The 2024/2025 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 Powys in March at Brecon.
Pembrey Country Park (Llanelli), Llandaff Fields (Cardiff), Blaise Castle (Bristol), Margam Park (Port Talbot) and Penlan Arena (Brecon) 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.
On the final Saturday of November saw athletes make the longest journey of the season to Blaise Castle in Bristol.
Following a break over Christmas and New Year, the penultimate fixture returned to West Wales and to Margam Park in Port Talbot.
The season ended in Mid Wales at Penlan Arena in Brecon in early March.
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 Jessica Hyland (1st - Under 23 Women), Ifan Bowen (2nd - Under 20 Men), Manon Phillips (2nd - Under 13 Girls), Sali Owen (2nd - Under 15 Girls), Alex Ladd (5th - Under 13 Boys), Amelia Williams (4th - Under 17 Women), Joshua Barnett (7th - Under 17 Men), Iwan Thomas (8th - Under 20 Men), Steffan Davies (9th - Under 20 Men), Emily Baker (10th - Novice Girls)
There were success in the team results too... the Under 20 Men, Under 17 Men and Under 15 Girls collected team medals with the Under 17 Women in a close fourth and others in the top ten.
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.
Athlete recognition/competing athletes are listed below.
Carmarthen Harriers Club Athletes / Athletwyr Harriers Caerfyrddin - 2024/2025
Novice Girls:
3-4-5 fixtures: Emily Baker, Haf Thomas, Mared Rees, Alys Tremlett, Eva Williams, Tayla Williams, Gwen Fitzpatrick
Gwen Lewis, Lydia Ladd, Soffi Morris, Cara Jenkins
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Under 13 Girls:
3-4-5 fixtures: Manon Phillips, Paige-lily Williams, Aeronwy Morgan-Fisher, Elsie Davies, Cerys Fitzpatrick
Anya Walters, Bethan Hampshire, Olwen Williams, Beatrice Hyde
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Under 15 Girls:
3-4-5 fixtures: Lowri Morgan, Sali Owen, Miriam Williams, Esme Lynock, Nansi Griffiths
Lily Morgan
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Under 17 Women:
3-4-5 fixtures: Amelia Williams, Macy Blue, Anastasia Eggleston-Stoker
Scarlett Richards
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Senior Women:
Jessica Hyland, Amy Tucker, Nerys Blue, Rhian Bruce, Tracy Ladd, Nia Davies, Elizabeth Tremlett
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Novice Boys:
3-4-5 fixtures: Alfie Stopher, Macsen Davies, Aron Lewis, Harri Davies, Mason Wrona
Davy Richards, Isaac Longar, Harri Williams, Oliver Wise, Steffan James, Omar Mohamed, Sam Cheeseman, Elliot Young
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Under 13 Boys:
3-4-5 fixtures: Alex Ladd, Dylan Williams, Tomos Cai Davies, Jasper Davis, Iwan Morris
Oliver Horn, Max Edwards
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Under 15 Boys:
Gethin Thomas
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Under 17 & 20 Men:
3-4-5 fixtures: Joshua Barnett, William Harries, Jimmy Davis, Tom Bridger, Sion Rowlands, Steffan Davies, Ifan Bowen
Macsen Toogood, Luke Owen, Iwan Thomas, Finley Bruce, Steffan Bridger
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Senior Men:
Lee Ladd, Huw Davies, Glyn Davies, Dylan Barratt
