donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026

Repeat performance by one man and his child buggy at Rhos parkrun - plus NW results round-up. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael (Pat) Finnie, and others. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   It was very warm and very breezy for hundreds of runners and walkers at all North Wales parkruns last weekend, and the Llandrillo yn Rhos 5k event attracted another bumper attendance, where James Yarwood once again finished first in 17.47, accompanied by his young twins in a child buggy! The Wrexham AAC runner was chased all the way though by young  Joe Culverhouse  (NWRRC), a talented soccer player and junior referee, who won his JM15-17 age cat with a determined effort in 18.19, with  Gemma Moore  (Eryri Harriers) the first female, and in third place overall in 18.30.  Abbie Robinson  was the second female in 21.30, with  Bethan Parry  third with a new course PB in 22.23.  *There were 468 finishers at Rhos. * North Wales Road Ru...

Triathlon sprint success for veteran Kevin and GOG members Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   Master veteran Kevin Slattery, the chairman of North Wales Road Runners, won his VM70 age category at the prestigious Llandudno Open Sprint Triathlon championships staged recently from the town’s promenade. Despite very warm and blustery conditions, which included a tough swim, bike, and a 5k run, with the swim slightly reduced due to the challenging conditions - and a cycle race twice around the Great Orme - Kevin eventually triumphed to huge acclaim after finishing his two-lap run in a very good time! Following his event, he modestly confirmed:  “It was a well-managed event in good conditions, although windy in places, and great support from spectators.  “It included a 500m swim (reduced from 750 because of the wind) 14.06; twice around the Great Orme on the bike 46.38; and a 5K run in 24.06. My overall time with transitions was 1 hour 30 m...

A close finish at the blustery Felinheli 10k race in midweek   donhaleblog.blog.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   It was very warm and windy for the challenging Felinheli 10k race in midweek, with three members of Meirionnydd RC finishing within the top four places overall. Tomos Roberts  and team-mate  Daniel Kashi  actually shared the exact same finishing chip times of 32 minutes and 21 seconds in a very close-run contest, with  Ifan Dafydd  claiming fourth place in 33.41; whilst in between the club rivals, was the promising youngster  Noa Vaughan,  who finished third in 32.53. In addition, there some excellent performances by many of the top ten finishers including  Steffan Sayer  (Menai T&F) in sixth place in 34.57, and from  Ian Edwards  (Eryri Harriers) eighth in 36.05, and fell runner  Michael Corralles  (Dark Peak FR) tenth in 36.44. Elliw Roberts  (Eryri Harriers) was the first female finisher in ...

Bright, breezy and plenty of visitors at North Wales parkruns. Report by Don Hale.  Photos by Michael (Pat) Finnie, Garteth Southworth and others. coastandcountry.blog donhaleblog,blogspot.com/2026   There were plenty of visitors at the bright and breezy Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun including - two out of the first three male finishers, and the third placed female athlete - all making their course debuts. Adam Jones  was the eventual first and fast finisher with an amazing new course PB of 15.42, but he seemed to run side by side for much of the event with visiting rivals  Daniel Kashi  (Sale Harriers) and  Gavin Thomas Stuart,  who later shared the same finishing times of 15.45.  *Gemma Moore  (Eryri Harriers) fresh from her midweek record-breaking success at the  Mish Mash 5k , was the first female finisher in 18.26 (10th overall), with  Ellen Baugh  (Denbigh Harriers) second in 22.08, and  Melissa Ward   Williams...

Warm, wild, and very windy for the Nova Coast half marathon... Report by Don Hale. coastandcountry.blog donhaleblog,blogspot.com/2026   It was warm, wild, and very windy on Sunday for the Nova Coast half-marathon with nearly 500 runners battling against a strong headwind on this challenging out and back promenade course from Prestatyn. James Yarwood  (Wrexham AAC) was the overall winner in a chip time of 1 hour 18 minutes and 18 seconds, but he was closely tracked by local soccer player  Aaron Dodwell  in 1.18.43, and  Matthew Baker  in 1.19.47.  The first female finisher was  Natasha Jones  (31st overall) in 1.32.56, with  Lisa Allsup  second in 1.36.02, and  Hayley Parkes (GOG Triathlon) in 1.39.07. Meanwhile , Cheryl Frost  (NWRRC) also celebrated another great result as the 4th female, and she won her F60 age cat in 1.43.56. *North Wales Road Runners  had eight members involved with  Will Evans  leading ...

Top runner with twin buggy was first finisher at Rhos event. donhaleblog.blog.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   James Yarwood (Wrexham AAC) was the first finisher at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday morning complete with his twin baby buggy in just 17 minutes and 26 seconds, but he was made to fight all the way by keen rival Iain Burgess in 17.42, with teenager Eben Jones third in 18.37. The bright and very breezy conditions failed to deter a large number of visiting athletes and walkers amongst the 435 finishers, with  Porth Eirias Runners  providing generous support and a take-over of many marshalling and volunteering positions. And Richard Peevor,  one of the Rhos parkrun officials also confirmed :  “Today has been a special day. A very special day. This was the first day that I ran the parkrun that I set up last year. I ran it with Barry Dickenson, one of our visually impaired runners. That was so fabulous and what this is all about!”  *The pa...

Good numbers and times at the Llanrug 5k championship race. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   There was a good turnout of over two-hundred runners at the midweek Llanrug 5k championship race despite the wet and windy conditions, and quite remarkably, the first eighteen finishers all dipped under eighteen minutes! Meirionnydd athletes  Tomos Roberts and Ifan Dafydd  took the first two finishing places with  Huw Gwynn  (Eryri Harriers) third. Tomos recorded a superb time of just 15 minutes and 37 seconds, with Daffyd close behind in 15.42, and Huw in 16.29. The first female was  Tilly Edwards  (Cybi Striders) in 18.01, with  Tinka Vinks  (Eryri Harriers) the runner-up in 19.14, and  Elliw Haf Roberts  (Eryri Harriers) finished third in 19.52. *North Wales Road Runners  had 15 members involved and young  Joe Culverhouse  led the team home with an outstanding performance in 25th plac...

*Pictured above centre - young Charlie Sheen is the boxing champion. Charlie Sheen’s remarkable fundraising efforts for Alder Hey Hospital...completing an astonishing 75 mile challenge. Rebecca Lou reports on Charlie’s 75-mile challenge. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 At just 12 years old, local boxing sensation Charlie Sheen from Colwyn Bay is already building a reputation as one of the brightest young sporting talents in Wales. Representing Dyffryn ABC, Charlie has shown incredible dedication, discipline, and determination both inside and outside of the ring. Previously recognised by the Daily Post, Charlie completed an astonishing 75-mile fundraising challenge, raising an incredible £6,017 for Alder Hey Children’s hospital.  Now, Charlie’s boxing journey has reached another outstanding milestone. After competing at the prestigious Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff, Charlie has officially been crowned a 3x Welsh National Champion — winning national titles three years in a row...

*Above and below - Ready for action - some of the hard working volunteers at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday morning. Hot, humid and very busy at Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael  (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026   The Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun proved to be the most popular North Wales event on a warm Saturday morning, which again attracted a host of runners and walkers from all over the UK, and even from Australia, including members from the 5k Your Way, Move Against Cancer group for their regular end of the month gathering. Nine out of the first twelve finishing places were taken by first time entrants with  Paul Jones ( Shrewsbury AC) the first athlete home, recording a new course PB in 16.38, and he was chased by newbies  Conor Davies  second in 16.56, and  Niall Simmonds  (Southampton AC) third in 17.53. And well done to  Iain Burgess,  who ran extremely well in 4th place, despite ...