...
Read more

Fast times and big numbers in both the Abergele 5k and 10k races

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - some North Wales Road Runners at the start of the 5k and 10k races at Abergele. (left to right): Kevin Slattery, Rob Fryer, Jenny Appleton, and Karen Butler. Fast times and big numbers in both the Abergele 5k and 10k races... Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   Nearly six hundred elite, club, and social runners competed in the Abergele 5k and 10k races on Sunday with many recording some very fast chip times in near perfect weather conditions along the promenade. And quite a number of entrants remarkably took part in both events, and in the earlier 5k race with 196 entrants, this was won by  Ed Slaughter  (Swansea Harriers) in just 15 minutes and 19 seconds, with  Andrew Moore  (Bangor University AC) second in 16.27, and  Aaron Dodwell  a very close third in 16.28.  The first female finisher was  Elinor Mattey  (Parc Bryn Bach RC) in 18.13, with  Hannah Thomas  (Maldwyn Harr...
Read more

The amazing story of UK runner and doctor Sam Allen, and his recollections and photos, as a first responder at 9/11 Ground Zero

By Don Hale
Image
  9/11: How an English doctor, returning from an Amazonian adventure, was caught up in the events of 9/11. The amazing story of UK runner and doctor Sam Allen and his recollections  and photographs as a first responder at 9/11 Ground Zero. * Check out this list An incredible true story from an unexpected first responder at Ground Zero from SPECIAL AMAZON OFFERS - Coast and Country online magazine https://amzn.eu/d/0aenc5sJ #amazonfinds via @Amazon * Pictured above - the horrific scene at Ground Zero in New York. Introduction by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog N EW 9/11 BOOK BY SAM ALLEN MD:   This is the true tale of two distant members of the same family who were brought together through the audacious terrorist attack on New York’s Twin Towers on what became known as 9/11. *Published by North Wales firm  Coast and Country  and now available on Amazon. 9/11: How an English doctor, returning from an Amazonian adventure, was c...
Read more