Coast and Country book club

By Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 May 04, 2026 *Pictured above - Steve Gardner smashed another record at The North Wales Endurance open meeting at Deeside last weekend. (Photo by Bill Scrivens). Steve Gardner smashed the record at the NW 1500m steeplechase open race... Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog NWRRC veteran and Team GB athlete Steve Gardner competed in the North Wales Endurance open race track meeting at Deeside last Fri

*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

Update on Masters Road Race Championship Calendar 2026.. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 Although the BMAF Executive has only two elected officers and an England Masters representative in post we are not a quorum, this concern has led to some delays and the ability to make decisions. However, with the help of BMAF Services we are determined to continue to provide Championships at T&F, XC and on the Road. To that effect I am posting an update on future Road and Trail Championsh

By Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 May 03, 2026 *Pictured above - the start of the Bank Holiday parkrun at Rhos on Sea. Bank Holiday bonanza at North Wales parkruns Report by Don Hale. Photos at Rhos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog The Bank Holiday weekend brought in plenty of first timers and mixed ability entrants to the various North Wales parkruns, which were again blessed by mild and sunny weather. Llandrillo yn Rhos was th

*Steve Gardner - pictured above and below right - at the British Champs where he was representing Tim Tri Cymru. Double boost for Welsh Master Steve Gardner with two new international Team GB dates for Sprint Duathlons in 2027. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Welsh Master and track star Steve Gardner has just been selected to represent Team Great Britain in his MV60 age category at two major international Sprint Duathlon Championships during next year follo

*Ben and Sarah (*pictured above) and on track at the Bath and Bristol Railway 10k Race. Ben and Sarah on track at the Bath and Bristol 10k Railway Race Report by Don Hale coastandcountry.blog donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 Road Runners Ben and Sarah Hudson were on track for success at the Bath and Bristol Railway 10k race last weekend, the day after also taking part in the Kingsway parkrun at Gloucester. Following her run on Sunday, Sarah confirmed: “Fun weekend back in the S

*Kay Hatton from North Wales Road Runners won her FV60 age category at the Trwasfynydd Lake Race. Trawsfynydd Lake race in support the South Snowdonia Search and Rescue Team. Report by Don Hale. Lake photos by John Hatton. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Over two hundred athletes helped to raise thousands of pounds for the South Snowdon Mountain Rescue team on Sunday by competing in the North Wales SSSART Trawsfynydd 8.5-mile race around the Lake. This po

*Pictured above - the start of a previous BMAF 10k event. Update on Masters Road Race Championship Calendar 2026...make a note of some important BMAF diary dates: - Special report by Walter Hill - BMAF Road Race Sec. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Although the BMAF Executive has only two elected officers and an England Masters representative in post we are not a quorum, this concern has led to some delays and the ability to make decisions. However, with t

*Organiser Dave Munday (second from right) with his North Wales group members at the Father Collins parkrun, near Dublin, last weekend. North Wales parkrun group trip to Dublin on Saturday 11th April. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 coastandcountry.blog Special report from Dave Munday – the trip organiser from parkrun North Wales. It was an early start as the ferry left Holyhead at 4a.m! The smiling faces from the parkrun tourists started to arrive and we were all in high spi

Course problems continue for volunteers at Nant y Pandy parkrun on Anglesey... Information and photos courtesy of Nant y Pandy officials. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog We're missing you at Nant y Pandy parkrun but unfortunately, what was supposed to be a 4 week closure to repair our zig-zag bridge, has become a more complex project and we don't know how long it will take before we can resume our event in Llangefni. As you can see from the photos, it is po

Another update on the Dublin trip on Saturday April 11th from Dave Munday, who runs the parkrun North Wales website... donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Quite a few people now booked on the ferry, different groups doing different Dublin parkruns, just for info St Anne’s is cancelled, Darndale is also cancelled for Saturday, thats 2 that are close to the port. Please see below this was one of the six closest to the ferry port and one that was suggested as a po

Martin Green (Meirionnydd RC) was second in the half marathon. Over 1,000 runners beat the weather at the new Victorian 10 mile and half marathon races in Llandudno. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog It was wild, wet, and windy for over 1,000 hardy athletes on Sunday for the new Victorian 10 mile and half marathon races that started with a loop along Llandudno promenade before heading out towards Colwyn Bay, and

*Pictured above - some of the many volunteers at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun who commemorated the WWF and nature theme. Plenty of visitors at blustery North Wales parkruns... Report by Don Hale. Conwy parkrun photos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog It was cold and blustery for many hundreds of parkrunners across North Wales last Saturday morning, but many events still reported good attendances and fast times. At Llandrillo yn Rhos, wh

Ifan Lloyd (Swansea Harriers) - above left - with David Warren (Cardigan AC) and ( below) Ifan, David, and Mike Whyatt (Eryri Harriers). Success for Welsh Masters at the BMAF championships at Bangor. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Ifan Lloyd reports on the BMAF cross-country championships at Bangor The BMAF (British Masters Athletics Federation) cross country championships was held at the Faenol Estate, Bangor on 21st March. A glorious course of undulatin

*Pictured above - Sprint Duathlon, track champion, and Welsh International athlete Steve Gardner won his age cat in Scotland last weekend. Victory for Steve Gardner at the Scottish Sprint Duathlon Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Welsh International track athlete Steve Gardner won his age category in a prestigious Duathlon Sprint event in Edinburgh last weekend. The Team GB athlete, and NWRRC member, who was representing his second cl

*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

Watch out for all the latest sports news - and particularly athletics - plus special business spotlight features, book publishing/book reviews, charity events, arts & entertainments, and online promotions to over 60,000 followers each week: **Check out the new Blog : coastandcountry.blog Editor Don Hale OBE. Don is an award winning author and former investigative journalist and editor, who has worked for the BBC, plus many national and regional newspapers. He has won the Jou