Don Hale Blog

 *Pictured above - Black Cloak Runners at the Amsterdam Marathon with Helen Hannam (*front row - far left - and birthday girl Nia Lister - third from left front row. Black Cloak Runners' group enjoyed a birthday bash at the Amsterdam Marathon... Report by Don Hale.  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   A large group of North Wales athletes together with family members and supporters travelled to Amsterdam last weekend to compete in their annual marathon. The idea started almost a challenge, as sixteen members of  Black Cloak Runners  from Colwyn Bay suddenly had an idea to help celebrate member Nia Lister’s birthday, so they decided to do something completely different, and opt for an overseas marathon debut adventure. *Birthday celebrations  for Nia Lister (*above left) with Helen Hannam. One of the birthday bash organisers Helen Hannam explained: “ We wanted to help Nia run her first marathon on her birthday, so sixteen of us from Black Cloak Runners went to ...

BUSTER CRABB - Ian Fleming's favourite Spy, and the real inspiration for JAMES BOND - promoted by Coast and Country online magazine. This is the Amazon link to the book:   https://amzn.to/4mTMhJf LIONEL 'BUSTER' CRABB was a drinker, a gambler, a womaniser and a lover of fast cars and gadgets. On top of all that, he was a spy, an acquaintance of Ian Fleming and the inspiration for James Bond. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 This latest book,  BUSTER CRABB , published by the History Press, this is the fascinating story of Buster Crabb, the naval spy who disappeared in bizarre circumstances in 1956. Entitled -  Buster Crabb - Ian Fleming's favourite spy and the inspiration for James Bond,  was released in Spring 2020 - originally to coincide with the launch of the new Bond film - which was later delayed due to the Covid-19 restrictions.    * Ian Fleming (*right) and above the front cover of this new and exciting spy story. A British naval frogman and bomb dispos...

*Some of the award winners from the NW Junior Mountain Running Championships. A special race report courtesy of event organiser Mike Blake on the recent North Wales Junior Mountain Running Champs... donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 High winds, road closures and an overhead power cable breakage close to the start/finish area resulting in, no electric in the summit complex and moving the u/17 and19 starts, did not prevent 3 records being broken in the North Wales Junior Mountain Running Championships on the Great Orme at Llandudno, a nd all by the young ladies!  The first record to go was to Enya Maguire , 18 sec in the U 11 girls, next was Daisy McVicar, 2nd o/a out of 21 and 30 sec in the U 13'S. last but not least was Lola Corrales, whose father Michael Low Corrales Mills, best known for his 5 victories in the Tryfan Dash, took 2 sec off the U 9 girls time.  Big thanks to all those who helped especially Ann and Sharo n for coping with my scribbles, to Ron Jones for once again...

New USEFUL TOOLS PAGE by Welsh Masters Athletics. Introduction by Don Hale.  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 *This is the link to the additions and to the main website:   https://www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk/useful-tools Welsh Masters Athletics Ltd have just updated their website and Facebook page to include details about a brand new USEFUL TOOLS PAGE. Created by the organisation's webmaster expert and award winning sprinter Juliet Sidney . This now includes some very interesting facts and links about AGE GRADING, BAF LAWS & RULES, A WIND CORRECTION CALCULATOR, RACE PREDICTOR FOR 3K PLUS, AND SPRINT CONVERSION TIMES. Juliet confirmed this week: "Hi all this page is now live after setting up a useful tools page.  It's very simple, but let us know if you use any better tools for the same thing, or if you have any other additional tools that you would like to see." www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk *This is the link to the additions and to the main website:   https:/...

