donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026

Male and female course records smashed at the Mish Mash Bethal 5k. Report by Don Hale. coastandcountry.blog donhaleblog,blogspot.com/2026   There was a good turn-out of some 102 athletes at the Mish Mash Bethal 5k race last Wednesday night, which attracted a large number of elite and club athletes, where both the male and female course records smashed! Dion Griffith  (Meirionnydd RC) was the overall winner and the record-breaker with an outstanding performance with a great chip time of just 15 minutes and 5 seconds, and his club claimed eight out of the first ten finishing places. This included  Owen Roberts , who finished second in 15.09, and  Adam Jones , third in 15.30. And quite amazingly in this crazy fast-dash event, the first eight finishers all dipped under 17-minutes, and the first thirteen under 18-minutes. Gemma Moore  (Eryri Harriers) was the female record-breaker with another outstanding run, finishing in 16th place overall, and she also won her F40...

Badger and Fox star in wildlife video Report and video by Don Hale.  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Video No 3: Badger and Fox star in NW wildlife video. The unusually warm spring weather and more recent hot summer days and nights, has encouraged a host of rural wildlife to seek a regular supply of food and water, as they try to keep cool and look after partners and new youngsters. A large and popular private garden close to the Vardy and open fields in North Wales has therefore proved a welcome port of call for a variety of foxes, badgers, squirrels, hedgehogs and other visiting animals. And this recent spell of record-breaking hot and humid conditions seems to have enhanced the demand for urgent supplies, with several twilight attendees enjoying a regular feast of choice. Many animals though have already been callers over several years, despite battling against winter blizzards, just to seek an essential crust or two, and the property owners have been able to ...

Foxes, badgers, squirrels and other wildlife star in exciting North Wales videos... Report and video by Don Hale.  donhaleblog.blogspot.com coastandcountry.blog   Video No1. Fox enjoys  a special  picnic treat. The unusually warm spring weather and more recent hot summer days and nights, has encouraged a host of rural wildlife to seek a regular supply of food and water, as they try to keep cool and look after partners and new youngsters. A large and popular private garden close to the Vardy and open fields in North Wales has therefore proved a welcome port of call for a variety of foxes, badgers, squirrels, hedgehogs and other visiting animals. And this recent spell of record-breaking hot and humid conditions seems to have enhanced the demand for urgent supplies, with several twilight attendees enjoying a regular feast of choice. Many animals though have already been callers over several years, despite battling against winter blizzards, just to seek an essential crus...

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,  who organises the parkrun  North Wales Facebook site,  and helps to promote the tourism angle, and encourages many parkrunners to try different NW venues said: “I really enjoyed the Cowfest, and many of the dedicated parkrunners at this event, w...

Hundreds of runners set a hot pace along the prom at Rhos - plus  a results round-up from some other NW parkruns... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   Numerous elite and club athletes set a hot pace on a very warm and breezy morning at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday morning, along with a generous mix of social runners and walkers, who enjoyed the picturesque 5k promenade route. Last week’s first placed finisher  James Yarwood  (Wrexham AAC) returned to claim victory yet again complete with his twin buggy, and he just managed to outpace rival  Dominic-Dennis Marray-Woods , with James recording another good time of 17 minutes and 9 seconds, with Dominic just 9 seconds adrift, whilst  Rob Evans  (NWRRC) was third with a new course PB in 17.56. The first female was  Isabel Redfern  (Colwyn Bay AC) on her debut in 19.41, and young JW11-14 athlete  Lois Ev...

WANTED! Cat stories for new animal charity book *Can you write a story about your favourite cat? coastandcountry.blog donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 The Cat Detective and Welsh author Aled Mawgan in association with Coast and Country online magazine and Ads2life Digital Services Ltd, are searching for any fact or fiction cat stories, to form part of a special Cat compilation short story book to be published this year on Amazon. There is a one-off submission cost of just £5.00, to cover the set-up process, with a donation to the RSPCA, and/or animal and cat charities, and in addition, any nett royalties earned from online Amazon sales will also be forwarded to these same charities. Your story up to 500 words, can be fact or fiction, funny, dramatic, or inspiring, and it will reach a global audience. Copies of the finished book will also be made available to the individual authors. A photograph or a line drawing can also be included, and entries can be forwarded from people of any age etc...

Conwy parkrun returns to its original World Ranking course on 26/6/26 donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Message from Conwy Run Director Bethan Wyn Roberts Hi Conwy parkrunners, I am delighted to confirm that as of the 20th June 2026, the start of Conwy parkrun will revert to the RSPB. There will be some minor alterations to the way we start our event until all current building work at the site has been cleared away. The RSPB car park will be open and available to park runners from 08:15 am and will be closed no later than 08:40 am. After this time runners will need to utilise alternative parking at Tesco and Conwy Business Park. This is a new chapter for Conwy parkrun and I hope it will be treated as such. Now is the time to look forward with excitement and not to revisit old arguments. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the core group of amazing Run Directors and volunteers who have tirelessly worked to keep Conwy parkrun on the map. You truly ar...

Do you want to run for the Welsh Masters track team at Yate? Urgent message from Rod Davies at WMAL. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog. On Sunday 28th June is our annual track and field championships at Yate. The next big fixture is the interarea, also at Yate on Sunday August 2nd.  Brett will start the men’s team selection on the 28th and would be grateful if anybody who would like to be considered for selection would email him at   Brett-davis1@sky.com .   He won’t actually be able to attend the interarea this summer so will be looking for a volunteer(s) to manage the men’s team on the day. The women’s team is at a much more advanced stage but anybody who would like to be considered for selection should contact Eleri Jones at   eleri9uk@yahoo.com . Any offers to help at the championships also gratefully received by Brett Davis, chair and men’s track and field manager. Hope to see plenty of you at the championships.  If  you are not s...

One thing leads to another:  From the couch to World Championship Silver medals A special and personal journey  report by Welsh Master veteran David Gibson donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Read about David Gibson's incredible journey from the couch to World championship medals  In 2014 at the age of 62, I thought that I was reasonably fit through sailing, swimming, cycling and walking. However, a desk job and driving over 30,000 miles a year meant my legs struggled with any running over half a mile.  With support from my son and daughter and with the 2012 London Olympics slogan ‘Inspire a Generation’ in mind, I embarked upon ‘Couch to 5k’ and did what so many do - a Parkrun in Hove, whilst they were there for the Brighton Marathon. There was no way I could realise then where this would lead. Like so many others, the 5k led to a 10k, which led to a half Marathon and then a full Marathon at Manchester in 2015. Despite the Manchester results being binn...

Top runner with twin buggy was first finisher at Rhos event. donhaleblog.blog.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   James Yarwood (Wrexham AAC) 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 about!”  *The pa...