Article on Dewi Griffiths - Carmarthen Harriers/ Swansea University/Swansea Harriers - inspirational story on how to work hard and succeed - written by Dr Hedydd Davies (Carmarthen Harriers Club President)
__________________________________________________
Dewi lives with his parents in the family hill farm in Llanfynydd fifteen miles north of Carmarthen the county town of Carmarthenshire.
The nearest athletics track is at Carmarthen.
He went to the local primary school in Llanfynydd and then on to Ysgol Tregib secondary school in Llandeilo.
He has always lived at home except when he studied for his B.Sc. mathematics degree at Swansea University.
Life can be hard at times on the farm particularly during lambing and sheep shearing time during the year.
Dewi has always had an interest in running from an early age and he would spend a lot of his time running in the fields on the farm.
Whilst at primary school he competed in the Carmarthenshire primary schools cross country championships and finished 17th in the Y6 race. His primary school Head teacher Geraint Davies said that he was not good enough to compete in the Dyfed primary schools cross country championships, but he did and finished 48th.
He then competed in local village sports and his interest in athletics grew and when he was 11 became a member of Carmarthen and District Harriers Athletics Club.
In his first year at Tregib secondary school he was often beaten by Lee Rees who went on to be an outstanding Welsh sevens rugby player.
Dewi was encouraged by his PE teacher Lawrence Senchal and for five years he was self coached but received considerable support from his club Carmarthen Harriers.
For the last 14 or so years he has been coached by Carmarthen Harriers coach Kevin Evans MBE who has helped and guided Dewi throughout many ups and downs (injuries and illness) to great achievements on the track, cross country, and road.
Dewi is a great club man as is seen by his many appearances for his first club Carmarthen and District Harriers Athletics Club and then with Swansea Harriers (325 recorded races). He competed regularly for the clubs in local league matches as well as the West Wales and Welsh championships.
The Friday evening after his great marathon performance in Frankfurt on 29 October 2017 (2.09.49) Dewi was the guest speaker at the 2017 annual Carmarthen Harriers Dinner.
A week later (11 November 2017) he received a rousing reception when he lined up at the start of the JH Collins Gwent Cross Country League match in Brecon. He won the race in 31.36 on a very muddy course, 1 minute 26 seconds ahead of a fellow Swansea Harrier.
His first major success was when he won the UK U15 inter county cross country championship in Nottingham in 2006. Ten years later in 2016 he won the senior UK inter county cross country championship in Birmingham.
He has received many well deserved awards. He has received awards from Ysgol Tregib, Swansea University, Carmarthen and District Harriers, Swansea Harriers, Carmarthen Town Council, Carmarthenshire County Council, Welsh Schools and Welsh Athletics.
Most of his training is on the roads in rural North Carmarthenshire and trains once a week at the Carmarthen Athletics Track where he is a real role model for the young Carmarthen Harriers members.
A great ambassador for the sport and an inspiration to us all.
