The beginning of July - 6th and 10th - saw secondary schools and college pupils take centre stage at both Cardiff and Brecon respectively.
The 75th edition of the Welsh Schools National Track & Field Championships returned to the Cardiff International Sports Athletics Stadium, Leckwith on Saturday 6th July.
There were over 500 athletes competing, representing one of the eight districts - Afan Nedd Tawe, Cardiff & Vale, Dyfed, Eryri, Glamorgan Valleys, North East Wales, Powys and South East Wales. The age groups were: Junior (Year 8 & 9); Middle (Year 10 & 11) and Senior (Year 12 & 13).
SIAB Schools International call ups were at stake as the annual fixture between Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland takes place in Carmarthen, Wales next weekend.
Young athletes from around twenty Dyfed secondary schools and colleges (Pembrokeshire, Llanelli, Brianne and Ceredigion areas) were selected to compete in the Welsh Capital following the district's athletics championships at Carmarthen Athletics Track in early June. The team of seventy sprinters, endurance runners, jumpers and throwers included a mix of the region's club athletes as well as those experiencing Welsh schools championship level for the first time.
Thanks to the teachers from Dyfed and the Brianne area in particular who selected teams, took on team management duties, prepared the athletes and officiated on the pole vault in Cardiff - they all did a great job!
Representing Dyfed Schools on the day were twenty athletes from the club. Full Results:
Toby Anthony - JB 1500m (4:48.63)
Macsen Toogood - MB 800m (1:59.93)
Tom Bridger - MB 1500m (4:52.45)
William Harries - MB 1500m Steeplechase (4:44.49)
Tygan Davies - SB 100m (11.76); SB 200m (23.40); SB 400m (52.35) & Relay
Finley Bruce - SB 1500m (4:14.04)
Ifan Bowen - SB 3000m (9:01.63)
Jake Lynock - SB 3000m (10:00.42)
Sali Owen - JG 800m (2:23.82)
Summer Evans - JG Javelin (33.68m), JG Discus (29.94m)
Isobel Dunkeld - JG High Jump (1.50m)
Anest Jones - MG 100m (13.72) & Relay
Beatrice Morgan - MG 200m (25.88); MG Long Jump (5.72m) & Relay
Macy Blue - MG 800m (2:31.79); MG 3000m Walk (24:40.39)
Amelia Williams - MG 3000m (10:44.41)
Dolly Evans - MG Discus (34.93m)
Sophia Reid-Thomas - SG 100m (27.66)
Jessica Lee - SG Long Jump (6.04m)
Ffion Mabey - SG Hammer (31.33m); SG Discus (31.47m); SG Shot (8.85m)
Storm Evans - SG Discus (45.68m)
Four days later at one of the biggest grass roots competitions for secondary schools in the summer term, the midweek Welsh Schools NASUWT Cymru Wales Cup & Plate Finals returned to Penlan Arena in Brecon for the first time in five years on Wednesday 10th July.
The cup competition has been organised each year since 1988 while the plate final was added twenty years later. A total of 40 schools qualified from Cup Finals organised by the eight district associations and travelled to the facility in Mid Wales. Each district had one team in the cup competition and one team in the plate competition per age group.
On a great afternoon of athletics, the under 14's and the under 16 age groups contested the sprint hurdles, 100m, 200m, 300m, 800m, 1500m, 4 x 100m Relay, Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump, Shot, Discus and Javelin over a five-hour programme.
Six schools and eight teams from Dyfed qualified to represent the District in Brecon, congratulations to all the schools and athletes.
