donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026

North Wales Sports and community blog reaches its ONE MILLIONETH VIEWING - and new children's cancer charity appeal... donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog I am pleased to confirm that the sports, features, and community blog has now reached over ONE MILLION DOWNLOADS from about 1,500 popular posts within the last few years. This total was expected to be achieved by Christmas but due to a recent surge of demand it has now reached this target three months ahead of schedule thanks to the generous support of readers and followers. Combined with the Coast and Country blog and websites, it also attracts over 100,000 social media downloads each week, and provide a wealth of information, news and results etc. The blogs also promote local businesses, sports clubs, charities, arts and entertainments and provides a grassroots resume of North Wales activities. Many local charity and fundraising events have benefitted from the exposure and publicity on these sites and helped to...

*Pictured above - the NWRRC team at the Caernarfon half-marathon and NW championships. (l-r): Rob Fryer, Stuart Culverhouse, Adam Lemalle, Steve Roberts, Nia Lister, and Kay Hatton. Gold medal and charity winners at the Caernarfon half-marathon championships... report by Don Hale and photos by John Hatton. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog A large field of some 720 quality and mixed ability athletes tackled the undulating Caernarfon half marathon last Sunday with many raising funds for local charities and other worthy causes. This event, well organised by  RunWales,  also included the North Wales half-marathon championships, and consequently attracted some of the top local club runners who competed for medals and glory.   *The first three male and female medal winners at the Caernarfon half marathon are shown above. Tom Roberts  (Meirionnydd RC) was the outstanding race winner in 1.09.25, with  James Nicholls  (Wrexham AAC) second in 1.13.0...

*Pictured above - the start of the new Padarn 5k race last Wednesday night (photo courtesy of SportpicturesCymru). Quality athletes and fast times at the new Padarn 5k race Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   There was a good turn-out of mainly elite and club runners at the brand new Padarn Sbrint 5k dash in midweek, where the first eight finishers all dipped under seventeen minutes, and Meirionnydd RC claimed the first four places. Owen Roberts  was the overall winner following a great performance in just 15 minutes and 37 seconds, on this flat and fast course alongside Llyn Padarn at Llanberis, but he faced a stern challenge from club rival  Daniel Kashi  in 15.44, and colleagues  Ben Harding  (16.15) and  Lloyd Williams  (16.19) also battled for top placings. Some other notable local results included  Aled Hughes  (GOG Triathlon) in 8th place in 16.59 and  Harry Driscoll  (Meirionnydd RC)...

Entries now open for the British Masters half marathon championships in Dumfries on 20th September 2026. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog www.welshmastersathletis.co.uk By the time you read this there will only be less than two weeks left to enter the British Masters Half Marathon Championships in Dumfries on the 20th  September. The course is on scenic undulating roads with little traffic. Promoted by a true running club the Dumfries Half Marathon charges a very realistic entry fee which is rare in this day and age.   The race limits its entry numbers which means the Championships are well catered for, however I advise entering now before the Half is declared full. Just follow these links:  https://www.eventsupnorth.co.uk/event/2076 And once entered register your entry on open track via the link below: https://bmaf.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2026/GBR/bmaf-hm/   As your Road Race Secretary, I want to support grass roots running clubs and I know Dum...

*Pictured above - flashback to last year's RNLI 5k race on Llandudno prom and (*below) members of the RNLI team at Llandudno near their lifeboat station. Limited number of entries available for the RNLI 5k charity race on Sunday 20th September on Llandudno prom. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog There are just a limited number of entries still available for the RNLI  5k charity race set for Llandudno Promenade starting at 11am on Sunday 20th September 2026. Race organiser  John Hatton  challenges runners to be part of something special and help save lives at sea by signing up for this popular charity run, hosted by  Llandudno RNLI!  *Description:  A fast and flat course for both distances. The race starts and finishes on Llandudno Promenade, close to the Lifeboat Station. Entries are limited to 350 entries for the 5km and 100 entries for the 1km starting at 10.30am. *Race HQ:  RNLI Llandudno Lifeboat Station, Colwyn Road...

*Pictured above - the start of the Conwy parkrun. Bank Holiday visitors boosted parkrun numbers in the drizzle... Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Michael (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk A large turn-out of Bank Holiday visitors mixed with regular runners and walkers in the drizzle at most North Wales parkrun last Saturday morning. Some of these events also welcomed many participants from the  5k Your Way, Move Against Cancer group , plus representatives from several other notable cancer organisations for their regular monthly gatherings.  At Llandrillo yn Rhos , another bumper entry included many elite and club runners with seven out of the first ten finishers all debutants, and quite remarkably, the first eight all dipped under 18 minutes. James Yarwood  (Wrexham AAC) and his famous twin buggy claimed another fast-dash result, and he was the first finisher overall once again despite the weather in ju...

*Some of the award winners and competitors from the Tryfan Dash race. Records broken, but thankfully no bones, at the fast Tryfan Downhill Dash... Report and photo courtesy of race organiser Mike Blake (Eryri Harriers). donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   Records were broken, but thankfully no bones, at the Tryfan Downhill Dash, which saw many experienced mountain and fell runners taking part! Dark Peak’s  Euan Patton , not content with having the cheek by taking 39 seconds off my 34-year record of 8 minutes in 2023, he went a massive step again, by taking a further 35 seconds off his own record finishing in an unbelievable 6.46. He finished ahead of three times winner  Michael Corrales ( The Goats) in 9.25 .  Insane, the word on the street is that his feet never actually touched the ground, and  Sam Gunning  took third place in 9.29.   The first lady was another re-known descender in Bethan Billing  ( Eryri Harriers), by...

*Pictured above - some of the many Dalzell Runners and supporters on the prom at Llandudno last Monday for their memorial 5k run. And (*below) some action shots of numerous entrants. Special 5k memorial run for Jon Dalzell on Llandudno prom Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Jonathan Kettle and Dalzell Runners. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   Dozens of local runners took part in a special 5k run last Monday evening on Llandudno promenade to help keep athlete Jon Dalzell’s memory alive. This unique event commemorated the fact that the former North Wales Road Runner tragically lost his life three-years ago, yet, for the past two years, members of the supportive Dalzell Running group, have since organised a social run with hospitality, to share recollections of his short but amazing life. Jonathan Kettle,  who was a close friend of Jon’s, and is now a coach with Dalzell Runners, later confirmed:  “Monday 17th August will be three years since we lost ...

*The final dash to the line at Conwy parkrun with young athletes Tim Perry from the Isle of Man (*above left) with Joe Culverhouse. They both shared the exact same time as the first finishers. North Wales parkrun results round up... Report by Don Hale. Conwy photos by Michael (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com coastandcountry. blog   Fell and mountain runner Josh Keogh was the first finisher on his course debut at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday with a superb time of just 16 minutes and 37 seconds. This event again attracted a host of top and talented club runners including visitor  Robin Stacey  (York Acorn), who was second in 17.18, and teenage debutant  Oliver Woodman  (Ivanhoe Runners), third in 17.28, with  James Yarwood  (Wrexham AAC) and his famous twin buggy, this week pushed down into 4th place in 17.28. The first four runners all ran under 18 minutes, and indeed the first 22 finishers all dipped all 20 minutes. The ladies als...