It is credit to all concerned for supporting Dewi during his athletics career and he has so far justified the time, effort and dedication shown over a long period of time.
Twenty nine year old (born 8 August 1991) Dewi Griffiths has so far
- Competed for Great Britain on 18 occasions
- Competed for Wales or Welsh schools on 58 occasions
- Won 32 gold medals in Welsh championships
- Seven times winner of the Welsh senior cross country championship
- Five times winner of Welsh schools cross country championships
- Competed for GB as a junior in track, cross country, and mountain running and GB as a senior in track, cross country, and road
Personal bests so far
800 1.59.13 (2009); 1500 3.52.23 (2016); 3000 7.55.65 (2017); 5000 13.33.60 (2017); 10000 (28.16.07); 10 miles Road (47.20); Half Marathon (62.55); Marathon (2.09.49)
Competing for Great Britain (major events)
|
Date |
Event |
Age Group |
Venue |
Performance |
|
14/09/2008 |
World MR |
U20 |
Crans Montana |
43.07.4 (7) |
|
23/07/2009 |
European Juniors 10000m |
U20 |
Nov Sad SRB |
31.14.54 (4) |
|
05/09/2010 |
World MR |
U20 |
Karnik SVK |
47.36 (6) |
|
07/06/2014 |
European Cup 10000 |
Sen |
Skopje MKD |
29.36.63 (13( |
|
08/07/2016 |
European 10000 |
Sen |
Amsterdam NED |
28.28.55 |
|
28/03/2015 |
World Cross country |
Sen |
Guiyang China |
70 (39.02) |
|
30/03/2008 |
World Cross country |
Jun |
Edinburgh SCO |
67 (25.29) |
|
09/12/2012 |
European CC |
U23 |
Budapest Hun |
25.38 (38) |
|
08/12/2013 |
European CC |
U23 |
Belgrade SRB |
24.29 (16) |
|
13/12/2015 |
European CC |
Sen |
Toulon – Hyeres FRAyeres |
30.39 (20) |
|
11/12/2016 |
European CC |
Sen |
Chia ITA |
29.00 (18) |
|
10/12/2017 |
European CC |
Sen |
Samorin SVK |
DNF |
|
09/12/2018 |
European CC |
Sen |
Tilburg NED |
29.31 (13) |
|
25/03/2016 |
World HM |
Sen |
Cardiff |
64.10 (27) |
Welsh Track Championships
|
Date |
Event |
Age Group |
Medal |
Venue |
Performance |
|
29/08/2005 |
1500m |
Under 15 |
Gold |
Cardiff |
4.17.80 |
|
09/07/2006 |
3000m |
Under 17 |
Gold |
Cardiff |
9.01.68 |
|
12/07/2008 |
1500m |
Under 20 |
Bronze |
Connahs Quay |
4.03.35 |
|
10/07/2010 |
1500m |
Under 20 |
Silver |
Carmarthen |
4.06.35 |
|
28/06/2015 |
5000m |
Senior |
Gold |
Cardiff |
14.30.27 |
|
10/06/2017 |
5000m |
Senior |
Gold |
Cardiff |
13.50.35 |
Welsh Indoor Championships
|
Date |
Event |
Age Group |
Medal |
Venue |
Performance |
|
09/01/2005 |
1500m |
Under15 |
Gold |
NIAC Cardiff |
4.30.39 |
|
03/02/2007 |
1500m |
Under 17 |
Silver |
NIAC Cardiff |
4.06.37 |
|
24/01/2009 |
3000m |
Senior |
Bronze |
NIAC Cardiff |
8.39.91 |
|
29/01/2011 |
3000m |
Senior |
Gold |
NIAC Cardiff |
8.24.12 |
Welsh Road Race Championships
|
Date |
Event |
Age Group |
Medal |
Venue |
Performance |
|
17/04/2006 |
5000m |
Under 17 |
Gold |
Carmarthen |
15.47 |
|
23/09/2007 |
5000m |
Under 17 |
Gold |
Swansea |
15.26 |
|
07/05/2011 |
5000m |
Under 20 |
Bronze |
Bridgend |
15.03 |
|
11/08/2013 |
5000m |
Senior |
Bronze |
Llanelli |
15.23 |
|
25/09/2011 |
10000m |
Senior |
Gold |
Swansea |
30.21 |
|
22/09/2013 |
10000m |
Senior |
Gold |
Swansea |
30.36 |
|
20/09/2015 |
10000m |
Senior |
Gold |
Swansea |
29.20 |
|
14/10/2012 |
Half Marathon |
Senior |
Gold |
Cardiff |
65.47 |
|
06/10/2013 |
Half Marathon |
Senior |
Gold |
Cardiff |
65.01 |
|
04/102015 |
Half Marathon |
Senior |
Gold |
Cardiff |
64.28 |
|
02/10/2016 |
