Don Hale Blog

Do you want to run for Wales in the BMAF XC International in Leeds? Report promoted by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   *Note from Bernie Jones, the chair of the Welsh Athletics Masters Advisory group.   The cross-country season is only a few weeks away now. Just a reminder for Welsh athletes interested in running for Wales in the BMAF Cross Country International in Leeds to express an interest.  Welsh Athletics will be selecting Welsh Teams to compete at the BMAF Masters Cross Country International taking place in Leeds on Saturday 15 November 2025.   *For more info and to express interest follow the link below.  https://tinyurl.com/BMAF-Masters   *All the details on the Welsh Athletics website :   https://www.welshathletics.org

  North Wales Cross-Country League fixtures and registration details 2025/26. Report from Bernie Jones promoted by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Bernie Jones, the secretary of the North Wales Cross Country League, has kindly supplied all the details for the registration of all participating junior and senior athletes, together with the fixture list for the 2025/26 cross-country season.   North Wales Cross Country AGM. At the 41st Annual General Meeting of the North Wales Cross Country Association fixtures for the 2025/26 season were agreed. Subject to final confirmation the dates/venues are as follows:   Sat 4 October  - St Asaph (hosted by Denbigh/Prestatyn) Sat 25 October  - Eirias Park (hosted by Colwyn Bay) Sat 22 November  - Bala (hosted by Meirionnydd) Sat 24 January  - Shrewsbury (hosted by Shropshire S) Sat 14 February  - Marches School (hosted by Oswestry O Sat 10 January  - Bangor  North Wales Champs  (hos...

  THE LIBERATION OF JERSEY & WARTIME SECRETS:  Some compelling wartime memories from three remarkable men...by Don Hale.   donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 New paperback book. Available on Amazon:   https://amzn.to/3Keb4Jw The Jersey Boys and Liberation!   Some compelling wartime memories from three remarkable men...  Now available from Amazon in paperback, ebook or audio versions: Special Coast and Country online magazine feature... Amazon audio book:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F2HQ2VN4 Paperback:  https://amzn.to/3Keb4Jw Kindle ebook:  https://amzn.to/46ew7TP This is the true story of two remarkable Jersey Boys, and an eventual Liberator, who were all teenagers at the start of World War Two, but soon became embroiled in a variety of dramatic events following the Occupation of Jersey in the Channel Islands by German Forces during 1940-45. Joe  Miére  (* pictured above ), was a constant thorn in the side of the Nazi invaders and ...

BUSTER CRABB - Ian Fleming's favourite Spy, and the real inspiration for JAMES BOND - promoted by Coast and Country online magazine. This is the Amazon link to the book:   https://amzn.to/4mTMhJf LIONEL 'BUSTER' CRABB was a drinker, a gambler, a womaniser and a lover of fast cars and gadgets. On top of all that, he was a spy, an acquaintance of Ian Fleming and the inspiration for James Bond. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 This latest book,  BUSTER CRABB , published by the History Press, this is the fascinating story of Buster Crabb, the naval spy who disappeared in bizarre circumstances in 1956. Entitled -  Buster Crabb - Ian Fleming's favourite spy and the inspiration for James Bond,  was released in Spring 2020 - originally to coincide with the launch of the new Bond film - which was later delayed due to the Covid-19 restrictions.    * Ian Fleming (*right) and above the front cover of this new and exciting spy story. A British naval frogman and bomb dispos...

*Some of the award winners from the NW Junior Mountain Running Championships. A special race report courtesy of event organiser Mike Blake on the recent North Wales Junior Mountain Running Champs... donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 High winds, road closures and an overhead power cable breakage close to the start/finish area resulting in, no electric in the summit complex and moving the u/17 and19 starts, did not prevent 3 records being broken in the North Wales Junior Mountain Running Championships on the Great Orme at Llandudno, a nd all by the young ladies!  The first record to go was to Enya Maguire , 18 sec in the U 11 girls, next was Daisy McVicar, 2nd o/a out of 21 and 30 sec in the U 13'S. last but not least was Lola Corrales, whose father Michael Low Corrales Mills, best known for his 5 victories in the Tryfan Dash, took 2 sec off the U 9 girls time.  Big thanks to all those who helped especially Ann and Sharo n for coping with my scribbles, to Ron Jones for once again...

New USEFUL TOOLS PAGE by Welsh Masters Athletics. Introduction by Don Hale.  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 *This is the link to the additions and to the main website:   https://www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk/useful-tools Welsh Masters Athletics Ltd have just updated their website and Facebook page to include details about a brand new USEFUL TOOLS PAGE. Created by the organisation's webmaster expert and award winning sprinter Juliet Sidney . This now includes some very interesting facts and links about AGE GRADING, BAF LAWS & RULES, A WIND CORRECTION CALCULATOR, RACE PREDICTOR FOR 3K PLUS, AND SPRINT CONVERSION TIMES. Juliet confirmed this week: "Hi all this page is now live after setting up a useful tools page.  It's very simple, but let us know if you use any better tools for the same thing, or if you have any other additional tools that you would like to see." www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk *This is the link to the additions and to the main website:   https:/...

 *Pictured above - many members of the NWRRC team at the Caernarfon half marathon last Sunday. Wet and windy at Caernarfon for the half marathon championships... Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   There was a good entry of more than six hundred elite, club and social runners at the Caernarfon half marathon last Sunday, which was staged in unusually wet and windy weather but saw the top male and female athletes retain their titles. This event was also part of the  North Wales Regional Half-Marathon Championships , and it also attracted many top athletes from all around the UK, and it was well organised by RunWales. Tomos Roberts  (Meirionnydd RC) was the overall winner in 1 hour 11 minutes and 26 seconds, with  Chris Pownall (Cybi Striders) second in 1.15.42, and  Steffan Sayer  (Menai T&F), third in 1.15.45. *The first female finisher was  Emma Alofs  (Cybi Striders) in 1.27.49, and  Eleanor Ashcroft  (Denbigh H...

  *Pictured above - friendly volunteers at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun (l-r): Cheryl Frost, John Hatton and Carla Green Tail end visitors boosted the numbers at North Wales parkruns...plus other results... Report by Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   At the tail end of the holiday season, and with the weather still reasonable, most North Wales parkruns still recorded bumper attendances boosted by a host of visiting athletes. At the  Newborough Forest parkrun , seven out of the first ten finishers were all visitors from varied parts of the country, and they also recorded some excellent times.  The same applied to nearby  Nant y Pandy , with six out of the first ten finishers making their course debuts, and many other events also reported increased number from travelling runners. It was good to note that a promising young athlete in  Josh Mottram  (Colwyn Bay AC), celebrated his 100th parkrun last Saturday at  Conwy  by finishing 3rd overa...