Warm, wild and 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 and referee 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) was 4th female and 1st W60 in 1.43.56.

North Wales Road Runners had eight members involved with Will Evans 30th place in 1.32.46, Steve Bozier 44th in 1.36.12, and Stuart Culverhouse 48th in 1,37.01. Frost was one of two female club athletes competing and was pleased with one of her best-ever half marathon times in 76th place in 1.43.56,

Nia Lister was 290th in 2.20.47, Adam Lemalle 84th in 1.45.50; Mal Preece 132nd in 1.54.31 and master vet Rob Fryer was 237th and 3rd M70 after returning from injury in 2.11.26.

Some other local athletes of note included: Rob Evans (Colwyn Bay AC) 6th overall and 1st M40 in 1.22.17, while GOG Triathlon had five members running. Their first three were: Tom Imlah 22nd in 1.29.02, Hayley Parkes 57th in 1.39.07, and Gemma Thomas 177th in 1.59.52. There were 480 finishers.

Male and female course records smashed at Mish Mash 5k

Report by Don Hale

There was a good turn-out of some 102 athletes at the Mish Mash Bethal 5k race on June 30, which attracted a large number of elite and club athletes, with both the male and female course records smashed!

Dion Griffith (Meirionnydd RC) was overall winner and the record-breaker with an outstanding great chip time of just 15 minutes and 5 seconds, and his club claimed eight out of the first 10 finishing places.

This included Owen Roberts, 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 13 under 18-minutes.

Gemma Moore (Eryri Harriers) was the female record-breaker with another outstanding run, finishing 16th overall and 1st F40 with a new championship winning time of 18.40. Her club colleague Elliw Roberts was second (22nd overall) in 19.32, with Emma Alofs (Cybi Striders) third in 20.49.

Other notable results included: Martin Green (Meirionnydd RC) 9th and 1st M50 in 17.12, with Jonathan Kettle (NWRRC) 13th and 2nd M50 second in 17.59, and Arwel Lewis was 53rd and 1st M65 in 23.48.

A couple of other local runners were: – Hannah Griffith (NWRRC) 84th place and 3rd F50 in 26.56, while Peter Johnson was 87th and 3rd M45 in 27.55.

Bright, breezy and plenty of visitors at North Wales parkruns

Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael (Pat) Finnie, Gareth Southworth and others.

There were plenty of visitors at all North Wales parkruns last Saturday including the bright and breezy Llandrillo yn Rhos , where two of the first three male finishers, and the third placed female athlete – all made their course debuts.

Adam Jones was the eventual first and fast finisher with an amazing new course PB of 15.42, but he ran alongside much of the event with visiting rivals Daniel Kashi (Sale Harriers) and Gavin Thomas Stuart, who later shared the same finishing times of 15.45.

Gemma Moore (Eryri Harriers) fresh from her midweek record-breaking success at the Mish Mash 5k, was first female finisher in 18.26 (10th overall), with Ellen Baugh (Denbigh Harriers) second in 22.08, and Melissa Ward Williams (Cybi Striders) third on debut in 22.39. There were 434 finishers.

Some other notable local results at Rhos included: Meirionnydd RC members Martin Green 7th and 1st VM50 in 17.43, and Harry Driscoll 9th and 2nd SM25 in 18.19.

The event also welcomed members of the 5k Your Way, Move Against Cancer group for their monthly gatherings.

Conwy

Just over 200 athletes and walkers attended the revised Conwy course with Luke Lawson Healy claiming the first finisher place with a CPB 18.20, with Dafydd Bryden second in 18.52 and Andrew Bruce third on his debut in 19.04.

The first female finisher was Anna Drinkwater in 20.36, and JW1-14 youngster Lois Evans took second place in 21.44, with Seren Woodall (Colwyn Bay) third in 22.04. There were 210 finishers.

NWRRC entered four members with Paul Aubert 86th in 27.39; Hannah Griffith 87th in 27.44; and Steve Mason 123rd in 30.12; with Gethin Wyn Jones 128th in 30.58.

Penrhyn

It was a double virtual podium finish for two members of the Seguin family at the Penrhyn Castle parkrun, with Nicolas Seguin second male finisher overall in 18.46, and Tamsin Seguin second female in 5th place overall.

Jonathan Tyler (Betsi Runaways) was first male finisher in 18.15, and JW11-14 athlete Savannah Williams top female on her course debut in 19.02, whilst Yvonne Templman was third female on debut in 21.01. There were 212 finishers.

Prestatyn

Visitor Conor O’Neill was the first finisher at the Nova parkrun with a good time of 17.58, followed by Alex Ryder (Prestatyn RC) in 18.10, and Jeremy Pena on his debut in 18.29.

No1 female was Kamaal Richardson (17th overall) with a CPB 22.55, and Heather White (West4 Harriers) took the second spot on debut in 22.53, with JW11-14 athlete Freya Roberts-Howie third in CPB 23.58. There were 219 finishers.

Other local runners of note included: Darren Griss (47th in 26.08) and Ceri Jones from NWRRC (68th and CPB in 27.31.

In addition, there were some extraordinary results by three Prestatyn RC members, including master and super veterans in Martin Corvriend 30th and 1st M70 in 24.39; Mike Davis first M75 in 31.17; and Roger Harrison-Jones, 1st M85 vet in 38.34.