Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - flashback to a previous start at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun. 10,000th finisher milestone possible at Rhos this week? donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Report by Dave Munday, the organiser of the parkrun North Wales Facebook site.   As you all know this site is about promoting the 17 North Wales parkruns and especially the stats and figures that they produce. One thing other regions flag up is milestones on overall attendances since the parkrun started. In North Wales our highest overall attendance is Conwy parkrun with 111,614 finishers, it was such a shame that this site was not going for the 100,000th finisher, as that would have been great to capture that, and who was it that crossed the line, I will work it out and contact the Conwy parkrun team. This year, we will have different parkruns hitting different milestones and I will post up on here. The 1st one could be this weekend as  Y Promenâd parkrun, Llandrillo-yn-Rhos...

*GOG Triathlon super-vet Liz Evans (*above) at the Conwy parkrun. Bright and breezy for plenty of visitors at North Wales parkruns...results and reports from the region. Report by Don Hale. Conwy photos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog There were plenty of visitors and first timers at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday where a variety of mixed ability athletes and walkers celebrated some bright sunshine on a cold and windy morning. The first three finishers were all visitors, but they each recorded some excellent debut times with  Oliver Bernstein  the first man home in 16 minutes and 59 seconds, followed by fell runner  Michael Corralles  second in 17.25, and  Patrick Connors  (Lordshill Road Runners) in 17.29. *Pictured above left - Iain Burgess, with Nic Brook There were some great performances too by local athletes  Iain Burgess,  who was 5th with a new course PB on 17.35, and second in his VM40 a...

    *Pictured above - The start of the Easter parkrun on Conwy Cob Bumper Easter attendances at North Wales parkruns. Report by Don Hale. Conwy photos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   There was a bumper Easter Saturday holiday attendance of 623 mixed ability runners and walkers at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun, and most of the other NW events also reported some similar and excellent numbers, and fast finishing times. At Rhos, the entrants were welcomed by a team of hard working volunteers dressed in Easter Bunny style outfit, and the first eighteen finishers quite amazingly all dipped under the 18-minute mark, with just a few seconds separating the first three runners, including debutant  Sam Ashton  the first man back in 17.12, with fellow debutant  Drew Darlington  second 17.16, and  Jeremy Pena  third with a new course PB in 17.58.  *Eleanor Ashcroft  was the first female finisher (33rd ove...

*North Wales Road Runners at the start of the Llandudno 10 mile and half marathon. Over 1,000 runners beat the weather at the new 10 mile and half marathon races... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   It was wild, wet, and windy for over 1,000 hardy athletes on Sunday for the Victorian 10 mile and half marathon races which started with a loop along Llandudno promenade before heading out towards Colwyn Bay, and a reverse route home. The mass pack of runners had to negotiate a challenging course and a fierce and swirling headwind, with some heavy showers thrown in for good measure along their tough journey. And yet despite the brutal conditions it still failed to deter numerous elite entrants with M35  James Yarwood  (Wrexham AAC) winning the half marathon race in a very good chip time of just 1 hour 16 minutes and 43 seconds. He was followed by M50  Martin Green  (Meirionnydd RC) in 1.18.57, and M35...

donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Dave Munday from parkrun North Wales has provided details of a unique series of events including one that's available in North Wales in June! Cowfest 2026 We are delighted to announce the four locations for Cowfest 2026 on 20th June. What is a Cowfest?! It's an annual gathering for UK tourists.  Curious to learn more? Search this page for highlights and details from previous years!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/2193251831088739 Scotland - Crathes Castle South - Dinton Pastures Wales - Erddig North - Ushaw Historic House You will find each event listed in the events section, where we will be sharing the latest updates and information for every location. We look forward to seeing you at Cowfest on 20th June 2026. Dave Munday:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/2193251831088739/user/1239379759

*GOG Triathlon athletes Simon and Vicky Cole Bright and beautiful for parkrunners at Rhos – plus NW round-up of results Report by Don Hale. Conwy photos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com coastandcountry.blog   It was another bright and beautiful Saturday morning at the Llandrillo yn Rhos 5k parkrun, which again attracted numerous first timers and visitors, with many recording some excellent finishing times along this picturesque promenade route. Armon Williams  was the first finisher overall with an outstanding performance and a new course PB in just 17 minutes and 15 seconds, with  Jeremy Pena  second in 1814, and JM15-17 athlete  Eban Jones  third with a new course PB in 18.28. The ladies results quite amazingly confirmed that nine out of the first ten finishers all recorded new course PBs, with international athlete and top coach  Rhian Roxburgh  (GOG Triathlon) leading her rivals home (in 8th place overall) with a new PB in 19.37, an...