Half Marathon |
Senior |
Gold |
Cardiff |
63.27 |
|
01/10/2017 |
Half marathon |
Senior |
Gold |
Cardiff |
61.33 |
|
07/10/2018 |
Half Marathon |
Senior |
Gold |
Cardiff |
62.55 |
|
28/04/2019 |
Marathon |
Senior |
Gold |
London |
2.11.49 |
Welsh Cross Country Championships
|
Date |
Age Group |
Medal |
Venue |
Performance |
|
21/02/2004 |
Under 13 |
Bronze |
Swansea |
|
|
20/02/2005 |
Under 15 |
Bronze |
Leckwith Cardiff |
|
|
23/02/2006 |
Under 15 |
Gold |
Pembrey |
13.24 |
|
17/02/2007 |
Under 17 |
Gold |
Ruthin |
|
|
24/02/2008 |
Under 17 |
Gold |
Swansea |
20.23 |
|
01/02/2009 |
Under 20 |
Silver |
Builth Wells |
24.45 |
|
20/02/2010 |
Under 20 |
Gold |
Swansea |
24.03 |
|
18/02/2012 |
Under 23/Sen |
Gold |
St Fagans |
35.38 |
|
16/02/2013 |
Under 23/Sen |
Gold |
Crickhowell |
33.06 |
|
15/02/2014 |
Under 23/Sen |
Gold |
Llandeilo |
33.22 |
|
21/02/2015 |
Senior |
Gold |
Corwen |
34.16 |
|
27/02/2016 |
Senior |
Gold |
Swansea |
35.34 |
|
25/02/2017 |
Senior |
Gold |
Swansea |
33.40 |
|
23/02/2019 |
Senior |
Gold |
Pembrey |
31.50 |
UK Road Race Championships
|
Date |
Event |
Age Group |
Medal |
Venue |
Performance |
|
06/10/2013 |
Half Marathon |
Senior |
Bronze |
Cardiff |
65.01 |
|
10/03/2019 |
Half Marathon |
Senior |
Bronze |
Greenwich |
63.17 |
|
28/04/2019 |
Marathon |
Senior |
Bronze |
London |
2.11.46 |
UK Athletics Championships
|
Date |
Event |
Age Group |
Medal |
Venue |
Performance |
|
14/08/2005 |
Under 15 |
1500m |
Bronze |
Birmingham |
4.14.72 |
|
21/06/2008 |
Under 20 |
5000m |
Silver |
Bedford |
14.48.03 |
|
28/06/2009 |
Under 20 |
5000m |
Bronze |
Bedford |
14.46.12 |
|
16/05/2015 |
Senior |
10000m |
Silver |
Parliament Hill |
28.55.24 |
|
21/05/2016 |
Senior |
10000m |
Silver |
Parliament Hill |
28.28.55 |
|
20/05/2017 |
Senior |
10000m |
Silver |
Parliament Hill |
28.31.88 |
UK inter counties cross country championships
|
Date |
Event |
Age Group |
Medal |
Venue |
Performance |
|
06/03/2006 |
Under 15 |
Under 15 |
Gold |
Nottingham |
15.02 |
|
15/03/2008 |
Under 20 |
Under 20 |
4 |
Nottingham |
25.51 |
|
08/03/2014 |
Senior |
Senior |
Bronze |
Birmingham |
34.11 |
|
07/03/2015 |
Senior |
Senior |
Silver |
Birmingham |
34.33 |
|
12/03/2016 |
Senior |
Senior |
Gold |
Birmingham |
37.13 |
UK Mountain Running championships
|
Date |
Event |
Age Group |
Medal |
Venue |
Performance |
|
08/08/2010 |
Under 20 |
Under 20 |
Gold |
Llanberis |
41.22 |
|
08/08/2010 |
Under 23 |
Under 23 |
Silver |
Llanberis |
41.22 |
Welsh Schools Athletics Championships
|
Date |
Event |
Age Group |
Medal |
Venue |
Performance |
|
02/07/2005 |
1500 |
Under 15 |
Gold |
Brecon |
4.14.72 |
|
01/07/2006 |
3000 |
Under 17 |
Gold |
Brecon |
8.55.05 |
|
05/07/2008 |
3000 |
Under 20 |
Gold |
Brecon |
8.48.70 |
|
04/07/2009 |
1500 |
Under 20 |
Silver |
Cardiff |
4.02.27 |
|
04/07/2009 |
3000 |
Under 20 |
Gold |
Cardiff |
8.52.36 |
Welsh Schools Cross Country Championships
|
Date |
Event |
Age Group |
Medal |
Venue |
Performance |
|
13 03/2004 |
JB |
Under 15 |
15 |
Brecon |
|
|
19/03/2005 |
JB |
Under 15 |
Gold |
Brecon |
13.44 |
|
25/03/2006 |
MB |
Under 17 |
Gold |
Brecon |
18.10 |
|
18/03/2007 |
MB |
Under 17 |
Gold |
Brecon |
|
|
08/03/2008 |
SB |
Under 20 |
Gold |
Brecon |
19.42 |
|
28/02/2009 |
SB |
Under 20 |
Gold |
Brecon |
19.04 |
Competing for Welsh Schools in the London mini marathon (3 miles)
