Llandaff Fields in Cardiff played host to the first British Athletics Cross Challenge leg along with the re-named John H Collins Gwent Cross Country League last weekend (Saturday 12th October)
The park in the Welsh Capital just north of the City alongside the River Taf attracted many of the UK’s top endurance runners and club athletes to kick-start their winter campaigns.
It incorporated a full range of men’s, women’s and children’s races and was open to runners of almost any age (from 9 right up to over 70).
The newly named “John Collins Gwent Cross Country League” has now been going strong for numerous years, attracting athletes – juniors and seniors – from across South Wales and the South West of England. The league is open to those trying cross country for the first time in the novices going through under 13, under 15, under 17/20 and seniors/masters, so there’s a chance for everyone to get involved during the winter season!
The 2019 John H Collins Gwent Cross Country League programme is set to visit Cardiff, Pembrey, Bristol, Chepstow and Swansea between October and March 2020.
The route incorporated a mixture of flat fast running and interesting woodland and riverside sections on a heavy underfoot course following recent days of heavy rain.
Incorporated into the fixture was the West Wales trials to represent the region in the Welsh Inter Regional Championships at Brecon next month.
Endurance juniors and seniors from Carmarthen Harriers and Llanelli Athletics Club made the 120-mile round trip to Cardiff for the season opener with some high individual placings.
Novice Boys:1 William Coles 4:40, 3 Jac Jones 4:44, 16 Tristan Warrender 5:05, 20 Noa Prendiville 5:08, 36 Joseph Thomas 5:19, 49 Ashton Williams 5:26, 57 Jimmy Davis 5:32, 73 Ryan Rees 5:43
Novice Girls: 2 Amelia Williams 4:54, 4 Jessica Norman 5:08, 19 Gwenan Jones 5:24, 29 Martha Morgan 5:36
Under 13 Boys: 1 Iwan Thomas 9:46, 2 Ifan Bowen 9:59, 3 Macsen Toogood 10:06, 13 Cai Prendiville 10:27, 22 Alex Coles 10:39, 25 Jake Lynock 10:44, 31 Daniel Warrender 10:55, 34 James Sloyan 10:56, 44 Aron Hedd Jones 11:14
Under 13 Girls: 20 Carys Wood 11:30, 24 Frances Mackie 11:40, 25 Erin Morgan 11:44, 32 Ellie-May John 12:02, 40 Charlotte Powell 12:18, 68 Amelie Campion 13:20
Under 15 Boys: 1 Frank Morgan 10:31, 12 Zach Elvy 11:21, 27 Scott Price 11:51, 43 Jack Thomas 12:17, 53 Steffan Davies 12:34, 64 Morgan Williams 13:07, 65 Brynmor Peters 13:10, 70 Iwan Wilson 13:24, 82 Ellis Caddick 14:20
Under 15 Girls: 15 Amy Greatrick 12:55, 52 Amy Tucker 15:01, 57 Bethan Adams 15:29
Under 17 Men: 4 Adam Beer 18:33, 6 Dafydd Jones 18:49
Under 17 Women: 33 Megan Jones 20:46
Under 20 Men: 12 Ben Thomas 22:04, 32 Callum Campion 24:54
Under 20 Women: 8 Carys Jones 19:13, 16 Cerys Davies 21:01
Senior Women: Wendy Price 27:12, Ellie Kiff 28:53, Roxanne Turner 30:58, Jenny Phillips 31:56, Vanessa Buckler 34:16, Peter Moody M75 36:03, Suzanne Owens 36:10, Christina Deakin 36:13, Amanda Toogood 38:02, Jackie Lewis 42:09, Lorna Evans 57:00
Senior Men: Dai Keenan 34:28, Matthew Phillips 37:57, Mike Foster 39:50, Peter Osborne 40:20, Stuart Prendiville 41:15, Huw Davies 42:01, Nick Fox 44:12, Mike Halsall 45:31, Jason Dickinson 50:13, Andrew Bowen 53:18, Jeff Evans 58:56
Looking ahead, Carmarthen Harriers have hosted one of their own matches for the past three years at the magnificent Pembrey Country Park.
The second league match will head back to West Wales on Saturday 9th November organised again by the club and Carmarthenshire County Council.
The West Wales Cross Country championships will be held at Pembrey with medals awarded to the first three from the West across the line.
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