The 2023/2024 John H Collins Gwent Cross Country League season has come to an end, which began in October here in Carmarthenshire and ended five months later in South East Wales in March at Pontypool.
Pembrey Country Park (Llanelli), Llandaff Fields (Cardiff), Blaise Castle (Bristol), Margam Park (Port Talbot) and Pontypool Park (Pontypool) were the venues staging events this year.
Carmarthen & District Harriers hosted another successful fixture in Carmarthenshire at Pembrey Country Park in the season opener in mid-October (round one), where almost 1,200 competitors took part over the ten-race programme. It incorporated the West Wales Cross Country Championships in the region.
Four weeks later, the British Athletics Cross Challenge Series opener and the Urdd Primary Schools were incorporated into the league match in the Welsh Capital at Llandaff Fields.
In sub-zero temperatures, the first Saturday of December saw athletes make the longest journey of the season to a foggy and cold Blaise Castle in Bristol.
Following a break over Christmas and New Year, the penultimate fixture returned to West Wales and to a very muddy Margam Park after the recent weather conditions.
The season ended for a second consecutive season at Pontypool Park, which is always a testing cross country course with plenty of turns and hills.
Each fixture saw between 800 and 1,300 athletes take part across a range of age groups, novice (under 11), under 13, under 15, under 17, under 20 and the senior age groups which attracted the most numbers.
Athletes who finished in the top 10 of their respective age group were Finley Bruce (1st - Under 17 Men), Ifan Bowen (2nd - Under 17 Men), Jessica Hyland (2nd - Under 20 Women), Emily Evans-Williams (3rd - Novice Girls), Nansi Griffiths (4th - Under 15 Girls), Joshua Barnett (6th - Under 17 Men), Sali Owen (7th - Under 15 Girls), Sam Griffiths (9th - Under 15 Boys) and Lowri Morgan (9th - Under 13 Girls)
There were success in the team results too... the Novice Girls, Novice Boys, Under 15 Girls and Under 17 Men collected team medals with the Under 13 Girls in a close fourth.
A big thanks to all the club athletes and their parents who have supported the league this year and travelled the long journeys across South Wales and over to Bristol, some in wet, muddy and cold conditions.
Nineteen of our members attended all five fixtures - arbennig!
Athlete recognition/competing athletes are listed below.
Carmarthen Harriers Club Athletes / Athletwyr Harriers Caerfyrddin - 2023/2024
Novice Girls:
3-4-5 fixtures: Emily Evans-Williams, Gwenno Jones, Bethan Hampshire, Mared Rees, Tayla Williams, Gwen Fitzpatrick, Alys Tremlett
Teaghan Williams, Amara Godden, Haf Thomas, Beatrice Hyde, Zara Evans, Ffion Mason, Erica Broome, Mila Evans, Lois Murray, Rose Rees, Sophie Mason, Elsa Burson, Eira Vardill, Liwen Schiavone, Isobel Walters, Ayla Jones, Eva Williams, Skyla Fletcher
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Under 13 Girls:
3-4-5 fixtures: Lowri Morgan, Beca Elfyn, Paige-lily Williams, Mali Griffiths, Aeronwy Morgan-Fisher, Cerys Fitzpatrick, Miriam Williams
Eva Davies, Megan Evans, Mari Davies, Olwen Williams, Honey Davis
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Under 15 Girls:
3-4-5 fixtures: Amelia Williams, Nansi Griffiths, Sali Owen, Macy Blue, Anastasia Eggleston-Stoker, Esme Lynock, Scarlett Richards
Meadow Norris
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Under 17 & 20 Women:
3-4-5 fixtures: Jessica Hyland
Eleanor White, Megan Thomas, Carys Wood, Greta McKane, Frances Mackie
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Senior Women:
Celia White
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Novice Boys:
3-4-5 fixtures: Dylan Williams, Steffan James, Dafydd Williams, Macsen Davies, Jasper Davis, Alfie Stopher
Tomos Roberts, Jac Hughes, Mason Wrona, Efan Morgan, Gwern Schiavone
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Under 13 Boys:
3-4-5 fixtures: Tomos Cai Davies, Gethin Thomas
Max Edwards, Michael Thomas
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Under 15 Boys:
3-4-5 fixtures: Sam Griffiths, Tom Bridger, Jimmy Davis, Luke Owen, Ianto Lloyd
Sion Rowlands, Toby Anthony
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Under 17 & 20 Men:
3-4-5 fixtures: Joshua Barnett, Finley Bruce, Ifan Bowen, Jake Lynock, Steffan Davies
Iwan Thomas, Macsen Toogood, Steffan Bridger, Rogan Cox
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Senior Men:
Huw Davies