|
Date |
Event |
Age Group |
Medal |
Venue |
Performance |
|
18/04/2004 |
2.65 miles |
U13 |
Bronze |
London |
|
|
17/04/2005 |
2.65 miles |
U15 |
6 |
London |
13.45 |
|
23/04/2006 |
2.65 miles |
U15 |
Gold |
London |
13.22 |
|
13/04/2008 |
3 miles |
U17 |
7 |
London |
14.29 |
Competing for Welsh schools in the SIAB Cross Country International
|
Date |
Event |
Age Group |
Medal |
Venue |
Performance |
|
02/042005 |
SIAB Cross Country |
JB |
Bronze |
Northop WAL |
|
|
8/04/2006 |
SIAB Cross country |
MB |
Silver |
Stowe School |
|
|
31/03/2007 |
SIAB Cross country |
MB |
4 |
Dublin |
21.04 |
Competing for Welsh schools in the SIAB Athletics International
|
Date |
Event |
Age Group |
Medal |
Venue |
Performance |
|
15/07/2006 |
3000 |
Under 17 |
4th |
Grangemouth |
8.47.89 |
Competing for Wales in the Celtic Games athletics International
|
Date |
Event |
Age Group |
Medal |
Venue |
Performance |
|
12/08/2006 |
1500m |
Under 16 |
Gold |
Waterford IRE |
4.15.94 |
|
02/08/2008 |
3000m |
Under 18 |
Gold |
Grangemouth |
8.42.19 |
Competing for Wales in the Celtic cross country international
|
Date |
Event |
Age Group |
Medal |
Venue |
Performance |
|
29/01/2006 |
Under 17 |
Under 17 |
Bronze |
Dublin |
|
|
6/01/2007 |
Under 17 |
Under 17 |
Gold |
Belfast |
|
|
12/01/2008 |
Under 20 |
Under 20 |
6 |
Edinburgh SCO |
|
|
23/01/2010 |
Under 20 |
Under 20 |
Silver |
Antrim NI |
17.46 |
|
18/03/2012 |
Under 23 |
Under 23 |
Gold |
Rouken Glen |
27.55 |
|
05/02/2013 |
Under 23 |
Under 23 |
Gold |
Edinburgh |
|
Milestones in Dewi Griffiths career to date (a total of 325 races by August 2020)
2003 U13 Carmarthen Harriers (2 recorded races)
800 2.41.5 (1) Louise Arthur League at Carmarthen 8 April 2003
1500 5.09.3 (1) Dyfed schools champs(Y7) at Carmarthen 7 June 2003
2004 U13 Carmarthen Harriers
No recorded races
2005 U15 Carmarthen Harriers 15 recorded races
1500 4.14.09(3) AAA U15 champs Birmingham 14 August 2005
1500 4.14.72(1) Welsh Schools champs Brecon 2 July 2005
1500 4.30.39(1i) Welsh ind Champs Cardiff 9 January 2005
2006 U15 Carmarthen Harriers 15 recorded races)
ZXC 1 (U15) UK inter county XC Nottingham 06 March 2006
1500 4.15.94(1) Celtic Games Waterford IRL 12 August 2006
3000 8.47.89 (4) Schools Int Grangemouth` 15 July 2006
3000 8.55.05 (1) Welsh Schools champs Brecon 1 July 2006
3000 9.01.88(1) Welsh U17 champs Cardiff 9 July 2006
5K 15.47(1) Welsh U17 5K Ch (road) Carmarthen 17 April 2006
2007 U17 Carmarthen Harriers 11 recorded races
1500 4.06.7(2) Celtic Indoor Cup Cardiff 3 February 2007
ZXC 17.35(3) UK U17 Challenge Liverpool 24 November 2007
2008 U20 Carmarthen Harriers 26 recorded races
3000 8.48.7(1) Welsh schools champs Brecon 5 July 2008
5000 14.48.03(2) AAA U20 champs Bedford 21 June 2008
8KXC 25.29(67) World U20 XC champs Edinburgh 30 March 2008
ZMT 43.07.4 World Mount Trophy Crans Montana 14 September 2008
ZMC 19.42(1) Welsh schools champs Brecon 8 March 2008
ZMC 20.23(1) Welsh CC Champs Swansea 24 February 2008
2009 U20 Carmarthen Harriers 32 recorded races
1500 4.02.27(2) Welsh Schools champs Cardiff 4 July 2009
3000 8.32.36(1) Welsh Schools champs Cardiff 4 July 2009
5000 14.46.12(3) England U20 Champs Bedford 28 June 2009
10000 31.14.54(4) European Jun Champs Nov Sad SRB 23 July 2009
ZSC 19.04(1) Welsh Schools Champs Brecon 28 February 2009
ZFL 57.48 (24) Commonwealth Mt Up-hill Keswick 18 September 2009
