Don Hale Blog

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.

*Pictured above left - Josie Davies with Mandy Owen in Manchester. Some Happy Faces at the Manchester half-marathon. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 North Wales runners Josie Davies and Mandy Owen  took part in the  Manchester half-marathon  on Sunday.  For Josie in particular, it was an emotional event after losing her husband Gethin earlier this year, and this challenge was part of her prolific fundraising plan for the Happy Faces Cancer Charity, Josie confirmed:   “The biggest thank you to Mandy and Charlie Owen  for today, 1 for taking us, and 2 for Charlie “Daddy Day Care” services for looking after the boys for me to take part in the race.  “Quite a stressful time getting ready to run, and the organisation was far from the best race I’ve taken part in, and the finish wasn’t much better, but the actual run I really enjoyed. “It was my first half-marathon since the Cardiff Half last October, and I did pretty much the same tim...

*Pictured above -Steve Bozier at the Chester Marathon. NW Road Running duo ran well in the Chester Marathon. Special report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Two North Wales Road Runners tackled the windswept Chester Marathon on Sunday and they both performed well, especially given the extremely challenging conditions. Steve Bozier  was a little apprehensive about running this distance at first after taking some time out from longer races, but he ran well in chip positions of 844th out of 6,698 entrants in 3 hours 26 minutes and 12 seconds, and afterwards he said: A great day back racing again, my first marathon in a year, and only my second race this year.  “I really enjoyed that and only entered two weeks ago with just six weeks of training as a warm-up for the  Eryri Marathon in three weeks. I took it relatively easy and paced it well to get my second fastest marathon time. Rest now, recover, and onto the next one!"  Jon Evans  ( *Pictured rig...

*Tristan Owen from Tom  Owen & Son provides a warm welcome. Tom Owen and Son Funeral Director - FREE Bereavement  Coffee Morning in Llandudno:   donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 https://www.facebook.com/tomowenandson We know that grief can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. Join us for our Bereavement Coffee Morning on: - Thursday 18th September  10am – 12 noon - or at other times specified (*see below) for further details. Providero Tea & Coffee House - Llandudno It’s an informal, supportive space to share experiences (or just listen), meet others who understand, and enjoy a cup of coffee in good company. Everyone is welcome – whether you’ve experienced a loss recently or some time ago. If you’d like more information, please get in touch. Tom Owen and Son INDEPENDENT FAMILY-RUN FUNERAL DIRECTORS IN LLANDUDNO Special promotional feature:   Tom Owen and Son – Your trusted, family funeral directors.  Address: 11 Bodhyfryd Road, Lland...