The first weekend of December (03/11/22 - 04/11/22) was a busy one for the club and the West Wales region, with the highlight being Carmarthen Harriers hosting another successful cross country league fixture back in Carmarthenshire.
The events at Pembrey and Cardiff on Saturday and Sunday incorporated the West Wales Cross Country for all junior, senior and master age groups once again in 2022 & Indoor Championships (200m, 300m, 400m)
Read on for the weekend round-up and all the club results...
John H Collins Gwent Cross Country League Fixture 3, hosted by Carmarthen Harriers - Pembrey Country Park, Llanelli (Saturday 3rd December)
Event Press Report / Adroddiad wasg y digwyddiad
The John H Collins Gwent Cross Country League, one of the most popular grassroots cross-country leagues in the UK, returned to West Wales for the sixth time on Saturday 3rd December.
More than 1,000 runners of all abilities descended on Pembrey Country Park near Llanelli and races featured the under 11 athletes right up to the seniors and masters' categories.
Local club, Carmarthen & District Harriers Athletics Club hosted the third of five fixtures this season. The club were grateful for the support offered by Carmarthenshire County Council in hosting the event in their park.
The park, situated between Burry Port and Kidwelly, has become used to hosting big running events by now. Sporting events staged here over recent years have included the Welsh Athletics Cross Country Championships, Welsh Athletics Road Relays Championships, John H Collins Gwent Cross Country League, SIAB Schools U17 Cross Country International, Carmarthenshire Primary Schools Cross Country Championships and the Llanelli Secondary Schools Area Cross Country.
The league season began back in October when Llandaff Fields in Cardiff played host to the first British Athletics Cross Challenge Series as well as the John H Collins Gwent Cross Country. This was followed by the second meeting in South West England at Blaise Castle in Bristol three weeks ago.
Competitors, coaches, team managers, officials and spectators from more than 40 clubs travelled to the Carmarthenshire park from across South Wales and the South West of England.
On a demanding course that showcased the counties park and the surrounding areas, the competitors aged 9 to 80 tackled fast grass sections, hills, sand dunes, woods and paths. Participants had the opportunity to take in some breath-taking views around the route overlooking the coastal scenery of Carmarthen Bay and the Gower.
In addition to runners scoring points for their clubs, Pembrey also hosted the West Wales Cross Country Championships 2022 where regional medals were presented to the top three athletes from the region to finish in the junior, senior and master age groups.
The action got underway on Saturday morning with the novice age groups running a total distance of 1,600m. The ten-race programme was followed by the under 13, under 15 and under 17 and 20 races (girls and boys) completing either small, medium or large laps.
In the latter part of the afternoon, the Senior & Master Women and Men ran their respective distances of 7,300m and 9,800m. There were big fields once again and plenty of support out on the course.
The 2022/2023 John H Collins Gwent Cross Country League will visit Margam Park in Port Talbot in the New Year on Saturday 11th February 2023, before the season concludes at Pontypool Park on Saturday 4th March.
We hope that all clubs, athletes, officials and spectators enjoyed your visit to West Wales / Carmarthenshire and had a safe journey to and from Pembrey.
Carmarthen Harriers - Results:
It was a great opportunity for new and established Carmarthen Harriers junior and senior members to compete on home soil at a familiar venue in the county.
The club had forty members attend the third fixture at Pembrey Country Park and produced some good results on a challenging course.
Well Done to all athletes listed below, and a big thank you to the parents, team managers and coaches who also supported the event in a number of ways, including team managing, marshalling the course and clearing up the venue afterwards / Da iawn i'r athletwyr i gyd wedi rhestri isod a diolch i'r rheini, rheolwyr tim a hyfforddwyr wnaeth cefnogi mewn nifer o ffyrdd ar y diwrnod.
Thank you also to volunteers from Swansea Harriers and Neath Harriers who supported the club with setting up the course on Friday. The event wouldn't have been able to happen without all your contributions!
West Wales championship medallists for finishing in the first three in their age group from the region were awarded to Tomos Cai Davies (Novice boys), Sam Griffiths (Under 15 boys), Finley Bruce (Under 17 men), Ifan Bowen (Under 17 men), Steffan Davies (Under 20 men), Jack Bruce (Under 20 men), Frances Mackie (Under 17 women) and Jessica Hyland (Under 20 women).
