donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026

*Pictured above - the busy start at the Rhos on Sea parkrun. Visitors boosted the numbers at North Wales parkruns Report by Don Hale. Rhos photos by Michael (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com coastandcountry. blog It was perfect weather for the start of the school holidays, and at Rhos parkrun, as at most other North Wales events last Saturday, the superb conditions attracted a wealth of debutant runners, visitors and walkers. Local footballer  Aaron Dodwell  recorded a new course PB at the  Llandrillo yn Rhos  parkrun in just 16 minutes and 36 seconds, but visitor  Colin Latham  (Dragons RC Sale) gave chase all the way to finish in second place in 16.57, with promising JM1-14 athlete  Lucas Burgess  third with a new course PB in 17.25. *Gemma Moore  (Eryri Harriers) was the first female finisher with another outstanding performance in 18.18, and she was followed by  Emma Alofs  on her debut in 19.36, with  Alex Aldous...

James and the twins starred again at a busy Rhos parkrun - plus a results round up from other NW events. Report by Don Hale. Conwy photos by Michael (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   There was another bumper attendance at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun and at mist other NW parkruns last Saturday, with over 500 runners and walkers enjoying the warm sunshine and the picturesque 5k promenade course. The almost ever-present athlete and his twin buggy in  James Yarwood  (Wrexham AAC) - pictured right  - was the first finisher yet again at Rhos with a determined performance in just 17 minutes and 4 seconds, and he was only just ahead of  Mark Pemberton , who recorded a new course PB in 17.11, with JM15-17 athlete  Eben Jones  third in 17.52. The first female was well-known athlete  Laura McKenzie  (Betsi Runaways) in 64th place in 22.12, but it was a very close finish with Laura just one-second and one place ahead ...

*Pictured above - the three leading athletes at Rhos parkrun. 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 Harrier...

*Some of the many colourful characters at the Cowfest event at Erddig. North Wales ‘Cowfest’ event at Erddig proved a major success. Report by Don Hale. Photos by David Airey and other. donhaleblog.blogspot.com coastandcountry.blog   The popular North Wales version of Cowfest staged at Erddig Hall, near Wrexham, proved a huge success last Saturday and attracted over four-hundred parkrun entrants from across the UK. This particular run with similar Cowfest functions at Crathes Castle in Scotland, and at Dinton Pastures in England, was a multi-gathering for all keen UK parkrun tourists, alongside individual regional events. All three venues welcomed many hundreds of parkrunners in fancy dress and with particular emphasis on the cow theme, welcoming many ‘Cowell’ chasers and tourists. Dave Munday - pictured right -  who organises the parkrun  North Wales Facebook site,  and helps to promote the tourism angle, and encourages many parkrunners to try different NW venues s...

Top runner with twin buggy was first finisher at Rhos event. donhaleblog.blog.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   James Yarwood (Wrexham AAC) - pictured right - 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 ab...

*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 ...