donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026

*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 - Martin Green and Steve Gardner in the red vests for Wales against England in the Masters 3000m race at Deeside. And (*below) some other action shots. North Wales athletes on track for medals at the Masters 3000m race... Report by Don Hale.  Photos and results supplied courtesy of Chris Hollingshead. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   Two top North Wales track athletes collected prestigious medals whilst representing Wales v England at the Masters 3000m international meeting at the Deeside Stadium last Friday night. Talented veterans’ Martin Green  (Meirionnydd RC) and  Steve Gardner  (NWRRC) celebrated good performances, with Martin finishing second in his MV50 age cat in 9.49, whilst Steve won his MV60 cat in 10.10. After his race, Steve Gardner confirmed:  “ I came 6th overall and 1st V60 in 10 mins 10 seconds at the above meeting against England. Comprising MV50-54; 55-59; and 60 to 64-year  - old athletes in one ...

*Pictured above - Steve Gardner won a gold medal and set a new Welsh record in the 800m race during the Masters T&F Inter-Area meeting. New Golden Welsh record for Steve Gardner at the Masters Inter-area finals at Yate... Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk North Wales Road Runner Steve Gardner, who has represented Team GB at various track championships at home and abroad, claimed a great new PB, set a new Welsh record and struck gold in the 800m race at the Masters Inter-Area T&F championships at Yate. This time competing for  Welsh Masters Athletics , veteran Steve was one of nine top Welsh athletes who won their respective age categories at this prestigious event, and he also smashed the current Welsh MV60 cat, subject to ratification, after finishing second in his race in 2 minutes 15.34 seconds, and he was only just behind World record holder  Rob McHarg  of Scotland. *Pictured above right - S...

*Pictured above and below - some great  photos of the Welsh Masters Athletics  team members at the recent Inter-Area championships at Yate. Master’s Inter Area T&F Championships - Sunday 2nd August – Yate Special report courtesy of Gareth Robbins. Photos by Aled Hughes and Joe Horner. donhaleblog.bogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog. www.welshmasterathletics.co.uk The men’s team provisionally finished 5th – with 2 events still to be declared by the end of the day.  The ladies team finished a wonderful 4th overall, meaning that the combined scores provisionally gave us a 4th place finish.  Special mention to all our debutants at this event, well done everyone pulling on the red Welsh vest for the first time.  The team produced some brilliant performances across the board, with a total of 9 Welsh age group records broken (subject to ratification):  -                M65 – 100mH – I...

NWRRC athletes record top age gradings at Rhos parkrun - plus Kevin runs the first 10k at Stockport County. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog     *Pictured above left - Steve Gardner, with Kay Hatton, and (*right) Kevin Higgins who ran in the first 10k at Stockport County. *Rhos:   two members from NWRRC recorded the highest age grades at last Saturday’s Rhos parkrun. Team GM and Welsh International track star  Steve Gardner  finished 5th overall and his time and performance in 18 minutes and 12 seconds earned him a 91.30% age grade in his VM60 age cat. Meanwhile fellow veteran  Kay Hatton  also had a great run and she was 70th overall in 23.41 and her VW60 age grade was 84.31%. *Stockport: NWRRC member Kevin Higgins ran at Stockport last Sunday:  He confirmed: “The first ever Stockport County 10k race this morning in very hot and humid conditions. My time was not the best 66 minutes and 20 seconds, but probably one of the best me...

North Wales quartet proud to run in the heat for Welsh Masters Report by Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   Four  very proud athletes from North Wales Road Runners competed as part of the Welsh Masters team in their match against England at the weekend during the Shrewsbury 5k Festival lap races. Jonathan Kettle, Steve Gardner Cheryl  Frost, and Will Williams  all spoke about their immense pride to have been selected to represent their country, and they each performed well despite the extremely hot and dry conditions. *Pictured right - Jonathan Kettle with Will Williams. In a very fast, packed, and high-quality encounter including 452 elite runners,  Jonathan   Kettle  finished in 89th place overall in just 17 minutes and 44 seconds, and he was 6th in his M50 age cat, whilst GB international veteran track and duathlon champion  Steve Gardner  was 135th in 18.50, and he was 6th in his M60 cat.  Will Williams ...

*Sean and Steve McCormack both won gold medals in the same race. Medal and PB success at the Welsh track & field championships at Yate Report by Don Hale, with input from Brett Davis and Steve Gardner. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   There was a good turn-out and plenty of medal success and PBs at the recent Welsh Masters Athletics track and field championships staged at Yate on 28th June. This prestigious event attracted nearly 500 Masters in total from a variety of clubs across the UK for a highly competitive national encounter, which again included the Welsh finals. And we are fortunate to have some excusive reports from a unique race in which a father and son both won gold medals, and some extraordinary news of an unfortunate mistake where a controversial lap counter failed, yet the athlete in question still won a silver medal; and in in contrast, a report from an international track champion who struck gold in two track events. Welsh Masters Athletics ...