Don Hale Blog

Special Coast and Country online magazine promotion. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Memoirs of the Banana Man: An Angler’s Recollections. By author Christopher Robert Willis.   This is the link to the Amazon paperback version:   https://amzn.to/4sjDpQz   For years now, I have harboured a secret wish to write a book documenting some of the many eventful days and experiences that have occurred throughout my angling life.  Due to work commitments and fishing however, I never really had the time to devote to it, but recently I found myself in a situation, through unforeseen circumstances, whereby I had a lot of time at my disposal, and it seemed the perfect time to fulfil my wish.  When it came to actually sitting down to begin writing I found myself a bit stumped as to where to start. I had such a multitude of memories, many of which lacked clarity.  Now and then a photo, or an old piece of tackle from the early days brought a day or a fish, long since f...

*Pictured above - the 'naked' athletes from North Wales Road Runners who took part in their festive handicap run last Sunday from Llandudno prom.  North Wales club runners enjoyed their windy ‘naked’ festive handicap run and annual prizegiving.. Report by Don Hale Photos by John Hatton. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Fifteen members from North Wales Road Running Club braved gale force winds and an extremely challenging 4.5-mile plus course to complete their festive handicap race on Sunday. The event started and finished by Llandudno Pier and travelled along the promenade before climbing up by the side of the Little Orme to the town’s ‘Welcome’ sign, then following an equally undulating route back home. This was not a first past-the-post race as such, with the handicap results based on the initial estimates from competing athletes on their predicted times for this race, against the actual finishing times. It also had the added restriction of being a ‘Naked Run,’ so n...

*Pictured above - a previous 10k start on the Goodwood Race Circuit. BMAF 10km championships - Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit at Chichester 1st February 2026. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 In its eighth year based at the Goodwood Motor Circuit, the 2024 race attracted a huge field of athletes, including some of the best masters athletes in each age group from across the UK.   We have already 63 entries for the BMAF 10k Championships to be promoted on Sunday 1st February 2026 at the Goodwood Motor Circuit, Chichester, Sussex.  Due to parking limitations at the venue, the event does have a strict entry limit.  Those 63 entries wanted to be the very first to enter before we announced there were only 600 race bibs left. The race organiser says they could all go before the end of the year.   So if you want to be part of a 5 Star competitive 10k experience on a traffic free fast course  please act fast.   We are awarding medals on this occasion based on chip timin...

SPECIAL AMAZON FESTIVE OFFERS ON GARMIN WATCHES...Top discounts available now. Order your festive GARMIN WATCHES NOW in time for Christmas - check the varied range of superb watches now available at SPECIAL discount prices on these unique links.  *Promoted by  Amazon in conjunction  by Coast and Country online magazine.    Email:  amazononlinebooks@btinternet.com   donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   *CLICK THE LINKS TO SEE BENEFIT FROM THE LATEST DISCOUNTED OFFERS...up to 30% discount on selected items.  Garmin Venu 3S GPS 41mm Smartwatch , AMOLED Touchscreen, All-day Advanced Health & Fitness Features, Voice Functionality, Music Storage, Wellness Smartwatch with up to 10 days battery life, French Grey.  800+ bought   in past month . AMAZON’S CHOICE. *£339.00 check SPECIAL offer details   https://amzn.to/4oPpU7Y Garmin Forerunner 55 GPS 42mm Running Smartwatch, Easy to use, Lightweight, Training Guidance, Safety & Trackin...

*Pictured above - Martin and Carla Green at Abingdon. North Wales couple celebrated great international marathon results...and an exclusive report about Martin Green's run. Report by Don Hale.  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   North Wales’ athletic couple Martin and Carla Green celebrated top marathon results last weekend whilst representing Wales in the Abingdon Marathon. The Welsh Master athlete   who is a member of  Meirionnydd RC  finished in 10th place overall and celebrated a great run in 2 hrs 36 mins and 26 seconds and also won his VM50 age cat. Martin later shared his joy with his wife and fellow star runner  Carla Green (NWRRC), was also in top form on the day, and she too was pleased with another good result in 3 hrs 23 mins. https://www.facebook.com/abingdonmarathon *Martin Green is shown above with the leading pack at Abingdon and (*below) the Welsh Masters team ready for the Marathon. After the run Martin exclusively confirmed:   “ Another...

*Emily Carr (*above left) with Sarah  Corkish-Brown - at the Bodreinallt Surgery at Castle Street in Conwy, where they are preparing for their epic charity trek. Conwy surgery duo all set for a hot 100k Sahara Desert Trek for St David’s Hospice... Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Two daring  members of the Bodreinallt doctors’ surgery team at Conwy are busy preparing to take part in an amazing Sahara Desert Charity  Trek, which is a gruelling 100k event across the hot Sahara Desert in just 5 days, to help raise funds for St David’s Hospice. Practice manager  Sarah Corkish-Brown and Practice Nurse Emily Carr  have signed up for this huge undertaking, which is scheduled to take place in Morocco between  1st-8th  November. The event organisers claim entrants can ‘r ediscover true adventure in the awe-inspiring Sahara Desert.’ The five-day trek covers 100km passing through Morocco’s forbidding landscape punctuated by peaks...

*Tristan Owen (above) a director at Tom  Owen and Son. Tom Owen and Son Funeral Director - FREE Bereavement  COFFEE CONNECTION MORNING IN LLANDUDNO AND COLWYN BAY.   donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 https://www.facebook.com/tomowenandson The Coffee Connection: Colwyn Bay & Llandudno: We know that grief can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone.  Join us for one of our Bereavement Coffee Connection Mornings in either Colwyn Bay or in Llandudno. Tom Owen and Son offer a special invitation to their Coffee Connection. This is an informal gathering for those who have been bereaved or feel isolated, who want to meet others for coffee (or tea), and a chat. Talk is FREE, and one coffee or tea is on us. It is a supportive space to share experiences (or just listen), meet others who understand, and enjoy a cup of coffee in good company.  Everyone is welcome – whether you’ve experienced a loss recently or some time ago. If you’d like more information, pl...

 *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...

*Ben and Sarah Hudson - pictured above - at the 70-mile Wall challenge. Ben and Sarah beat ‘The Wall’ and the weather to complete their 70-mile challenge...plus results from the Salomon Trail half-marathon. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com Road Running couple Ben and Sarah Hudson beat ‘The Wall’ and the weather last weekend to complete a gruelling 70-mile ultra-marathon challenge from Carlisle to Gateshead, which covered some of the most spectacular, but difficult courses in the country. This dynamic duo, who are certainly no strangers to ultra events, began their efforts in the early hours of Saturday morning and eventually finished some 16-hours later.   The NWRRC pair ran together throughout the event, which included a tough journey via several notable north-eastern landmarks including Lanercost Priory, Walltown Quarry, The Sill, Hexham, and Newburn, before eventually crossing the finish line at Gateshead. The organisers claimed it was the UK’s most iconic ul...