The month of December welcomed back popular festive events in 2023, followed by the start of the early 2024 January competitions held indoors and on the road in Carmarthenshire and further afield.
Below are the festive and new year results held between December 5th and January 7th at Llanelli, Aberystwyth, Cardiff, Llandeilo, Llandysul and Sheffield.
Da iawn pawb wnaeth cystadlu / Well done to everyone that competed.
Carmarthen Harriers Christmas Bowling Party - Xcel Bowling, Johnstown (Sunday 17th December)
Carmarthen Harriers held its annual Bowling Christmas Party up the road from the track at Xcel Bowling in Johnstown on Sunday 17th December.
Thanks to Alison Thomas for organising and to club President, Dr Hedydd Davies for the donation. We hope that everyone had a great time.
Dyfed Secondary Schools Sportshall Athletics - Year 7 & 8 - Llanelli Leisure Centre (Tuesday 5th December)
Llanelli Leisure Centre hosted the first of two Dyfed secondary schools indoor sportshall athletics events for years 7 and 8.
Sprinters, throwers and jumpers from Bro Dinefwr, St John Lloyd, Bro Pedr, Strade, Dyffryn Aman, Bryngwyn, St Michaels, QE High, Coedcae, Glan-Y-Môr and Bro Myrddin participated.
Events included rounds of the 2 lap sprint and 4 lap sprint on the track.
On the field, the standing long jump, standing triple jump, speed bounce, vertical jump and shot put was contested.
The year 9 and 10 sportshall athletics competition will be organised at Llanelli during the month of January.
An under 13 and under 15 Dyfed Schools’ team will be chosen to compete at the Welsh Schools sportshall finals at Cwmbran Sports Centre in March.
Find the results from the event on the link above.
Aberystwyth Charity 10K Run - Aberystwyth Promenade (Sunday 10th December)
At the Aberystwyth Charity 10K Run on Sunday 10th December, David Cole enjoyed a great run, finishing in third position overall and coming out on top in the M35+ age group (32:51).
Cardiff Met Indoor Christmas Classic Grand Prix - National Indoor Athletics Centre, Cardiff (Sunday 17th December)
Before the Christmas period, Sunday 17th December, Cardiff Metropolitan University held its first of two grand prix events at National Indoor Athletics Centre, Cardiff. The annual Christmas Classic was back in the calendar in the week leading up to Christmas Day.
Seven Carmarthen Harriers athletes made the trip to Cardiff. Club Results were as follows:
Ellie Loweth: 60m (8.29)
Angharad Davies: 3000m (9:28.06)
Amelia Williams: 3000m (9:59.00) This result confirms a new Welsh Indoor U17 Best Performance (subject to ratification)
Jessica Hyland: 3000m (10:40.42)
Frances Mackie: 3000m (11:38.40)
Finley Bruce: 3000m (9:10.65)
Jessica Lee: Long Jump (5.48m)
Incorporated here was the Welsh 3000m Indoor Championships for the under 20 and senior age groups. Davies was the silver medallist in the senior women's category whilst Williams won gold in the under 20 women's age group and Mackie picking up bronze.
New Year's Eve 10 Miler & 10K & Llandysul New Year's Eve 5K Run- Llandeilo / Llandysul (Saturday 31st December)
On New Year's Eve, Sunday 31st December, two annual events returned to West Wales with the New Year's Eve 10 Miler & 10K at Tregib Sport Facilities, Llandeilo and the Llandysul New Year's Eve 5K & 10K Charity run.
At Llandeilo, Esme Lynock was the third female to finish the 10K (47:40). Stepping up in distance to the 10 miler, Steffan Davies and Jake Lynock clocked 1:03:56 and 1:04:15 respectively.
In the North of the county at Llandysul, there was a winning performance from Amelia Williams, who was the first home in 22:18.
Welsh Athletics U13, U15 & U17 Junior Indoor Open incorporating West Wales 800m & 1500m regional championships - Day 2 - National Indoor Athletics Centre, Cardiff (Sunday 7th January)
The 2024 Indoor Athletics opener in Wales saw Day 2 of the Welsh Athletics Junior Indoor Open (Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17 age groups) take place at the National Indoor Athletics Centre, Cardiff on Sunday 7th January.
60m, 60m Hurdles, 800m, 1500m, Long Jump, Pole Vault and Shot Put events took centre stage at Cyncoed Campus.
Following the same format as in previous years, the Welsh Athletics Junior Indoor Open fixtures incorporates the West Wales*, South Wales, East Wales and South West England Regional Championships (*800m & 1500m for West Wales only, as all other events will be included in the region's indoor championships at Swansea on 13th & 20th January).
Macsen Toogood and Tomos Cai Davies returned home with regional medals, with Toogood clocking 2:14.35 in the under 17 men's 800m (silver) and Davies completing the four laps in 2:21.06 in the under 13 boys' race (gold).
Over in the field, Disability Sport Wales athlete Jac Sheehan threw a best of 8.24m in the seated shot at the end of the programme.
England Athletics U20 & Senior Combined Events Championships 2024 - English Institute of Sport, Sheffield (Saturday 6th January)
Over the first weekend of the New Year, Jessica Lee made the trip to the North West of England to compete in the England Athletics U20 & Senior Indoor Combined Events Championships 2024.
The 60m Hurdles, High Jump, Shot Put, Long Jump and 800m, which made up the pentathlon, was staged on Saturday 6th January. Finishing in an excellent runner up position/ silver overall at the end of the competition, Lee also won gold in the Welsh Under 20 Combined Events Championships running alongside.
Pentathlon Results: 60m Hurdles (9.25 PB); 800m (2:28.61); Long Jump (5.85m); High Jump (1.69m PB); Shot (8.82m); Total (3,666pts PB)
