donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026

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...

*The busy start at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday with some dramatic actions till to come on the dash to the finish. An exciting story and finish at Rhos parkrun plus a NW results round-up... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   It proved to be yet another exciting and very close start and finish at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun - with the top three athletes all battling it out over the final kilometre - before Conor Davies and Michael Corrales, eventually held on to keep James Yarwood and his famous double twin buggy in third place! Connor had an outstanding 5k run in just 16 minutes and 53 seconds, with Michael second with a new course PB in 16.59, and James (Wrexham AAC) a close third in 17.00.  *The first female finisher was  Elin Jones  in 20.13 (18th overall) in 20.13, with JW11-14 athlete  Savannah Williams  a close second with a new course PB in 20.22, and visitor...

Newport Harriers members shine at the recent Welsh T&F championships at Yate. Introduction by Don Hale. Photos and results courtesy of Newport Harriers. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Well done to all at Newport Harriers following some great performances at the recent Welsh Masters Athletics track and field championships at Yate. This a summary of some of their outstanding club results courtesy of  Newport Harriers Athletic Club Welsh Master Champs, Yate 28th June. Another day where our Master athletes continue to inspire us. We had a good representation in Yate - well done to everyone who competed.    If you’re over 35 please feel free to get in touch and we will put you in touch   W&M35 Lisa B HT =age Pb, Shot  Mark B HT, shot  Matt HK 100m PB, 200m PB W&M40  Eleri J 100m PB, 200m  Rhiannon J 200m PB, 400m PB, LJ  Naomi H 3k age PB, 5k  Samson C 100m, 200m  Dean J 1500m, 3k  M50   Ia...

Repeat performance by one man and his child buggy at Rhos parkrun - plus NW results round-up. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael (Pat) Finnie, and others. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   It was very warm and very breezy for hundreds of runners and walkers at all North Wales parkruns last weekend, and the Llandrillo yn Rhos 5k event attracted another bumper attendance, where James Yarwood (*pictured right) once again finished first in 17.47, accompanied by his young twins in a child buggy! The Wrexham AAC runner was chased all the way though by young  Joe Culverhouse  (NWRRC), a talented soccer player and junior referee, who won his JM15-17 age cat with a determined effort in 18.19, with  Gemma Moore  (Eryri Harriers) the first female, and in third place overall in 18.30.  Abbie Robinson  was the second female in 21.30, with  Bethan Parry  third with a new course PB in 22.23.  *There were 468 finishers at Rhos. * N...

*Master veteran Kevin Slattery on the last lap of his final 5k race. Triathlon sprint success for veteran Kevin and GOG members Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   Master veteran Kevin Slattery, the chairman of North Wales Road Runners, won his VM70 age category at the prestigious Llandudno Open Sprint Triathlon championships staged recently from the town’s promenade. Despite very warm and blustery conditions, which included a tough swim, bike, and a 5k run, with the swim slightly reduced due to the challenging conditions - and a cycle race twice around the Great Orme - Kevin eventually triumphed to huge acclaim after finishing his two-lap run in a very good time! Following his event, Kevin, who is pictured right - he modestly confirmed:  “It was a well-managed event in good conditions, although windy in places, and great support from spectators.  “It included a 500m swim (reduced from 750 because of the wind) 14.06; twice around the G...

*Pictured above - some of the NWRRC members at the Felinheli 10k - (l-r): Will Evans, Stuart Culverhouse, Hannah Griffith, Adam Lemalle, Steve Roberts and Kevin Slattery. A close finish at the blustery Felinheli 10k race in midweek   donhaleblog.blog.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   It was very warm and windy for the challenging Felinheli 10k race in midweek, with three members of Meirionnydd RC finishing within the top four places overall. Tomos Roberts  and team-mate  Daniel Kashi  actually shared the exact same finishing chip times of 32 minutes and 21 seconds in a very close-run contest, with  Ifan Dafydd  claiming fourth place in 33.41; whilst in between the club rivals, was the promising youngster  Noa Vaughan,  who finished third in 32.53. In addition, there some excellent performances by many of the top ten finishers including  Steffan Sayer  (Menai T&F) in sixth place in 34.57, and from  Ian Edwards  (Eryri Har...

*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 ...

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...

*The incredible Welsh Master champion David Gibson 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...