Under 14 Girls - CUP: Ysgol Bro Myrddin (4th) - PLATE: Ysgol Bro Preseli (6th)
Under 14 Boys - CUP: Ysgol Dyffryn Aman (3rd) - PLATE: Ysgol Penglais (3rd)
Under 16 Girls - CUP: Ysgol Bro Dinefwr (4th) - PLATE: Ysgol Dyffryn Aman (2nd)
Under 16 Boys - CUP: Haverfordwest High School (1st) - PLATE: Ysgol Dyffryn Aman (2nd)
Full Results:
Lucas Carpenter - U14B Cup High Jump (1.30m)
Beca Elfyn - U14G Cup 300m (45.25) & U14G Long Jump (3.40m)
Miriam Williams - U14G Cup 800m (2:55.61) & U14G Triple Jump ()
Manon Phillips - U14G Cup 1500m (5:11.28)
Seren Bowen - U14G Cup 70m Hurdles (13.86)
Gwenno Rees - U14G Cup High Jump (1.20m)
Esme Lynock - U16G Cup 800m (2:47.81)
Leela Findlay - U16G Plate 1500m (6:00.14)
Beatrice Morgan - U16G Cup 75m Hurdles (11.81) & U16G Long Jump (5.64m - CBP)
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Elsewhere in early July...
Red Kite Trail Summer Series - Race 3 - Lampeter Rugby Club (Wednesday 3rd July)
Event 3 of the midweek Red Kite Summer Trail Series took place in Ceredigion on Wednesday at Lampeter Rugby Club.
Taking part in the primary 1K and secondary school 5K categories were: Tayla Williams, Gethin Thomas, Emily Evans-Williams and Paige-lily Williams.
Nantgaredig 5K & Junior 1K Races - Nantgaredig Rugby Club (Friday 5th July)
The first weekend of July began with the local Nantgaredig 5K & Children’s 1K fun run races at the rugby club on Friday 5th July.
Primary School Girls Year 3 & 4: 1. Haf Thomas, 2. Alys Tremlett
Primary School Boys Year 3 & 4: 1. Alfie Stopher
Primary School Girls Year 5 & 6: 2. Gwenno Jones, 3. Bethan Hampshire
Primary School Boys Year 5 & 6: 1. Dylan Williams, 2. Dafydd Williams, 3. Efan Morgan
Secondary School Girls Year 7 & 8: 1. Manon Phillips, 2. Paige-lily Williams
Secondary School Boys Year 7 & 8: 1. Steffan Davies, 2. Gethin Thomas, 3. Oliver Horn
5K Times: Steffan Davies (16:35), Manon Phillips (19:12), Gethin Thomas (19:50), Huw Davies (20:00), Liz Tremlett (20:21), Oliver Horn (20:32), Gethin Mason (21:57), Paige-lily Williams (21:57)
British Milers Club Grand Prix - Alexander Stadium, Birmingham (Saturday 6th July)
Ahead of the European Athletics U18 championships in a couple of weeks, Iwan Thomas secured a new personal best of 8:36.34 in the men's 3000m at the British Milers Club Grand Prix in Birmingham.
Activity Alliance National Junior Para Athletics Championships - Warwick (6th & 7th July)
It was a successful weekend for F34 thrower Jac Sheehan at the Activity Alliance National Junior Para athletics championships at Warwick on Saturday and Sunday!
The opening day saw a lifetime best of 8.84m in the seated shot (3kg) and this was followed by a repeat performance in the seated discus, throwing a new best of 28.43m using the 750g weight.
As a result, he was awarded the 'Outstanding Male of the championships' award.
OGI Porthcawl 10K & Junior Races 2024 - Porthcawl (Sunday 7th July)
There was a record turnout of runners for the 2024 edition of the OGI Porthcawl 10K, which also incorporated two junior races over 1K.
Joshua Barnett clocked 38:40 in the full distance while in the future challenger's races, under 13 Lowri Morgan was 15th overall in 6:11 and Haf Thomas crossed the line in 7:08 in the under 11's.
CACH Mid Summer Open Meeting - Gloucester (Wednesday 10th July)
A midweek Wednesday trip to Gloucestershire for Jessica Hyland was rewarded with a 2-second personal best over the 3000m distance at the second CACH Mid Summer series.
In the field, it was a busy evening of throwing for the Evans' family - Storm Evans (Discus - 44.72m), Dolly Evans (Discus - 36.11m), Summer Evans (Discus - 29.83m) and Buddy Evans - (Discus - 30.50m) & (Shot - 10.66m)