Saturday 29th April, Sunday 30th April and Monday 1st May saw Carmarthen Harriers' sprinters, endurance runners, throwers and jumpers compete at several early May bank holiday weekend events in Carmarthenshire, West Wales and further afield.
Annual events at this time of year returned such as the Sialens Y Barcud Coch / Red Kite Challenge, Cardiff 5K - Race for Victory, UK Youth Development League, BUCS Outdoor Athletics Championships, Carmarthen Mayor's Fun Run Races and Ras Dyffryn Cledlyn.
Below are the Carmarthen Harriers club results from those bank holiday events...
Red Kite Challenge incorporating West Wales and Welsh Trail Running Championships - Devil's Bridge near Aberystwyth (Saturday 29th April)
Eight athletes travelled North to Devil's Bridge near Aberystwyth on Saturday 29th April for the 2023 edition of the Ras Y Barcud / Red Kite Trail Challenge.
With record entries this year, it incorporated the West Wales Trail Running Championships & the Welsh Trail Running Championships once again. It was great to see the founder of the event 20 years ago, Dic Evans in attendance to congratulate the runners and present awards in each of the age categories.
The under 18s race was also a trial for the WMRA International Youth Cup in France on the final weekend of May.
Results:
Eva Davies - U13 (19:06)
Nansi Griffiths - U15 (24:32)
Megan Thomas - U18 (32:19)
Leah Regan - U18 (32:30)
Gethin Thomas - U13 (15:40)
Iwan Thomas - U18 (25:41)
Finley Bruce - U18 (26:35)
Jack Bruce - 10K (1:01:44)
Cardiff 5K - Race for Victory 2023 - Whitchurch, Cardiff (Sunday 30th April)
The Cardiff 5K - Race For Victory 2023 incorporating the Welsh 5K Road Racing Championships returned to its usual May slot on Sunday evening, 30th April on the streets of Whitchurch.
5K Results:
Steffan Davies - (16:28)
Jake Lynock - (16:37)
Joshua Barnett - (17:41)
Amelia Williams - (17:54)
Huw Davies - (19:41)
Carys Wood - (21:14)
Esme Lynock - (21:43)
UK Youth Development League Midland South/West 1 - Outdoor Sports Complex, Yate (Sunday 30th April)
At Yate's Outdoor Sports Complex, under 17 and under 20 athletes were competing as part of the West Wales composite team on Sunday 30th April in the opening Youth Development League Midland Premier South/West 1 Division, run as a double-header with the South/West premier).
Results:
Jessica Lee - 200m (25.23) & Long Jump (5.73m)
Sophia Reid-Thomas - 100m (13.45) & 200m (27.98)
Frances Mackie - 1500m (5:09.06)
Ifan Bowen - 3000m (9:16.61)
Storm Evans - Discus (41.36m)
Dolly Evans - Discus (29.43m)
The next fixture takes place at Swansea University Athletics Track on Sunday 28th May, which West Wales will be hosting, followed by a trip to Aberdare at the beginning of July.
BUCS Outdoor Athletics Championships 2023 - SportCity, Manchester (Saturday 29th April - Monday 1st May)
The same weekend also saw the 3-day BUCS Outdoor Athletics Championships head to SportCity in Manchester where two athletes were representing their universities.
Jessica Hyland (Swansea University) just missed out on a place in the women's 1500m semi final with a time of 4:53.44.
Shortly after on day 1, Ellie Loweth (Edge Hill University) was in action in the women's 100m heats, clocking 13.30.
Carmarthen Mayor's 5K & Junior Fun Run - Carmarthen Town Centre (Monday 1st May)
On Bank Holiday Monday (1st May), the Carmarthen Mayor's Fun Run Races celebrated its 40th anniversary event.
It was organised by Noelwyn Daniel from Healthy Life Activities and supported by Carmarthen Town Council, McDonalds and GD Harries along with twenty other local organisations.
The annual race was established by Councillor Peter Hughes-Griffiths, in partnership with Carmarthen Harriers Club President Dr Hedydd Davies.
With approximately 740 runners of all ages entered for the 2023 edition, the beauty of the Carmarthen Mayor's Races is that they take place in the heart of the town centre.
The day started with the 5K fun run where runners ran along the town's main roads a total of three times before the grandstand finish up at Guildhall Square. The 5K used chip timing results, meaning that all athletes were able to get their own individual time.
This was followed by a series of junior races, featuring experienced club athletes to those making their first steps in running.
It began with the boys and girls in years 1 & 2 followed by years 3 & 4, years 5 and 6 and secondary school years 7 & 8 completing two laps of the course.
The final event saw a category for the nursery and reception children over one lap, where the young ones could run alongside their friends and family.
Carmarthen Harriers 5K timed results:
Ifan Bowen (17:09) (1), Sam Griffiths (17:28) (2), Jake Lynock (17:39) (3), Joshua Barnett (18:38), Jimmy Davis (19:56), Huw Davies (20:43), Megan Thomas (21:41) (2), Macy Blue (22:40) (3), Carys Wood (23:39), Esme Lynock (24:51), Annastasia Eggleston-Stoker (26:03), Lisa Forrest (27:41)
Carmarthen Harriers in the Junior Races (Nursery to Year 8):
It was great to see such a big number of our juniors running at the event on Monday and all performing well in their Harriers vests. We hope you had a great time in the home town!
Junior results were not recorded outside the first three therefore we are unable to mention every athlete in this report, but well done to all those who participated.
The following athletes finished in the top three of their respective school years: Erin Lili Davies (Ysgol Llangynnwr), Steffan James (Ysgol Y Dderwen), Efan Morgan (Ysgol Y Dderwen), Emily Evans-Williams (Ysgol Penygroes), Tomos Cai Davies (Ysgol Y Dderwen), Jasper Davis (Llandovery College), Lowri Morgan (Ysgol Bro Dinefwr) and Toby Anthony (Ysgol Bro Myrddin)
Ras Dyffryn Cledlyn 5 Mile & Junior Races - Llanybydder (Monday 1st May)
The Ras Dyffryn Cledlyn 5 Mile & Junior Races was also held on Bank Holiday Monday at Llanybydder. Awaiting Junior Results.