donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026

Fast finish at the popular Porth Eirias 10k race Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.bogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   There was a very good turn-out of over 400 mixed ability runners at the Porth Eirias 10k last Saturday morning on a near perfect morning and it was won by Iain Best in just 32 minutes and 32 seconds. Iain was closely tracked though by keen rival and local soccer star  Aaron Dodwell (*pictured right),  who was in fine form again in 34.56, and  Conor Davies  who third in 35.44.  The first female finisher was another well-known local athlete in  Emma Alofs  (Cybi Striders) in 37.49, who was 6th overall, with  Suzie Richards  the runner-up in 39.37, and  Zoe Jones  third in 43.23. *North Wales Road Runners  only had two entrants, but master veteran  Rob Fryer  won his M70 age cat in 191st place in 61.01, and  Len Jackson  was 228th in 63.30.  *Pictured above left - Emma Alofs, who wa...

  *Pictured above left - Bernie Jones the new President of Welsh Athletics with the outgoing President Graham Finlayson. WELSH ATHLETICS AWARDS NIGHT. Several North Wales athletes and officials celebrated at the Welsh Athletics awards night this week.  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Kay Hatton  from the N.W.R.A.C said: “It was a successful evening at the WA wards, and congratulations  to  John Mussum  - WA Coach of the Year, and to  Menai Track & Field  - WA Club of the Year; and to  St Asaph City Striders , who were awarded  Run Wales Group of the Year.  “At the WA AGM earlier in the day  Bernie Jones  was appointed WA President, and  Ann Lewis and Sharon Wyn Owen  will receive the WA Meritorious Award. Well-deserved and well done to everyone.”  The new President Bernie Jones later confirmed: 'Proud and humbled to be made President of Welsh Athletics yesterday receiving the chai...

*Pictured above - the start of the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun. Marathon weather problems provided a boost for parkruns. Report by Don Hale. Rhos photos by Michael (Pat) Finnie. The amazing sunrise picture at Rhos parkrun was taken by run director Dougie Graham. donhaleblog.blogspot.com coastandcountry.blog News of the exceptional but necessary weather postponement of the popular Eryri Marathon on Friday provided an unexpected boost to many North Wales parkruns, during a slight, but welcome window of opportunity on Saturday morning. Conwy and Llandrillo yn Rhos parkruns were two fine examples of extra interest due to storm forecasts, with both venues reporting hundreds of visiting athletes from around the UK to the start of their respective events from runners and their supporters, who had already made and paid for their marathon travel plans. The first three finishers at Rhos were all visitors and indeed seven out of the first ten were quality debutants, providing some very fast times ...

  *Pictured above - Llandudno Urban Night Race official Gwen Charlton.  Llandudno Urban Night Race success despite the rain Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com coastandcountry.blog   The recent Llandudno Urban Night Race attracted a good number of mixed ability male, female and junior orienteers to this event despite the rain, and this was the first of an exciting new series of similar races planned for many North Wales towns this winter. There was keen competition for honours in Llandudno, and the overall senior male winner was  Michael Corrales (*pictured below right),  a top fell and mountain runner with 970 points, and in second place was  Thomas Prebble  with 860 pts, with  Paddy Walsh  a close third with 840 pts. Jenny Williamson  was the female winner with 830 points, with  Debbie Morgan  a close second with 820 pts, and  Sarah Barnwell  third with 740 pts.  * The top three juniors included : Firs...

BMAF Indoor Track Fixtures 2027 Three Great British 2027 winter events organised by the British Masters Athletics Federation In Wales, Scotland, and England, in that order. Wales - Indoors in January Indoor Pentathlon, 3000m and Open Events will take place on Saturday 23rd January 2027 at National Indoor Athletics Centre, Cardiff Scotland - Indoors in February Indoor Championships will take place on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st February 2027 at Glasgow International Arena England - Outdoors in March Winter Throws will take place on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th March 2027 at Horspath, Oxford Keep checking our fixtures page for more details as they emerge.  https://bmaf.org.uk/fixtures/ Thanks to Wendy Kane for giving us plenty of advance notice.

Updates on NW cross country events and results... Report by Don Hale.  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Two North Wales Road Runners  competed in the  North Wales cross country league  fixture at Llanerch, St Asaph recently, with veteran  Karen Butler ( *pictured right)  finishing second in her FV65 age category and 81swt overall out of 145 entrants in 33 minutes and 45 seconds; whilst colleague Gwen Charlton was pleased to finish in 121st place in 39.38.  *Full results on the NWCCL Facebook page. *NWCCL: Fixture 2 Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay:   Bernie Jones,  the secretary/referee of the North Wales cross country league had provided an update on their next event and confirmed: “We’re quickly onto the second fixture, which is at  Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay on Saturday 31st October 2026.   "If any athletes who aren’t registered who want to run, please let me know at the latest by Wednesday 28th October   and I wi...

John and Michelle’s emotional run at the Pisa ‘Leaning Tower’ race. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   GOG Triathlon couple John and Michelle Farrell finally recovered from their recent injury problems to compete in the spectacular International Pisa half-marathon last weekend. Described by the organisers  as one of the few sport events that donates all the proceeds to charity, it's also one of the fastest half marathons in Italy, with a unique arrival including the Piazza dei Miracoli, where the famous leaning tower awaits runners at the end of the race. The popular and talented GB international athletes, who have both battled a spate of various injuries for much of this year, ran the course together and finished well in 1 hour 56 minutes and 50 seconds. On his return home John confirmed : “Who better to run the Pisa half Marathon with but my beautiful best friend and wife Michelle Farrell, after a year of recovering f...

*Pictured above left Steve Bozier, with Gwen Charlton, and Kevin Slattery at the Bangor races last Sunday. Local athletes shine at the Bangor 10k and half-marathon races... Report by Don Hale.  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   A large field of 633 club and social athletes took part in the Bangor 10k and half-marathon races on Sunday, well organised by RunWales, with many top locals claiming prestigious podium places. In the 10k event,  Martin Sunderland  (Bangor University) was the first finisher in 34.15, and he was followed by  James Coleman (Meirionnydd RC) in 35.58, and  Tomos Jones   (Rhedwyr Hebog) in 36.26. The first female was visitor  Katie Harries  in 41.14, and Bangor University’s  Poppy Jones  was the runner-up in 41.25, with  Margot Sayer  (Eryri Harriers) third in 43.50. North Wales Road Runner Steve Bozier   (*pictured right) won his VM45 age cat in 17th place out of 230 finishers in...

  Great results from Berlin Marathon and NW parkruns donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog

*Conwy parkrunners are pictured on the Cob with the Castle in the background North Wales Parkrun Results: Stiff competition as youngsters battled the buggy! Report by Don Hale. Conwy photographs by Michael (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   There was a keen battle for top placings at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday morning with James Yarwood and his twin buggy facing stiff competition from youngsters Finley Potter and Eben Jones. James  (Wrexham AAC) - pictured right - eventually claimed the top spot in 17.02, but he was pressed all the way around this picturesque 5k course by JM11-14 athlete  Finlay  in 17.21, and JM15-17 youngster  Eben  (Warriors Pentathlon & AC) in 18.11. And quite amazingly, the first ten finishers all dipped under 19 minutes! The first female finisher was  Samia Jones  (Menai T&F) on her debut (11th overall) in 19.24, and she was followed by  Elise 0’Neale with a new ...