donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026

*Members of the  Llandudno RNLI team pushed their inflatable craft around  the 5k course last Sunday and cheered on by hundreds of  spectators, Bright and breezy at the popular RNLI 5k race on Llandudno prom... Report by Don Hale.  Most RNLI photos courtesy of Caitlin Faye photography. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   *Pictured above - the NWRRC team at the start of the RNLI 5k race. It was very bright and very breezy on Sunday morning for the popular Llandudno RNLI 5k race on Llandudno promenade, as some 355 mixed ability athletes and walkers, helped to raise tens of thousands of pounds for such a worthy cause. Well organised by  John Hatton  and  Catherine Tudor Jones  from the RNLI, this event was also well supported by many sponsors, and even the weather provided a welcome boost after the previous day’s heavy downpours, and later many participants praised the attendance of so many essential volunteers and marshals. And...

*Pictured above - the start of the Landrillo yn Rhos parkrun. North Wales parkrun results round-up from a very wet morning... Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Michael (Pat) Finnie, John Hatton, and Rhos parkrun officials. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   *Run directors and volunteers (*above) near the finishing funnel at Rhos, and (*below) the NWRRC  Marshalls, pacers and volunteers last Saturday. Nearly four-hundred mixed ability athletes and walkers took part in a very wet and windy Llandrillo yn Rhos 5k parkrun last Saturday morning, which attracted a generous number of additional volunteers and six pacers from North Wales Road Runners. This local athletic club boosted the run director’s established team of supporters and their regular and excellent team of volunteers and marshalls, with all credit given to everyone involved on such a horribly wet day. Visitor  Simon Croft  (Red Fose Runners) was the first finisher overall in just 16 minu...

Wild, wet and windy for North Wales parkrunners... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   It was wild, wet, and very windy at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun on Saturday, which may have helped to reduce the number of entrants at this venue, and at many other similar events this weekend. The conditions however, failed to deter another excellent turn-out of volunteers, walkers and supporters, who faced some strong blustery winds along this exposed 5k promenade course. Several talented and fast-paced young runners battled for glory again with just six-seconds separating the first four finishers, which also included two first-timers. Henry Pickard  was the first finisher overall in his debut in 16.56, with fellow visitor  Ben Rogers  second in 16.59, and  David Williams  (Royal Sutton Coldfield AC) was third in 17.00, whilst  Matthew Feetenby  (Ely Runners) finished a close fourth in 17....

*Steve Gardner (*above centre) on the podium at the  BMAF championships at Derby last weekend where he set  the fastest time this year in his particular  V60 event. North Wales athlete Steve Gardner sets the fastest 2000m steeplechase time this year at V60. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk North Wales Road Runner and Welsh Master Steve Gardner competed in the BMAF championships at Derby over the weekend and set the fastest time this year in the 2000m steeplechase race in his respective veteran age category. The Team GB member and track champion at various distances over the past few seasons was delighted with his outstanding gold medal performance in this three-day event at Derby’s Moorways Stadium, and he finished in first place overall, and he was the first V60 athlete in a mixed gender event. After his race, Steve confirmed:  “ Leading the race from gun to tape, I finished six seconds faster tha...

*Pictured above - The  Bay of Colwyn Sailing Club Rowers and (*below), the Deganwy Rowing Club team Five Miles From Home, a global rowing challenge A special report by Graham Jones featuring the exploits of The Bay of Colwyn Sailing Club Rowers and Deganwy Rowers in a global competition. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Held between 15:00 (BST) 2nd September and 15:00 (BST) 6th September, the  "5 Miles From Home"  rowing event is a global time-trial challenge where participants complete a five-mile distance in their local waters. It is a  unique global challenge connecting the rowing and paddling communities. The event is organized by the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association, with support from the Welsh Sea Rowing and Irish Sea Rowing Associations and as the name suggests, crews have to row exactly 5 miles (8,047 meters or 4.345 nautical miles). Ever-changing conditions experienced along the Conwy coast during the time period meant that cre...