Don Hale Blog

 *Pictured above - Helen Hannam at the finish of the 2025 T win Piers 10k race Arthur Bebbington Twin Piers 10k 2026 Held under UK Athletic Rules. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 Race Headquarters:  Race Finish Near Porth Eirias towards Old Colwyn on Promenade LL29 8HH Transport to start @ 12.15pm prompt from Race HQ on Promenade for 1pm start from Llandudno Pier. Medals to all finishers CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES 10th JANUARY 2026 NO ENTRIES ACCEPTED ON THE DAY): Entries can be made via the link below: https://colwynbayac.niftyentries.com/Arthur-Bebbington-Twin-Piers-10k-2026?fbclid=IwY2xjawOMDshleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBVc0xSbkEzaDdhaVo3WHEwc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHm4CmICiaMknR3YcQonjcy7QdN20xBkZp-xnDT-ybOy8jHz6UOmgInu5szD7_aem_ySSqcdIZUuEms1tJUnsqvA#entryoptions PRIZE CATEGORIES Male - 1xU20,3xSM,3xV35,3xV40,3xV45,3xV50,3xV55,3xV60,1xV65,1xV70,1xV75,1xV80 Female- 1xU20,3xSF,3xV35,3xV40,3xV45,3xV50,3xV55,3xV60,1xV65,1xV70,1xV75,1xV80 The Tom Watson Memorial Tr...

Llandudno Lions Boxing Day Sea Dip for local charities - entries now open...all funds for deserving local charities... donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 The Lions Club of Llandudno have just announced the details about their annual Boxing Day Sea Dip in association with St George's Hotel on Tuesday 26th December, and entries are now open! The check in will be at 10am ready to go into the water at 11.30am (tide permitting). One of the organisers, John Chambers , suggests that suitable footwear should be worn and all the proceeds will go towards Alaw Ward (Cancer Ward) at Ysbyty Gwynedd, and local Lions Charities. John added: "This is a unique chance to raise funds for a deserving cause of your choice and to help Llandudno Lions Club. All registered swimmers will also receive a special certificate memento of the event, and prizes will also be awarded for Fancy Dress." *Entries for the Lions Club of Lland udno Boxing Day Dip are NOW OPEN. Please use link below FREE to ENTER. Ple...

MENTAL ELF – Festive Fun Run. Sunday 30th November at 11am for Conwy Mind at Eirias Events Centre. Put on your Elf hat and join our Festive Fun Run. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   There are two choices to choose from: - A 5k Mental Elf, or a 2k Mini Elf.   Join us on Sunday 30th November 11am at Eirias Events Centre, Colwyn   Bay  for a day of fun and fundraising.  Walk, jog, skip or run while soaking up the festive spirit and supporting Conwy and Vale of Clwyd Minds. Together, we can go the extra mile for mental health! Mini Elf 2k Fun Run: A new event this year! Mini elves can join in the fun too with a 2km fun run packed full of all the jingling fun. A Free National Trust pass for every participant*   This year, Mind is partnering with the National Trust. If you take part or volunteer in a local  Mental Elf event, you’ll receive a free family access pass to National Trust sites! It’s our way of thanking   you for supporting mental health ...

*Pictured above - Mark Davies who has just  launched an appeal for HEADWAY. Mountain  runner Mark Davies launches a unique fundraiser for Headway - the brain injury charity association. Introduction by Don Hale.  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Mark Davies is an inspirational and popular athlete from Llandudno, who has won numerous athletic awards, and set some extraordinary records for his incredible mountain and fell running exploits over the years, but now he is about to face his ultimate challenge to test his amazing recovery powers!   In January 2023 however, he was the victim of a hit and run incident and suffered a traumatic brain injury which completely changed his life. Now, through sheer determination, hard work, and generous support, his is slowly recovering and re-learning to talk, walk and run.   Mark has now entered the gruelling  Conwy half-marathon  in November over a challenging route that also includes a circuit of the  Grea...

Notice of Annual General Meeting on Saturday 22 November 2025 at 11:00am by Zoom...                     Urgent Reminder:   donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the British Masters Athletic Federation will take place on  Saturday 22nd November 2025 .   The meeting will be held on “Zoom” and joining details will be circulated later. The Agenda for the meeting will be circulated at a later date.   Any items for the Agenda should be submitted to the Hon. Secretary as soon as possible.   The BMAF Executive intend to include a motion on the agenda to allow BMAF to be wound up and its activities and objectives be transferred to a new company BMAF Holdings Ltd.     You support is requested for the meeting. We need new blood among our elected officers and volunteers to allow the Federation to continue to provide Championships and competition. If you can hel...

*Steve Gardner is pictured (*above left) on the podium at the European Masters event. Prestigious Silver medal for Steve Gardner at European Masters Champs...plus a new PB and a new Welsh track record! Report by Don Hale.  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Welsh Master Steve Gardner came home with a prestigious silver medal after competing in the European Masters Athletics Championships in Madeira last week and said that competing successfully at this level had been like a dream come true. The North Wales Road Runner  was representing Great Britain once again in the 2000m steeplechase event, and he finished second following a highly competitive encounter against some of the world’s top track athletes, yet he recorded a great new PB and claimed a new Welsh Masters record! Veteran Steve was one of 4,200 masters athletes from 33 European countries at this top Euro Masters track championship event, and he praised his North Wales endurance coach  John Mussum  for his h...

SYNAESTHESIA ELIZABETH HAINES October 18th - November 22nd, Oriel Q Gallery, Narberth. Special Coast and Country Arts Feature.                 Report by Don Hale.   donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 Elizabeth Haines has developed a distinctive voice that balances observation, poetry, and imagination. Her work straddles the boundary between representation and abstraction: drawing from the landscapes of Wales, informed by years sketching from nature, yet transformed through memory and dreams. Elizabeth's art is rich in texture, colour, and inner space. Her studio practice is deeply connected to her surroundings: the rugged terrain, changing light of Pembrokeshire feed her work, but so too do poetry and music Her paintings invite the viewer in: at first through colour, surface, and form; then deeper, toward architecture, trees, or horizons suggested rather than stated. https://www.orielqnarberth.com/synaesthesia-elizabeth-haines   Gallery Opens...

*John and Michelle Farrell competed well in the Bath Marathon. Great new PB times for John and Michelle at the Bath Marathon. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Caitlin Faye. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 GOG Triathlon members John and Michelle Farrell competed well in the Bath Marathon last Sunday with both athletes recording some very good finishing times and new personal best (PB) times! Michelle won her age category in the Police Services UK (PSUK) championships and John was pleased with fourth place in his own age cat. After the event John confirmed: "A Lovely few days in Bath. A beautiful city and a marathon. PB’s for both Chelle and myself in 3:45 and 3:52 r espectively, and yet another win in age for Michelle at PSUK champs and 4th in age for me." *Pictured above - Michelle (*right) received her winners trophy from a police official.