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*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

*Master veteran Kevin Slattery on the final lap of his 5k to win his age cat. Triathlon sprint success for veteran Kevin and GOG members Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog *Kevin Slattery 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, whic

*Aled Hughes (above left) with Steven and Sean McCormack at Yate. 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 *Sean and Steve McCormack with their Welsh championship medals. 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

*Members from Eryri Harriers and other runners at the Mish Mash Bethal 5k Male and female course records smashed at the popular Mish Mash Bethal 5k. Report by Don Hale. coastandcountry.blog donhaleblog,blogspot.com/2026 *Arwel Lewis won his M65 age cat. 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 Grif

*Badger and Fox star in North Wales wildlife video 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 pr

*A fox enjoying an evening picnic - one of many wildlife visitors in North Wales. Foxes, badgers, squirrels and other wildlife star in exciting North Wales videos... Report and video by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com coastandcountry.blog Video No 1. Fox enjoying an evening picnic. 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

*Some of the colourful characters at the Cowfest event at Erddig Hall. North Wales ‘Cowfest’ event at Erddig proved a major success... Report by Don Hale. Photos by David Airey and other. donhaleblog.blogspot.com coastandcountry.blog The popular North Wales version of Cowfest staged at Erddig Hall, near Wrexham, proved a huge success last Saturday and attracted over four-hundred parkrun entrants from across the UK. This particular run with similar Cowfest functions at Crath

*Bright sunshine greeted entrants at the start of the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun. 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 *Welsh Masters athlete Will Williams at the Rhos parkrun. Numerous elite and club athletes set a hot pace on a very warm and breezy morning at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last S

WANTED! Cat stories for new animal charity book Can you write a story about your favourite cat? coastandcountry.blog donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 The Cat Detective and Welsh author Aled Mawgan in association with Coast and Country online magazine and Ads2life Digital Services Ltd, are searching for any fact or fiction cat stories, to form part of a special Cat compilation short story book to be published this year on Amazon. *Further details available via this link:...

Conwy parkrun returns to its original World Ranking course on 20/6/26. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Urgent 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

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 Davis 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.

One thing leads to another: From the couch to World Championship Silver medals donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog *David Gibson and his daughter Stephanie at the 2024 London Marathon. A special and personal journey by Welsh Master veteran David Gibson 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 ove

*Porth Eirias Running Club volunteers at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun Porth Eirias Runners completed a very 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 popu

*Ifan Lloyd with his BMAF medals. Great results for Welsh Master Ifan Lloyd at the recent BMAF Track & Field championships... Welsh Master athlete Ifan Lloyd recalls a successful hot day on the track at the BMAF championships. *My thanks to Ifan for sharing his unique experiences. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog A day out at the BMAF (British Masters) 1 mile and 10km track championships yesterday (30th May) at Horspath Athletics Track near Oxford. With

One of the new Welsh medals Message from Brett Davis at WMAL. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Hi all Firstly please find attached a couple of photos publicising the new gold medal for the championships to go on our media. Silvers and bronzes will still be the original format for now. Secondly Bernie’s road race selection has had Expressions of interest publicity on Instagram. We may be able to contact one of the WA contacts to see if we could have similar

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

*Members of the parkrun North Wales group at HMP Berwyn. North Wales group went on the run at HMP Berwyn. Special report courtesy of event organiser Dave Munday. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 So today (Saturday 6th June 2026) was a special day for this group as some of us went to HMP Berwyn for a parkrun. This moves some of us on to club 19 and Club 18 in the North Wales parkrun group, and has also given us a chance to make an even stronger connection with the most difficult

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

*Pictured above - Ben and Sarah Hudson at their latest marathon race on Tyneside. Ben and Sarah celebrated their 26th marathon on Tyneside. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Ben and Sarah Hudson took part in the challenging Newcastle and Gateshead marathon last Sunday – which was their 26th marathon! Ben finished in 3:48:59 and Sarah in 4:10:29, and 3rd in her age cat. After her race, Sarah confirmed: “Such a cool weekend exploring Newcas