2010 U20 Carmarthen Harriers 18 recorded races
1500 3.56.31(3i) Celtic international NIAC Cardiff 21 February 2010
1500 4.06.35 (2) Welsh U20 champs Carmarthen 10 July 2010
ZXC 24.03 (1) Welsh champs Swansea 20 February 2010
ZFL 41.22 (1) GB MR Trials Llanberis 8 August 2010
ZMR 47.36 (6) World MR champs Karnik SVK 5 September 2010
2011 U23 Swansea H/Swansea University 26 recorded races
10000 30.42.04(2) BUCS championships Bedford 1 May 2011
2012 U23 Swansea H/Swansea University 41 recorded races
10000 30.21.10(2) BUCS championships Olympic Park 6 May 2012
ZXC 25.38 (38) European U23 CC Budapest HUN 9 December 2012
ZXC 20.34 (3) Edinburgh CC Edinburgh 7 January 2012
ZXC 30.58(46) World University Ch Lodz POL 14 April 2012
ZXC 35.38 (1) Welsh Sen CC St Fagans 18 February 2012
2013 U23 Swansea H/ Swansea University 23 recorded races
ZXC 24.29(16) European U23 CC Belgrade SRB 8 December 2013
ZXC 33.06(1) Welsh SEN CC champs Crickhowell 16 February 2013
2014 SEN Swansea H 18 recorded races
10000 29.36.63(13) European Cup 10K Skopje MKD 7 June 2014
10000 31.28.81 (25) Commonwealth Games Hampden Park 1 August 2014
ZXC 33.22 (1) Welsh CC champs Llandeilo 15 February 2014
ZXC 34.11 (3) Uk int County champs Birmingham 8 March 2014
2015 SEN Swansea H 27 recorded races
5000 14.30.27 (1) Welsh Senior champ Cardiff 28 June 2015
10000 28.55.24(2) England Champs Parliament Hill 16 May 2015
10000 29.13.51(9) European Cup 10000 Chia ITA 6 June 2015
ZXC 30.39 (20) European CC champs Toulon FRA 13 December 2015
ZXC 34.16(1) Welsh CC champs Corwen 21 February 2015
ZXC 34.33 (2) UK inter county champs Birmingham 7 March 2015
ZXC 39.02 (70) IAAF World CC champs Guiyang CHN 28 March 2015
2016 SEN Swansea H 27 recorded races
10000 28.28.55(5) European Champs Amsterdam 8 July 2016
ZXC 29.00 (18) European CC champs Chia ITA 11 December 2016
ZXC 35.34 (1) Welsh CC champs Swansea 27 February 2016
ZXC 37.13(1) UK int county Champs Birmingham 12 March 2016
HM 64.10 (27) IAAF HM champs Cardiff 26 March 2016
HM 63.27 (8) Cardiff HM Cardiff 2 October 2016
2017 SEN Swansea H 28 recorded races
3000 7.55.65 (7) Cork City Sports Cork IRL 18 July 2017
5000 13.33.60 (5) Morton Games Dublin (S) IRL 12 July 2017
5000 13.50.35 (1) Welsh championships Cardiff 10 June 2017
10000 28.16.07(14) Payton Jordan Int Palo Alto Cal USA 5 May 2017
10000 28.31.88 (2) UK champs Parliament Hill 20 May 2017
ZXC 33.40 (1) Welsh CC champs Swansea 25 February 2017
HM 61.33 (4) Cardiff HM Cardiff 1 October 2017
Mar 2.09.49 (5) Frankfurt Mar Frankfurt GER 29 October 2017
2018 SEN Swansea H 12 recorded races
ZXC 29.31(13) European CC champs Tilburg NED 9 December 2018
10M 47.10 (11) Dam 10M Amsterdam 23 September 2018
HM 62.55 (9) Cardiff HM Cardiff 7 October 2018
2019 SEN Swansea H 10 recorded races
5.38ML 25.06 (1) ERRA 12 stage Sutton Coldfield 6 April 2019
ZXC 31.50 (1) Welsh CC champs Pembrey 23 February 2019
10K 30.12 (3) ASICS London London 21 July 2019
HM 61.44 (8) Houston Houston USA 20 January 2019
HM 63.17 (4) Vitality HM London 10 March 2019
Mar 2.11.46 (16) London Marathon London 28 April 2019
2020 SEN Swansea H 6 recorded races
5K 13.43 (6) Podium 5K Barrowford 8 August 2020
HM 65.53 (17) Vitality HM Greenwich 1 March 2020
Thanks to Dr Hedydd Davies (Carmarthen Harriers Club President) for putting together this article.