The John H Collins Gwent Cross Country League, one of the most popular grassroots cross-country leagues in the UK, returned to West Wales for the eighth time on Saturday 12th October.
More than 1,000 runners (1,392 finishers) of all abilities descended on a sunny Pembrey Country Park near Llanelli and races featured the under 11 athletes right up to the seniors and masters’ categories.
Local club, Carmarthen & District Harriers Athletics Club hosted the first of five fixtures this season as a new cross country campaign got underway. The club were grateful for the support offered by Carmarthenshire County Council in hosting the event in their park.
Situated between Burry Port and Kidwelly, Pembrey Country Park has become used to hosting big running events by now. Sporting events staged here over recent years have included the Welsh Athletics Cross Country Championships, Welsh Athletics Road Relays Championships, John H Collins Gwent Cross Country League, SIAB Schools U17 Cross Country International, Carmarthenshire Primary Schools Cross Country Championships and the Llanelli Secondary Schools Area Cross Country.
Competitors, coaches, team managers, officials and spectators from more than 40 clubs travelled to Carmarthenshire from across South Wales and the South West of England.
On a course that showcased the counties park and the surrounding areas, the competitors aged 9 to 80 tackled fast grass sections, hills, sand dunes, woods and paths. Participants had the opportunity to take in some breath-taking views around the route overlooking the coastal scenery of Carmarthen Bay and the Gower.
In addition to runners scoring points for their clubs, Pembrey also hosted the West Wales Cross Country Championships 2024 where regional medals were presented to the top three athletes from the region to finish in the junior, senior and master age groups. Alongside this was the selection race for the Welsh Inter-Regional Cross Country Championships in Newtown on 16th November.
The action got underway on Saturday morning with the novice age groups, with many taking part in the event for the first time. The ten-race programme was followed by the under 13, under 15 and under 17 and 20 races (girls and boys) completing either small, medium or large laps.
In the latter part of the afternoon, the Senior & Master Women and Men ran their respective distances of 7.15km and 9.15km. There were big fields once again and plenty of support out on the course.
The 2024/2025 John H Collins Gwent Cross Country League will visit Llandaff Fields in Cardiff and Blaise Castle in Bristol before Christmas. Margam Park in Port Talbot is set to be the fourth venue in February.
We hope that all clubs, athletes, officials and spectators enjoyed their visit to West Wales / Carmarthenshire and had a safe journey to and from Pembrey.
Carmarthen Harriers - Results / Harriers Caerfyrddin - Canlyniadau:
It was a great opportunity for new and established Carmarthen Harriers junior and senior members to compete on home soil at a familiar venue in the county.
The club had sixty-five members attend the opening fixture at Pembrey Country Park and they produced some great results on a challenging course.
Well Done to all athletes listed below, and a big thank you to the parents, team managers and coaches who also supported the event in a number of ways, including team managing, marshalling the course and clearing up the venue afterwards / Da iawn i'r athletwyr i gyd wedi rhestri isod a diolch i'r rheini, rheolwyr tim a hyfforddwyr wnaeth cefnogi mewn nifer o ffyrdd ar y diwrnod.
Thank you also to volunteers from Swansea Harriers and Neath Harriers who supported the club with setting up the course on Friday.
The club athletes competing on the day were as follows / Athletwyr oedd yn cystadlu ar y dydd oedd:
*Novice Girls / Merched o dan 11:
Alys Tremlett, Cara Jenkins, Emily Baker, Eva Williams, Farah Bowen, Haf Thomas, Mared Rees, Soffi Morris, Tayla Williams, Gwen Fitzpatrick
*Novice Boys / Bechgyn o dan 11:
Aron Lewis, Alfie Stopher, Alfie Wills, Davy Richards, Elliot Young, Harri Davies, Issac Longar, Mason Wrona, Macsen Davies, Omar Mohamed, Sam Cheesman, Steffan James
*Under 13 Girls / Merched o dan 13:
Aeronwy Morgan-Fisher, Anya Walters, Bethan Hampshire, Cerys Fitzpatrick, Elsie Davies, Manon Phillips, Olwen Williams, Paige-lily Williams
*Under 13 Boys / Bechgyn o dan 13:
Alex Ladd, Tomos Cai Davies, Iwan Morris, Dylan Williams, Jasper Davis, Max Edwards
*Under 15 Girls / Merched o dan 15:
Anna Jones, Esme Lynock, Lily Morgan, Lowri Morgan, Miriam Williams, Sali Owen
*Under 15 Boys / Bechgyn o dan 15:
Gethin Thomas
*Under 17 & 20 Women / Merched o dan 17 a 20:
Anastasia Eggleston-Stoker, Amelia Williams, Frances Mackie, Macy Blue
*Under 17 & 20 Men / Bechgyn o dan 17 a 20:
Finley Bruce, Ifan Bowen, Iwan Thomas, Jimmy Davis, Joshua Barnett, Luke Owen, Macsen Toogood, Sion Rowlands, Steffan Davies, Tom Bridger, William Harries
*Senior Women / Menywod:
Amy Tucker, Jessica Hyland, Nerys Blue, Rhian Bruce
*Senior Men / Dynion:
Glyn Davies, Huw Davies, Dylan Barrat
SENIOR & MASTER RACES PHOTOS/LLUNIAU: Paul Stillman