ATHLETICS
FOUR personal best times came from the top-10 finishers during last Saturday’s 206th staging of the Porthcawl 5k Parkrun, writes Tony Poole.
Winner David Rees (Les Croupiers) was one, clocking 17mins 5secs to slice 44 seconds off his personal best.
Having won his only previous Porthcawl run last July, the capital city runner maintained a perfect record.
Iain Porter of LCC Striders clocked 17:20 in a first run along the Wales Coastal Path with an unknown runner in a field of 303 competitors taking third position.
Fourth-placed Mark Emery (Bridgend) registered 17:42 with Carl Pointer of Pencoed Tri Club carding a personal best 18:05.
The next two finishers were also in personal best times – Rhys Francis (Brackla Harriers) 18:33 and Joshua Audsley (unattached) in 18:50.
The remainder of the top-10 places came from members of the local Porthcawl Runners club – Dave Dickson 19:05, Dave Bennett 19:05 and Will Edwards 19:19.
Other sub-20 minute times came from Ian Ogilvie 19:39, Christopher Jeynes (both Brackla Harriers) 19:39, Steve Hogan (Cornelly Striders) 19:47 and Gareth John Jenkins (Cwm Ogwr Running Club) in a personal best 19:59.
Top female and 21st overall was Georgina Jayne Dando (Bridgend) with 20:34 from 43rdplaced finisher Deborah Goule (Porthcawl Runners) 21:57 and first-time competitor Holly Jones (unattached), who came 44th in a time of 22:03.
Meanwhile, the continued popularity of the Bridgend Junior 2k Parkrun in Newbridge Fields was last Sunday highlighted by 116 children facing the starter.
And standards continue to rise with the 79th staging of the event producing a staggering amount of personal best times.
The winner for a second time was Osian Yardley with a time of 8mins 8secs that was just 16 seconds outside his personal best.
Runner-up Eve Ruby Hickman clocked 8:16 with Ellie Evans (also Bridgend) was third in 8:29.
First-time competitor Rhys Evans registered an encouraging 8:52; Dylan Jones was fifth in 8:54 while another first-timer, Jessica Kitchen, cooked a time of 9:01.
The other top-10 finishers were Matthew Bridges 9:04, Joshua Morgan (Bridgend) 9:07, Nancy McAllister 9:08 and Ffion Howe (Bridgend) 9:10.
Other fine sub-10 minute times came from Freya Allen (Cornelly Striders) in a personal best 9:18, Mia Allen (Bridgend) 9:19, Abigail Morgan 9:26, Georgia Smele (Bridgend) 9:27, Aneira Phillips 9:39, Josie Gronow pb 9:45, Nia Lewis pb 9:47, Evan Jenkins pb 9:49, Jude Jenkins pb 9:49, Phoebe Brien 9:50, Liam McNally pb 9:51, James Beemer (Refail Runners) pb 9:58.
Personal best times also came from: Catherine Rowe (Bridgend), Olivia Davies, Harry Rees, Scarlett Hodges, Grace James, Elly Lewis, Jack Davies, Atharva Kotwal, Maya Bilal, Luke Watson, Mali Paige Roberts, Ben Harris, Madison Pang, Eloise Neenan, Chloe Jones, Calla Davies, Isla Libby Hickman, Kaitlyn Walker, Isabelle Parsons, Jacob Matthewson, George Brien, Charlotte Moon, Ffion Davies, Megan Parsons (Cwm Ogwr Running Club), Indi Jones, Jensen Parsons (Cwm Ogwr), Griff Hogan (Cornelly Striders), Alexandra Woodward, Amy Grace Evans, Evey Dykes, Ellen Roberts, Chloe Jones, Ben Bailey, Rhys Davies, Boaz Dodge, Malachy Jordan, Halle Scarlett Goss, Ben Boyce and Bethany Hancock (Pencoed Panthers).
Finally, Pencoed Triathlon Club has sessions for anyone looking to compete in triathlons.
In particular they are looking towards juniors, embracing the 14-16 age groups, but anyone looking to compete will be made welcome.
They have limited sessions at Pencoed Swimming Pool on Fridays from 7-8pm.
Anyone interested should confirm they will be attending beforehand via committee@pencoedtri.club