The domestic cross country season returned for the 2022/23 season with an excellent day of racing in the Capital over the weekend, which played host to a World Athletics event. Llandaff Fields in Cardiff was the venue for two popular UK Cross Country League openers which have gone from strength to strength in previous years.
Earlier in the month of October, road running took centre stage in Wales and England, as club athletes completed the Half Marathon and junior distances in Cardiff, while younger members represented the red of Wales on the streets of London.
Read more about the events below...
TCS London Mini Marathon 2022 - London
Thirty-six Welsh Athletics endurance runners, including three Carmarthen Harriers members, represented Wales at this year's TCS London Mini Marathon 2022 in the heart of the English Capital on Saturday morning, 1st October.
The London Mini Marathon for 11 to 17 year old children hosted a series of age group races covering the last 2.6KM of the London Marathon route. It provided an opportunity for young athletes from Wales to test themselves against the best in Great Britain & Northern Ireland, competing against the other Celtic nations, English regions and athletes from 33 of the London boroughs
Carmarthen Harriers Athletics Club have had members selected in this event over many years, and this year was no different.
MINI MARATHON CLUB RESULTS/CANLYNIADAU
U17 - Iwan Thomas (07:34)
U17 - Finley Bruce (07:51)
U13 - Esme Lynock (10:46)
The athletes were supported by a management team of seven, including Carmarthen Harriers club coaches Neil Thomas and Cressy Morgan.
RESULTS/CANLYNIADAU: TCS London Mini Marathon 2022
Wizz Air Cardiff Half Junior & Wizz Air Cardiff Half Marathon 2022 - Cardiff
The Cardiff Half Junior 2022 on Saturday 1st October proved to be a thrilling start to the Cardiff Half Marathon weekend. There was a Fun Run, Toddler Dash & Future Challengers Races across the day. The Wizz Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday 2nd October attracted elite athletes, club runners and fun runners to the streets of the Capital to take on the 13.1-mile distance.
It is Wales' largest road race and Wales' largest multi-charity fundraising event as well as the UK's second largest half marathon.
A number of Carmarthen Harriers members travel to Cardiff City Centre to participate on both days.
CARDIFF HALF MARATHON CLUB RESULTS/CANLYNIADAU
Junior - Future Challengers - Steffan Bridger (4:52)
Junior - Future Challengers - Lowri Morgan (6:35)
Junior - Future Challengers - Deian Morgan (7:31)
Half Marathon - Huw Morgan (1:33:55)
Half Marathon - Ellie Kiff (1:42:25)
Half Marathon - Non Morgan (1:49:49)
Half Marathon - Cerys Davies (1:57:19)
RESULTS/CANLYNIADAU: Wizz Air Cardiff Half Junior 2022
RESULTS/CANLYNIADAU: Wizz Air Cardiff University Half Marathon 2022
British Athletics Cross Challenge Series 2022/2023 / John H Collins Gwent Cross Country League 2022/2023 - Cardiff
The opening 2022/2023 British Athletics Cross Challenge Series leg was held in Wales (Cardiff Cross Challenge) along with the first of five John H Collins Gwent Cross Country League fixture for runners of all ages on Saturday - 15th October.
The park just north of the City alongside the River Taf attracted many of the UK's top endurance runners and club athletes from all over the United Kingdom to kick-start their winter competition, along with several international athletes from Uganda, Spain, Ethiopia and Keyna.
For the second year in succession, this year's Cardiff Cross Challenge was the first fixture included in the World Athletics Cross Country Tour (Gold Standard event). It was streamed live on the day with commentary by broadcaster 247.tv.
watch the live feed (over 4 hours) back on-demand as it happened.
The course was a mixture of flat fast running as well as woodland and riverside sections, as distances varied from 1,250m for the novice youngsters up to 9,600m in the final event of the day for senior & master men.
Incorporated into round 1 of 5 of the John H Collins Gwent League on 15th October was the WEST WALES SELECTION RACE to represent the region in the Welsh Athletics Inter -Regional Cross Country Championships at Monmouth Showground on Saturday 19th November (on the same day as the Welsh Inter-Schools & Colleges Championships).
The first 15 athletes from the West Region in each age category (under 13 and above) were selected automatically and they will be notified shortly. Reserves will be invited to show interest should spaces arise.
Carmarthen Harriers junior and senior athletes, team managers, coaches and parents made the 120-mile round trip to Cardiff as a brand-new season got underway.
Well Done to all runners and thanks to the parents, team managers and coaches who also travelled East to support.
CARDIFF CROSS CHALLENGE / JOHN H COLLINS GWENT CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE CLUB RESULTS/CANLYNIADAU
Novice Girls: Megan Evans (5:09); Paige-lily Williams (5:15); Aeronwy Morgan-Fisher (5:49); Elliw Mai Jones (6:14)
Novice Boys: Tomos Cai Davies (4:13); Jayden Fergus (4:43); Jasper Davis (4:46)
Under 13 Girls: Esme Lynock (10:54); Lowri Morgan (11:06); Nansi Richards (11:41); Mali Griffiths (12:30); Gwenan Fflur Jones (12:51); Honey Davis (12:52)
Under 15 Girls: Amelia Williams (12:12); Megan Thomas (12:35); Anastasia Eggleston-Stoker (12:50); Scarlett Richards (14:25)
Under 15 Boys: Macsen Toogood (10:30); Joshua Barnett (10:53); Sam Griffiths (10:53); Aron Hedd Jones (11:10); Daniel Warrender (11:36); Jimmy Davis (12:12)
Under 17 Women: Eleanor White (17:28); Erin Morgan (18:46); Leah Regan (21:24); Greta McKane (23:13)
Under 17 Men: Iwan Thomas (16:48); Finley Bruce (17:41); Ifan Bowen (18:22); Steffan Davies (18:33); Steffan Bridger (19:04); Jake Lynock (19:37)
Under 20 Women: Jessica Hyland (17:12)
Under 20 Men: Jack Bruce (23:52)
Senior Women: Ellie Kiff (26:44); Rhian Bruce (34:10)
Senior Men: Isaac Ayres (35:41); Huw Davies (38:19)
The Cardiff Cross Challenge started the 2022 / 2023 British Athletics Cross Challenge Series and will continue through to March 2022. Milton Keynes is next up in Mid-November, followed by trips to Liverpool (which hosts the European Cross Country Championship trials) and Perth before the finale at the UK Inter-Counties Championships at Loughborough.
The 2022 / 2023 John H Collins Gwent Cross Country League programme is set to visit Blaise Castle, Bristol and Pembrey Country Park, Llanelli before Christmas (hosted by Carmarthen Harriers) followed by rounds four and five at Pontypool Park and Margam Park (TBC) respectively in the New Year.
RESULTS/CANLYNIADAU: British Athletics Cross Challenge Series (Cardiff Cross Challenge)
RESULTS/CANLYNIADAU: John H Collins Gwent Cross Country League Fixture 1