*Pictured above - Steve Mason - who was the first NWRRC member home. Hot pace despite a bitterly cold morning at Conwy parkrun. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com It was a very cold start for the first Conwy parkrun of 2025 as 247 mixed ability athletes tackled the puddle-filled, but picturesque 5k course, from the RSPB Nature Reserve last Saturday morning. Despite the freezing temperatures,  Iain Burgess  set a very hot pace as the 1st finisher in just 18 minutes and 36 seconds to win his VM35 age cat, and he was some 36-seconds ahead of his nearest rival, VM40  Richard Wilyman (GOG Triathlon), in 19.08, with SM25  Aaron Jones  3rd in 19.49. Llio Owen  was the 1st female finisher with a new PB of 21.23, and she won her SW20 age cat (13th overall), with VW40 athlete  Vicky Cole  (GOG Triathlon), 2nd (19th overall) with a fine run in 22.05, and VW35  Emma Stanley  claimed the 3rd place, (21st overall) in 22.15. North Wal...

*Pictured above - Australian author Joy Bloomis. Special Coast and Country Author Spotlight Feature Welcome to another new author feature in conjunction with Amazon.   ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Australian author - Joy Bloumis:  The Storms You Walk Through: A Memoir of Roza Hamer.   *This book is now available on Amazon:  https://amzn.to/4i3Sctq ALSO available an ebook:  https://amzn.to/4eIhnie **STOP PRESS: It is now available on: Audible.com, and on Amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F5HTCWM7 https://www.audible.com/pd/B0F5HRHHCW Published by North Wales based firm :   www.bookpublishing4u.co.uk   Exclusive report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Occasionally, within my role as a journalist, author, and general nosey parker, I come across certain individuals who have a remarkable background and an amazing story to tell.  Octogenarian Joy Bloumis, from Victoria, in Australia, is one such person, who has just published an incr...

*Pictured above - super vet Sandy Johnston set a new record. Super vet Sandy Johnston set a new record at the Helena Tipping 10k at Wrexham. Report by Don Hale https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   *Pictured above - some of the NWRRC team at the Helena Tipping 10k race. It was a good turn-out at the Helena Tipping 10k race at Wrexham last Sunday with fifteen North Wales Road Runners in action, and they claimed four prestigious podium places Super veteran  Sandy Johnston  was perhaps the pick of the pack this week after winning his MV75 age cat with another outstanding display and a remarkable chip time of just 46 minutes and 18 seconds, finishing in 226th place out of nearly 700 entrants.  And Sandy’s time also set a new North Wales Regional record, taking 14-seconds off Emyr Davies’ previous best of 46.32, set in Caernarfon in 2019. Young  Harry Driscoll  actually led the team home in 78th place in 37.32, with  Carla Green...

*Harry Driscoll (*above), finished well  in 3rd place at Conwy. Five age cat wins for the Road Runners at a blustery Conwy parkrun...plus other parkrun results. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Eighteen North Wales Road Runners took part in the Conwy parkrun last Saturday amidst a good mix of club and social entrants, and recorded five age category wins on a bright, sunny, but cool and blustery morning. Martin Green  continued his superb form, and he was the outstanding and runaway first parkrun finisher with a fast time of just 18 minutes and eight seconds, to win his VM45 age cat.  Harry Driscoll  was also on fire again, and he claimed 3rd place, and won his SM20 cat in 19.38, whilst  Carla Green  made it a hat-trick of early placing age cat victories, finishing 9th, and the 2nd female athlete in 20.35, to additionally win her VW50 age cat. Adam Lemalle  was 16th in 21.26, and 2nd in his VM40...

*North Wales Road Running members are pictured (*above), just before the start of the 5k NW championship race at Llanrug in midweek. *Photo  courtesy  of John  Hatton. Eleven 5k NW championship medals for the Road Runners at Llanrug in midweek. Report by Don Hale. Photos from Llanrug courtesy  of Lesley Goodson. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk North Wales Road Runners (NWRRC) celebrated an exciting midweek 5k race at Llanrug last Wednesday night with eleven podium places in the NW championships, and collected four gold medals, four silver, and three bronze, with some fast times recorded! A high-quality field of top club runners pushed the pace throughout and the event winner was  Tom Roberts (Meirionnydd RC), who set a new 5k championship record in just 15 minutes and 25 seconds. In 2nd place was  Dion Griffiths  (Cardiff AC), in 15.42, with  Connor Rogers  (Wrexham AAC) in hot pursuit in 3rd, and he was only ...