Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - track champion and Welsh International athlete Steve Gardner. Victory for Steve Gardner at the Scottish Sprint Duathlon Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   Welsh International track athlete Steve Gardner won his age category in a prestigious Duathlon Sprint event in Edinburgh last weekend. The Team GB athlete, and  NWRRC  member, who was representing his second claim club  GOG Triathlon , improved on his previous impressive result - and a silver medal - at the recent Welsh Sprint Duathlon Championships just a fortnight ago, to win his MV60-64 cat following a strong overall performance. Steve later said:  “I competed for  GOG Triathlon Club  in the East Fortune Sprint Duathlon, located on a racetrack to the East of Edinburgh. The events consisted of 5k run, a 20k cycle, and a final 2.5k run.  “Finishing in 1st place in my veteran age group was an improvement on my 2nd place at the Welsh Champs ...

*Rhos run director Dougie Graham at the front with some of the volunteers Fast runners dazzled in the sun at Llandrillo yn Rhos..plus some other NW parkrun results. Report by Don Hale. Most photos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026   The bright sunny weather and a fast course attracted plenty of top club athletes to the Llandrillo yn Rhos 5k parkrun last Saturday with five out of the first six finishers all recording times of under 18 minutes! James Yarwood  (Wrexham AAC) was the first finisher overall with a new course PB of 16 minutes and 29 seconds, with visitor  Armon Williams  second in 17.17,  Gareth Griffith  third in 17.27, and veteran  Martin Green  (Meirionnydd RC) a narrow fourth in 17.36. It was a similar story for the ladies with  Beatrice Cordingley  (Sale Harriers) taking the first female spot with an excellent run, and a new course PB in 20.00 (18th overall), with visitor  Lizzie Slater  (South Che...

*Pictured above - Ben and Sarah Hudson after their wet and windy race Tough Trimpell 20-mile challenge for Ben and Sarah...Plus Liverpool half marathon results Report by Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   North Wales endurance couple Ben and Sarah Hudson travelled to Lancaster last Sunday to compete in the tough Trimpell 20-mile race through the spectacular Lune Valley in cold, wet, and blustery conditions. Ben was in good form despite the challenge, and he was 153rd overall out of 346 finishers with an excellent time of 2 hours 45 minutes and 44 seconds. Sarah however said she was a bit off colour on the day, but she still rallied well to finish in 220th place in 3.05.21. After the race, Sarah confirmed:  “Did the Trimpell 20 miler today… great race! Ben was awesome on 2:46, and I did 3:05. It’s not chipped timed. Bit of a crazy, wet, and windy one, but it brightened up before the end.  I have had a stinking cold so was not even sure about doin...

So What's Wrong With Dreaming?   Special Coast and Country book review:  Run in conjunction with: donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 *This is a direct link to Amazon books:   https://amzn.to/40LHDn7 Featuring author Richard John Campbell MBE, and his latest book - So What's Wrong with Dreaming? Born into a family struggling, like so many, from the after-effects of the Second World War; where the home was poor and shared by seven people, all packed into a small Victorian semi. With a father who had been in the Navy but having left our family home, permanently a month before I was born, I was ill-prepared for my future schooldays; days which were mostly very stressful, and at times traumatic.  A time when I, mostly, felt insecure at best and totally humiliated at worst; though, surprisingly, some good did come out of it. Once I had finished with school, I became determined to avoid the future expectations of my family and take every opportunity to, hopefully, build a life t...

*Pictured above - Welsh championship half-marathon medal winners Kay Hatton and Cheryl Frost from NWRRC. Road Runners won several surprise championship medals in Anglesey races... Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026   It was wild, wet, and windy for over 1,000 athletes at the Anglesey 10k and half marathon events on St David’s Day, last Sunday morning, with the majority of entrants tackling the longer race distance over a challenging new course. In the 10k event which attracted 249 runners, this race was won by  Llyr Williams  in a very good time of 35 minutes and 10 seconds, and he was just 14-seconds ahead of rival  Shaun Hughes  in 35.24, and  Jack Hughes  in 35.40.     *Above left - Stuart and Joe  Culverhouse, with Gethin Wyn Jones, and Mike Hayton. *North Wales Road Runners  collected a number of prestigious age category honours and podium places.  Young Joe Culverhouse  led the team home in 29th place ...

Sarah’s solo surprise run on a very hilly and muddy flat course! Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026   NWRRC endurance athlete Sarah Ferguson Hudson went solo on Sunday and competed in the Bromsberrow Speed Runway 10k, this time without her husband Ben, and thought it was going to be an easy and flattish type run…but how wrong was she! After her race she explained:  “Oh, my word. I should really read more carefully what I sign myself up to…   I thought it was a flat road race, and not 10k of hills, mud, fields, traps, and more. I was b ack in Gloucestershire where I grew up, and catching up with school friends.” *Despite all her challenges, Sarah (*pictured right) ran well and she finished 50th overall out of 159 entrants and the 16th female in 58.07. www.coastandcountry.blog

  The GOG Triathlon - Triathlon Dewi - GOG AQUATHON, will take place on Sunday 1st March at Eirias Park in Colwyn Bay. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 This exciting fundraising event includes options for both junior and senior athletes, and the cost is only £5.00 for adults, and just £1 for juniors. The organisers say it is ideal for beginners. JUNIORS:  *25K POOL SWIM and a 400M TRACK RUN. *150M POOL SWIM and a 2k TRACK RUN. *300M POOL SWIM and a 300M TRACK RUN. ADULTS: *150M POOL SWIM and a 2K TRACK RUN. *300M POOL SWIM and a 4K TRACK RUN.

  *Pictured above - the popular thriller writer Jack Duncan The fascinating life and works of popular Scottish crime and thriller writer Jack Duncan - businessman turned author. Special Coast and Country book review:  Run in conjunction with:  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 Featuring Jack Duncan.  Businessman Turned Author! https://www.jackduncan.co.uk *This is a link to all Jack Duncan’s book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kXB8Hk I am a ‘bon viveur’ and enjoy life. I have been fortunate during my diverse career to have been able to pursue my hobbies including motor racing, sailing, flying, travel, fine dining and the Arts, whilst still maintaining a very strong work ethic. My career began as a Scots Guards Officer, during which period, I gained my ‘wings’ as an Army helicopter pilot flying for the Brigade and for the United Nations for five years of my Service. I also hold civilian qualifications as a Fixed wing, Seaplane and Commercial Helicopter Pilot.  I hold va...