Arts & entertainments

*Pictured above - the start of the Landrillo yn Rhos parkrun. North Wales parkrun results round-up from a very wet morning...and pacers on patrol at Rhos on Sea. Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Michael (Pat) Finnie, John Hatton, and Rhos parkrun officials. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog *Run directors and volunteers (above) near the finishing funnel at Rhos, and (*below) the NWRRC Marshalls, pacers and volunteers on Saturday. Nearly four-hundred m

*Pictured above - the NWRRC team at the Caernarfon half-marathon and NW championships. (l-r): Rob Fryer, Stuart Culverhouse, Adam Lemalle, Steve Roberts, Nia Lister, and Kay Hatton. Gold medal and charity winners at the Caernarfon half-marathon championships... report by Don Hale and photos by John Hatton. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog A large field of some 720 quality and mixed ability athletes tackled the undulating Caernarfon half marathon last Sunday

*Pictured above - the start of the new Padarn 5k race last Wednesday night(photo courtesy of SportpicturesCymru). Quality athletes and fast times at the new Padarn 5k race Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog There was a good turn-out of mainly elite and club runners at the brand new Padarn Sbrint 5k dash in midweek, where the first eight finishers all dipped under seventeen minutes, and Meirionnydd RC claimed the first four places. Owen Ro

Join the Penrhyn Castle Dark Run – Light Up the Night for Hope House Children’s Hospices! donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Get ready for a magical evening at the stunning Penrhyn Castle as we light up the night for a truly special cause. The Dark Run is a family-friendly event in support of Hope House Children’s Hospices, offering a fun and unique 3K route (or 1.5K for little legs) through the beautiful castle grounds – all after dark! October 17th 2026,

*The picturesque view of Conwy Castle taken from near Deganwy Prom. North Wales Sports and community blog reaches its ONE MILLIONETH VIEWING - and new children's cancer charity appeal... donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog I am pleased to confirm that the sports, features, and community blog has now reached over ONE MILLION DOWNLOADS from about 1,500 popular posts within the last few years. This total was expected to be achieved by Christmas but due to a recent

*Pictured above - Carla Heath - with her dramatic new book Mother's Love. Special Coast and Country Author Spotlight Feature. Welcome to another new author feature in conjunction with Amazon. Mother’s Love by Carla Heath Published by North Wales based firm: Ads2life Digital Services Ltd. www.donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog *Read Carla’s fascinating new book which is now available on Amazon via this link: https://amzn.to/3ASdQQF ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Mothe

Dave Jordan’s nostalgic book about 1970s schooldays. By Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 August 07, 2026 Special Coast and Country book review promotion. Dave Jordan’s nostalgic book about 1970s schooldays. donhaleblog.blogspot.com coastandcountry.blog LIFE AT BEDFORD DRIVE PRIMARY SCHOOL Now available on Amazon Life at Bedford Drive Primary School by Dave Jordan is a collection of stories and anecdotes of the author’s time at the school as a pupil during the 1970s, w

*The North Wales Road Running team at the Race the Train event in midweek, pictured left to right: Jonathan Kettle, Helen Hannam, Hannah Griffith, Nia Lister, and Daniel Hennell. Runners were on track to Race the Highland Train at Caernarfon in midweek... Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Nearly three-hundred club and mixed ability athletes took part in the popular annual Race the Highland Train 5k dash last Wednesday night at Caernarfon

*Pictured above and below some of Elizabeth Haines's paintings on display during her exhibition at Peppers Gallery in Fishguard.. Artist Elizabeth Haines’s exciting new ‘Thin Places’ exhibition in Fishguard...14th July until 29th August 2026. Special Coast and Country online art feature. coastandcountry.blog donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 The much-admired Pembrokeshire artist Elizabeth Haines will be staging an exhibition of her latest and exciting paintings from Tuesday 14th

Special Coast and Country book review: MUCKERS by Eamon Kavanagh: Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog *Now available on Amazon as a paperback print version, an ebook, and also as an audio book. These are the links: This is a very interesting book about a real local character and a former Man City player who has survived some tough times throughout his challenging career. *Paperback : https://amzn.to/44qjVA9 *Ebook: https://amzn.

