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...

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...

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...

Ifan Lloyd recalls his latest age cat victory at the Swansea half-marathon and Masters International match *My thanks to Ifan once again for sharing his unique racing experiences.   donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   Swansea half marathon and Masters international this morning. A record day for the half marathon which incorporated an International event for Masters (35yo+) between Wales, England, Northern Ireland and UK Armed Forces.    The England contingent was easily the largest squad, but Wales were also strongly represented at these increasingly popular events that take place throughout the year.  After a 13-month gap since my last half marathon, I felt a bit rusty but managed to hold off a strong finish by fellow West Walian Dave Warren to take first place in the men 65-69 age category. Finished in a time of 1h 20m 41sm which was 3 seconds slower than my Newport half marathon in April 2025.  Dave James finished just outside the medal...

Urgent message to all Welsh Masters athletes. 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 inter-area, also at Yate on Sunday  August 2nd.  I 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 me at Brett-davis1@sky.com I won’t actually be able to  attend the inter-area 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 t o help at the championships also gratefully received by myself,  Brett  Davis, chair and men’s track and field manager.  Hope to see plenty of  you at the championships.

*Above and below - Ready for action - some of the hard working volunteers at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday morning. Hot, humid and very busy at Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael  (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026   The Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun proved to be the most popular North Wales event on a warm Saturday morning, which again attracted a host of runners and walkers from all over the UK, and even from Australia, including members from the 5k Your Way, Move Against Cancer group for their regular end of the month gathering. Nine out of the first twelve finishing places were taken by first time entrants with  Paul Jones ( Shrewsbury AC) the first athlete home, recording a new course PB in 16.38, and he was chased by newbies  Conor Davies  second in 16.56, and  Niall Simmonds  (Southampton AC) third in 17.53. And well done to  Iain Burgess,  who ran extremely well in 4th place, despite ...

*Steve Gardner won two gold medals at the North Wales championships. Two gold medals for Steve Gardner in the North Wales track championships. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   Team GB and Welsh International track star Steve Gardner won two prestigious gold medals in the North Wales Track & Field championships last weekend. The experienced and highly versatile veteran athlete, who has recently celebrated continued success in both steeplechase track events, and at top Sprint Duathlon races, was delighted to win his MV60age category in both the 800m and 1500m events. After his races Steve confirmed:   “I competed in the  North Wales Track and Field Outdoor Champs at Treborth  yesterday.  The meeting was for athletes of various ages, however, the younger athletes far outnumbered the Masters’ contingent. “I competed in the 800m consisting of mixed gender and age range finishing in 6th place overall in a time of 2.21.64. A ...

*Pictured above - the start of the Conwy parkrun on the Cob. Numbers boost at Conwy parkrun and at many other parkruns. Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Michael (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   The postponement due to varied reasons of four North Wales parkruns last weekend provided a boost to the numbers at Conwy parkrun, and a few other local events last Saturday morning, plus the improved weather conditions. Iain Burgess  was the outstanding first finisher at  Conwy  with a new course PB in 18.09, and  Robert Evans  (NWRRC) was next in 18.46, with  James Williams  (Lymm Runners) third in 19.04.  *Iain Burgess (*above left) was the first finisher at Conwy parkrun, with Gemma Moore, the first female finisher, and Elin  Jones, who finished third with a PB. *The ladies event was also a close fought contest with  Gemma Moore  (Eryri Harriers) eventually claiming the top spot (5th overa...