ATHLETICS
THE Porthcawl Parkrun last Saturday produced an unusual first with romance hitting the headlines ahead of Valentine’s Day, writes Tony Poole.
Evan Phillips got down on one knee to propose engagement to Emma Jackson on Porthcawl seafront – and she duly accepted the invitation.
They then celebrated the occasion with fellow members of the local Cornelly Striders club.
Considering the cold conditions, 392 runners contested the 202nd staging of the Parkrun along the Wales Coastal Path long with star guest runner Gareth Roberts.
Elliot Cole (Leeds City) fired a sixth win in the race, and a time of 16mins 57secs was just a second outside his personal best.
He finished well in front of two members of the local Porthcawl Runners club – Geraint Lewis 18:10 and Dave Dickson 18:41.
Fourth-placed Steve Davies (Cwm Ogwr Running Club) was on cue with 18:43, and was followed home by Rowan Hobbs (Brackla Harriers) 18:47, Carl Pointer (Pencoed Tri Club) 18:53, Dave Murray (Bridgend) 19:02 and Dave Cornwell (Met- ro Aberdeen) in a personal best 19:02.
Two more Porthcawl runners made up the top10 finishers with Wilf Edwards clocking 19:30 and Dave Bennett 19:38.
Other sub-20 minute times came from Steve Hogan (Cornelly Striders) 19:40, Ian Ogilvie (Brackla Harriers) 19:41, Jack Evans 19:46, Simon Bowen (both unattached) 19:55, Greg Newhams (Bridgend) 19:57, and former Llangynwyd Rangers footballer Niki Puleio (Cwm Ogwr Running Club) 19:58.
Top female and 25th overall was first-time competitor Danielle Davies (unattached) from 36th-placed Deborah Goule (Porthcawl Runners) in 21:14.
Third female home was first-time competitor Catherine Powell (Pontyclun Road Runners), who clocked a time of 21:33.
It left the points competition for men with Wilf Edwards still out in front on 3,718 points from Porthcawl Runners colleague Dave Bennett 3,496 and Adrian Phillips (unattached) 3,459.
And Deborah Goule continues to head the points competition for ladies, moving on to 4,245 points, from Joanne Ed- wards (Cornelly Striders) 4,199 and Jane Ogilvie (Brackla Harriers) 4,076.
Earlier in the month, course records were broken during the annual Beast 10k organised by Cwm Ogwr Running Club.
Overnight rain resulted in soggy conditions for the 187 starters at a point between the villages of Pantyr-Awel and Pricetown.
Many competitors were testing 10k running for a first time, and victory went to Andrew Reynolds (Neath Harriers) in a time of 39mins 39secs.
Runner-up was last year’s winner Eamon Kirk (Swansea Harriers), who clocked 40:32, with Richard Dando of Bridgend third in a time of 40:38.
Top female was Sharon Leech (Carmarthen Harriers) with her time of 45:36 easily beating the previous best of 48:32 that Angela Jones set a year ago.
Claire Walters (Port Talbot Harriers) was second female to complete the course in 48:21 while third place went to Georgie Dando (Bridgend) courtesy of 49:50.
Cwm Ogwr Running Club would like to thank everyone who took part in the event, not forgetting the fantastic marshals, and plans are already be- ing made for the 2018 staging.
Last weekend the Welsh Indoor Championships were staged in Cardiff and young Tomos Broad (Bridgend) swept to a 60m victory in the Boys U13 section.
His winning time was 8.49 seconds and it proved a one-two for Bridgend with Morgan Hubbarde runner-up in 8.50 – another Bridgend competitor, Jack O’Brien, was fifth in the B final, clocking 9.32.
Bridgend competitors enjoyed a successful day and in the corresponding Girls U13 race, Jersey Lee Jones clocked 8.70 to finish runner-up to Ella Wintle (Pembrokeshire Harriers) who clocked 8.67.
Eleni Jones was third in 8.71 while Tianna Teisar (9.04) was runner-up to Jasmine Hale (Neath Harriers) in the B final, recording 8.87.
In the U15 section, Ella Hubbarde recorded 8.51 to finish runner-up and to Sadie Graham-Mulvaney (Cardiff) with 8.29.
Hannah Dixon secured third-place, clocking 8.52.
Evan Jones was sixth in the U15 category won by Nathan Scott (Rhondda) in a time of 7.40 while Jersey Lee Jones was sixth in the U13 Girls Shot Put (2.72kg), throwing 6.22.
Meanwhile, Brynteg Comprehensive School is the venue of the next Bridgend Schools Cross Country (BSCC) event on March 11 (10am).
BSCC were delighted with the performances of their runners during the recent Cardiff Cross Country run.
Pride of place of course went to young Anna-Rose Merchant (Bridgend) for finishing fourth in the Primary Race.
Meanwhile, Dylan Jones last Sunday pulled off a first win in the Bridgend Junior 2k Parkrun in Newbridge Fields.
Despite icy conditions, 88 youngsters turned up with the winning time from Dylan Jones clocked at nine minutes.
Matthew Bridges was just seven seconds behind while top female finisher Aneira Phillips registered a personal best time of 9:14.
She was followed home by Nancy McAllister 9:36, Elin Vigus 9:47, Mia Allen 9:59, Jessica Crawley (both Bridgend) 10:02, Ronan Adams (Pencoed Tri Club) 10:06, Abraham Matthews-Winch 10:11 and Phoebe Brien 10:13.
There were 21 other personal bests, and they came from Luke Woodhouse, Liam McNally, Izabella Evans, Neve McNally, Elin Dickson, Lucy Bradbury, Kirsten Daly, Dewi Morris, Poppy Evans, Isla Horrex, Lily Richards, Alice Hatherell, Amelia Williams-Scott, James Thomas, Megan Thomas, Given Trivett, Zac Berry-McAndrew, Chloe Berry, Eden Partridge, Hollie Evans and William Munro.