Club Results on the day were as follows:
Novice Boys: Tomos Cai Davies (5:39); Jasper Davis (5:48); Steffan James (6:21); Joshua Phillips (7:14); Max Edwards (7:18)
Novice Girls: Paige-lily Williams (6:37); Megan Evans (6:53); Erin Davies (7:02); Alys Jones (7:04); Aeronwy Morgan-Fisher (7:13); Elliw Mai Jones (7:33); Teaghan Williams (9:33)
Under 13 Girls: Esme Lynock (12:25); Lowri Morgan (12:42); Nansi Griffiths (13:03); Gwenan Fflur Jones (14:37); Mali Griffiths (14:46); Honey Davis (14:52); Seren Bowen (15:15)
Under 13 Boys: Toby Anthony (10:51); Gethin Thomas (11:37)
Under 15 Girls: Amelia Williams (14:10); Megan Thomas (15:17); Macy Blue (15:27); Anastasia Eggleston-Stoker (15:40); Ffion Thomas (19:46)
Under 15 Boys: Sam Griffiths (12:35); Joshua Barnett (13:03); Jimmy Davis (14:29); Macsen Toogood
Under 17 Women: Frances Mackie (19:20); Greta McKane (24:55)
Under 17 Men: Finley Bruce (15:36); Ifan Bowen (16:19); Steffan Davies (16:21); Steffan Bridger (16:38); Rogan Cox (22:39)
Under 20 Women: Jessica Hyland (18:03)
Under 20 Men: Jack Bruce (18:01)
Senior Women: Ellie Kiff (31:35); Rhian Bruce (38:42)
Senior Men: Isaac Ayres (35:42); Huw Davies (39:14)
SENIOR & MASTER RACES PHOTOS/LLUNIAU: Paul Stillman
SENIOR & MASTER RACES PHOTOS/LLUNIAU: Byron Williams / Photosports-Wales Photography
Welsh Athletics U13, U15 & U17 Junior Indoor Open incorporating West Wales 200m, 300m & 400m Regional Championships - NIAC, Cardiff (Sunday 4th December)
The Indoor Athletics season for junior athletes got underway on Sunday 4th December with Day 1 of the Welsh Athletics Junior Indoor Open (Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17 age groups) at the National Indoor Athletics Centre - Cardiff Met, Cyncoed Campus.
200m, 300m, 400m, High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump and Shot Put events took centre stage on the opening day.
Following the same format as in previous years, the Welsh Athletics Junior Indoor Open fixtures in 2022/2023 incorporates the West Wales*, South Wales, East Wales and South West England Regional Championships (*200m, 300m & 400m for West Wales only, as all other events will be included in the region's indoor championships at Swansea on 18th-19th February).
Four Carmarthen Harriers members travelled to the Welsh Capital to run in the 200m and jump in the high jump.
Club Results on the day were as follows:
Anest Jones: 200m (29.76)
Ceris Morgan: 200m (33.50)
Rhiannon Milligan: 200m (34.14)
Taliesin Thomas: High Jump (1.65m)
RESULTS/CANLYNIADAU: Welsh Athletics U13, U15 & U17 Junior Indoor Open Day 1 (NIAC, Cardiff)
Day 2 of the Welsh Athletics Junior Indoor Open (U13, U15, U17) will take place at NIAC in the New Year on Sunday 8th January. Events that day will feature 60m and 60m Hurdles, 800m and 1500m distance events as well as the Long Jump, Shot Put and Pole Vault in the field.
(incorporates West Wales 800m & 1500m Indoor Region Championships)
CLICK HERE TO ENTER Day 2: Welsh Athletics Junior Indoor Open (U13-U15-U17) on Sunday 8th January, entries close at 5pm on Thursday 15th December; late entries not accepted, don't miss out!
Aberystwyth Charity 10K & Junior 1 Mile Race - Aberystwyth (Sunday 4th December)
The day after Pembrey, Isaac Ayres went up to Aberystwyth for the Charity 10K Race and was the eighth senior man to finish in a time of 36:36.
