donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026

Warm, wild, and very windy for the Nova Coast half marathon... Report by Don Hale. coastandcountry.blog donhaleblog,blogspot.com/2026   It was warm, wild, and very windy on Sunday for the Nova Coast half-marathon with nearly 500 runners battling against a strong headwind on this challenging out and back promenade course from Prestatyn. James Yarwood  (Wrexham AAC) was the overall winner in a chip time of 1 hour 18 minutes and 18 seconds, but he was closely tracked by local soccer player  Aaron Dodwell  in 1.18.43, and  Matthew Baker  in 1.19.47.  The first female finisher was  Natasha Jones  (31st overall) in 1.32.56, with  Lisa Allsup  second in 1.36.02, and  Hayley Parkes (GOG Triathlon) in 1.39.07. Meanwhile , Cheryl Frost  (NWRRC) also celebrated another great result as the 4th female, and she won her F60 age cat in 1.43.56. *North Wales Road Runners  had eight members involved with  Will Evans  leading ...

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...

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...

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...

Porth Eirias Runners successful take-over at the Llandrillo Yn Rhos parkrun... Introduction by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blog.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   It proved to be a spectacular take-over at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun on Saturday by Porth Eirias Runners (PER), with this rapidly expanding local club providing a host of supportive members to help volunteer and marshal at this popular weekly event. Despite a very gusty wind and some 435 runners to organise, plus some light-hearted banter and a challenge from a couple of boats from the Bay of Colwyn Sailing Club, it all went very well, and the event organisers posted their comments on Facebook.   PER Organiser Catrin Williams confirmed:  “Parkrun takeover. A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered, took part, or ran at parkrun this morning  Y Promenâd parkrun, Llandrillo-yn-Rhos “We had an amazing turnout of marshals, from first-time volunteers to experienced helpers, taking on a variety of roles. It was fan...

Good numbers and times at the Llanrug 5k championship race. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   There was a good turnout of over two-hundred runners at the midweek Llanrug 5k championship race despite the wet and windy conditions, and quite remarkably, the first eighteen finishers all dipped under eighteen minutes! Meirionnydd athletes  Tomos Roberts and Ifan Dafydd  took the first two finishing places with  Huw Gwynn  (Eryri Harriers) third. Tomos recorded a superb time of just 15 minutes and 37 seconds, with Daffyd close behind in 15.42, and Huw in 16.29. The first female was  Tilly Edwards  (Cybi Striders) in 18.01, with  Tinka Vinks  (Eryri Harriers) the runner-up in 19.14, and  Elliw Haf Roberts  (Eryri Harriers) finished third in 19.52. *North Wales Road Runners  had 15 members involved and young  Joe Culverhouse  led the team home with an outstanding performance in 25th plac...

Bright and breezy for plenty of visiting parkrunners Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 There were plenty of visitors to a bright and breezy parkrun at Llandrillo y Rhos last Saturday morning with debutants claiming the first three male finishing places, and the first female spot. Andrew Walmsley  (Chorlton Runners) was the first finisher overall in 17.20, with  Jack Kay  (Sinfin RC) second in 18.18, and  James Jones  (Chester Tri Club) third in 18.31. Debutant  Flo Hughes  was the first female finisher in 19.46, and she was followed by teenager  Elen Edwards  (15th overall) n 20.38, with  Laura McKenzie  (Betsi Runaways) third, in 22.21. *North Wales Road Runners  had six members at Rhos with  Cheryl Frost  the club’s first finisher in 22.44, and she also won her VF60 age cat.  Richard Scamans  was next home in 23.04, and  Steve Mason  looked back to his best again in 99th place in ...

*Josh Keogh (*above left) who was the eventual race winner at Deganwy, is shown leading the pack with rival Martin Green along Conwy Cob. Deganwy 5-mile Charity Dash proved a winner once again. Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Michael (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   It was another hot and humid, but most enjoyable evening for the annual Deganwy Dash run on Friday night, which was staged over a scenic 5-mile course from the promenade to the RSPB Nature Reserve and back. Well-organised by the hard-working  John Hatton, Carla Green,  and their dedicated team of volunteers, this event attracted 343 finishers and helped to raise many thousands of pounds for children’s cancer charities, and for many other worthy causes. It was also good to see so many local running clubs well represented including members from Prestatyn RC, NWRRC, Denbigh Harriers, Colwyn Bay AAC, GOG Triathlon, Eryri Harriers, Cybi Striders, Porth Eirias Runners, Buckle...

*Pictured above - Jon Evans from NWRRC who was a two-hour pacer. Local runners in top form at the Chester half-marathon. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   There was a massive entry of over 700 elite, club, and mixed ability athletes at the Essa Chester half marathon last Sunday with several North Wales runners celebrating some superb finishing times and placings. Tomos Roberts  and  Martin Green  were two top members representing  Meirionnydd RC , with Tomos 8th in 1.08.54, and he won his MV35 age cat, with colleague Martin also winning his MV50 cat in 23rd place in 1.15.15.  And full credit to another  North Wales  star in  Steffan Sayer  (Menai T&F) who was 20th in 1.14.42, and fellow Welshman  Matthew Collins  (Oswestry Olympians) in 1.07.58. The overall race was won by  Jack White  (City of Norwich) in 1.05.56, followed by  Luke Burgess  (Bristol & West) in ...