MALLARD - How the Blue Streak Broke the World Speed Record By Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 December 04, 2020 MALLARD - How the Blue Streak Broke the World Speed Record by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 More than eighty years ago on the East Coast main line, the streamlined A4 Pacific locomotive Mallard reached a top speed of 126mph a world record for steam locomotives that still stands. Since then, millions have seen this famous locomotive, resplendent in h

*Pictured above (l-r): Rhos Run Directors' Chris Spillane, Sharon Hughes and Richard Peevor with the amazing 10,000th parkrun landmark certificate, and (below) the commemorative golden token. Landmark 10,000th runner at the new Rhos on Sea parkrun - plus other results round-up... Report by Don Hale. Rhos photos by John Hatton, and at Conwy by Michael Finnie. coastandcountry.blog donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 It was another fun-packed occasion at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkru

Join the exciting world of Virtual Events that can be completed in your own time, with limited costs, genuine recognition and superb medals. Special Coast and Country online sports feature by Aled Mawgan. **SPECIAL MAGAZINE OFFER OF 10% DISCOUNT ON ALL ENTRIES: Use this Social Coupon Code: COAST26 donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Are you a runner, a club athlete, cyclist, a keen walker, or even a dog walker, just intent on maintaining a certain level

*Pictured above - junior parkrunners and officials at Conwy last Sunday. Egg-citing medals and Easter eggs for youngsters at Conwy Junior Parkrun... donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog There was a massive turn-out of some 117 enthusiastic youngsters at the Conwy Junior parkrun on Easter Sunday, where some special medals provided by sponsor John Hatton, together with Easter eggs donated by the Paysanne Restaurant, were handed out to the children. John later conf

*Pictured above - some of the Welsh Masters athletes at Lee Valley. Welsh Masters at the Indoor Inter-Area track & field Championships at Lee Valley on 14th March 2026. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Joe Horner reports from last weekend's events. Well done to our athletes who competed last weekend:W70 Nicky B - HJSB, Shot 60m SBW55 Juliet S - 60m Age PB 200m M40 Samson C - 60m 4 x 200m W40 Rhiannon J - 4 x 200m W40 Eleri J - 200m 4 x 200m M55 Jim M - LJ

*Pictured above. - Headland Moon by Elizabeth Haines. Artist Elizabeth Haines confirms her Open Studio event over the Easter holidays with some exciting new paintings and pastels. Special Coast and Country arts spotlight. coastandcountry.blog donhaleblog.blogspot.com The much admired Pembrokeshire artist Elizabeth Haines will be staging an Open Studio event on Easter Saturday, Sunday, and Monday with a showing of many of her exciting new works created during the snow towards

*Pictured above - Australian author Joy Bloomis. Special Coast and Country Author Spotlight Feature: Welcome to another new author feature in conjunction with Amazon.. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Australian author - Joy Bloumis: The Storms You Walk Through: A Memoir of Roza Hamer. *This book is now available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3NxPcaH Exclusive report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogpost.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Occasionally, within my role as a journalist, author, a

Special Coast and Country book review: donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 * Run in conjunction with: donhaleblog.logpost.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog About the Author: Mac McKechnie, and his fascinating Garden of Words books... Mac McKechnie (*pictured above) is a Yorkshireman who lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Now aged 75, he has the welcome luxury of time to return fully to his lifelong love of writing. Mac is an active Christian and serves as Pastor of his local church

Welcome to parkrun North Wales Dave Munday launches an exciting new online site for NW parkrunners. Special report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog This an exciting new initiative from the well-known, popular parkrunner and local athlete Dave Munday, who is ready to provide a regular summary of all North Wales parkruns. He explained this week: "This is the site I am using for the round-up of all 17 North Wales parkruns, stats on numbers atten

So What's Wrong With Dreaming? Special Coast and Country book review: Run in conjunction with: donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 *This is a direct link to Amazon books: https://amzn.to/40LHDn7 Featuring author Richard John Campbell MBE, and his latest book - So What's Wrong with Dreaming? Born into a family struggling, like so many, from the after-effects of the Second World War; where the home was poor and shared by seven people, all packed into a small Victorian semi. Wit