donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026

*Pictured above - Steve Gardner won a gold medal and set a new Welsh record in the 800m race during the Masters T&F Inter-Area meeting. New Golden Welsh record for Steve Gardner at the Masters Inter-area finals at Yate... Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk North Wales Road Runner Steve Gardner, who has represented Team GB at various track championships at home and abroad, claimed a great new PB, set a new Welsh record and struck gold in the 800m race at the Masters Inter-Area T&F championships at Yate. This time competing for  Welsh Masters Athletics , veteran Steve was one of nine top Welsh athletes who won their respective age categories at this prestigious event, and he also smashed the current Welsh MV60 cat, subject to ratification, after finishing second in his race in 2 minutes 15.34 seconds, and he was only just behind World record holder  Rob McHarg  of Scotland. *Pictured above right - S...

*The NWRRC relay runners are pictured on Llandudno prom before the start. Road Runners enjoyed the sun-drenched relay races on the prom. Report by Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com coastandcountry. blog   Members of North Wales Road Runners enjoyed a very warm and sun-drenched evening of annual summer relay races last Tuesday night on Llandudno promenade. The event which started and finished near the pier included six teams of mixed ability male and female athletes with each member running one of three varied distances along courses packed with visitors. The club relay championship was eventually won by Team 3, followed by Team 1, and then Team 5. The teams and finishing times in order of merit were as follows:   Team 3  – Gwen Charlton 5.14, Molly Evans 12.16, and Mal Preece 26.57.  Team 1:  Don Hale 5.23, Tony Gibson 13.11, and Will Evans 27.04.  Team 5:  Kevin Higgins 5.23, Richard Scamans 11.59, and Adam Lemalle 27.13. Team 2:  Helen Hannam 4....

*Pictured above - the NWRRC team at Caernarfon (l-r): Rob Fryer, Stuart Culverhouse, Steve Roberts, Gwen Charlton, Kay Hatton and Nia Lister. Hot and hilly at the Caernarfon 10k Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Lesley Goodson donhaleblog.blogspot.com coastandcountry.blog   It was hot and hilly last Sunday for nearly 300 elite and mainly club runners at the annual but rather challenging Caernarfon 10k race. Local outfit  Meirionnydd RC  celebrated some outstanding performances including the top four places for their six quality entries.  Dion Griffith  was the overall winner in a chip time of 31 minutes and 53 seconds and in fast finish, he was just five seconds ahead of club rival  Gavin Stuart  in 31.58, and  Tomos Roberts  third in 32.23; whilst  Ifan Dafydd  was hot on the heels of Tomos in fourth place in 33.26.  * Llio Jones  (Cybi Striders was the first female finisher in 40.03, with  Lydia Sharpe  se...

*Pictured above - the busy start at the Rhos on Sea parkrun. Visitors boosted the numbers at North Wales parkruns Report by Don Hale. Rhos photos by Michael (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com coastandcountry. blog It was perfect weather for the start of the school holidays, and at Rhos parkrun, as at most other North Wales events last Saturday, the superb conditions attracted a wealth of debutant runners, visitors and walkers. Local footballer  Aaron Dodwell  recorded a new course PB at the  Llandrillo yn Rhos  parkrun in just 16 minutes and 36 seconds, but visitor  Colin Latham  (Dragons RC Sale) gave chase all the way to finish in second place in 16.57, with promising JM1-14 athlete  Lucas Burgess  third with a new course PB in 17.25. *Gemma Moore  (Eryri Harriers) was the first female finisher with another outstanding performance in 18.18, and she was followed by  Emma Alofs  on her debut in 19.36, with  Alex Aldous...

James and the twins starred again at a busy Rhos parkrun - plus a results round up from other NW events. Report by Don Hale. Conwy photos by Michael (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   There was another bumper attendance at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun and at mist other NW parkruns last Saturday, with over 500 runners and walkers enjoying the warm sunshine and the picturesque 5k promenade course. The almost ever-present athlete and his twin buggy in  James Yarwood  (Wrexham AAC) - pictured right  - was the first finisher yet again at Rhos with a determined performance in just 17 minutes and 4 seconds, and he was only just ahead of  Mark Pemberton , who recorded a new course PB in 17.11, with JM15-17 athlete  Eben Jones  third in 17.52. The first female was well-known athlete  Laura McKenzie  (Betsi Runaways) in 64th place in 22.12, but it was a very close finish with Laura just one-second and one place ahead ...

  *Pictured above - prolific Northern Ireland  author  Eileen McCourt S pecial Coast and Country Author Spotlight Feature Welcome to a new author feature about  Eileen McCourt.   Report by Don Hale:  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   Eileen McCourt is a retired schoolteacher of English and History with a master’s degree in history from University College Dublin.  She is a prolific author, writer, and researcher, and she has now  completed  over 50 varied books which have all been published by the popular North Wales based company . Eileen lives in Northern Ireland, and her very first book ‘Living the Magic - Connecting the physical and spiritual worlds’ was published in 2014. It received much praise and numerous 5-star reviews.  Her books have also been featured by Amazon in America. This was the catalyst for her career as a spiritual author, with many books published to date. Her life is now devoted to he...

*Stuart Culverhouse (*right) ran well with Darren Dentith at Ruthin. Good results and keen competition at various North Wales parkruns...results round up... Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Some very good results including numerous personal best (PB) times at various parkruns across North Wales last weekend, with some keen competition for placings, particularly amongst the ladies, and well done to JW11 athlete Martha Brown at Nant y Pandy, who finished a close second overall, and the first female finisher in 19 minutes and 18 seconds.   *Conwy:   GOG Triathlon athlete  Simon Cole  was the first finisher at the  Conwy parkrun  with a very fast finish in just 16 minutes and 52 seconds, and  Elin Jones  took the first female finisher place with a new PB in 20.40. * North Wales Road Runners included  –  James Singleton  59th in 24.51, with master vet  Rob Fryer  84th in 26.38, and he also won his VM70 a...