ATHLETICS
PORTHCAWL Parkrun proved love at first sight for newcomer Neil Catchlove (Lordshill Road Runners), who last Saturday lifted the 224th staging of the popular 5k event, writes Tony Poole.
His winning time was 18mins 18secs while Porthcawl Parkrun stalwart Dave Bennett (Porthcawl Runners) took runner-up honours with 19:02.
Third-placed Jordan Groves (unattached) clocked 19:15 while personal best went against the name of the next man to fly home – Ian Bird (Port Talbot Harriers) 19:19.
First-time competitor Bryn Markham-Jones was fifth in 19:38 while the remaining top-10 positions were occupied by Jeffrey Thomas (Bridgend) 20:08, first-timer Owen Stinchcombe 20:11, Adrian Phillips 20:14, Rex Ezard (all unattached) 20:15, and top female Kryg Gibb (Central AC), who got 20:21 in a first Porthcawl run.
Second female and 13th overall was firsttimer Hannah Jenkins (Bridgend) 20:30, Mary Thompson first-timer 19th in 20:56, Diane Brownhill (Swansea Harriers) firsttimer 21st in 21:02 and Clare Hughes (Bridgend) 23rd in 21:09.
Meanwhile, murky conditions in Newbridge Fields last Sunday greeted 73 determined young runners for the 96th staging of the Bridgend Junior 2k Parkrun.
And out of the gloom came Jamie Harrowing, who won the event with a personal best time of 7mins 44secs.
It was his second Bridgend Parkrun success, and in the process he lopped 36 seconds off his previous best.
Runner-up Dan May continues to improve with a fifth straight personal best taking him down to 8:28.
The time is all the more remarkable because as recently as last month his pb stood on 9:26.
Matthew Bridges was third, clocking 8:34, from Leroy Griffiths (Rhondda) 8:46, top female Mia Allen (Bridgend) 8:55, Daniel Perriman 9:05, Alex Allen (Cornelly Striders) pb 9:05, Joshua Morgan (Bridgend) 9:17, Abigail Morgan 9:23 and Ethan Wyatt 9:24.
The other competitors that broke the 10-minute barrier were Henry Willsher pb 9:27, Georgina Smele (Bridgend) 9:28, Alfie Osborne 9:30, Maya Bilal 9:32, James Beemer (Refail Runners) pb 9:33, Nia Lewis (Bridgend) 9:35, Vincent Borg pb 9:43, Jude Jenkins 9:47 and Ioan Shepherd pb 9:48.
There were 10 further personal best times, and pats on the back went to Grace Taylor, Carys Watts, Mali Paige Roberts, Zane Colley, Harry Wright, Gethin Roberts, Daisy Cowan-Bayliss, Nia Watts, Lili Whitcombe and Jacob Miles.
In the Welsh Athletics outdoor international at the Cardiff International Sports Stadium, there were bronze medals for two Bridgend junior relay teams.
Regional U20 teams from England and Wales assembled in the capital city’s Leckwith Road – and it was Wales that took the major honours.
Final placings read: Wales 132 points, England South 125, England Midlands 97, England North 95 and Welsh Schools Athletics Association 61.
The first Bridgend bronze medal came in the U13 Boys 4 x 100m relay via Mabon Rhys, Tomos Broad, Evan Bailey and Morgan Hubbarde, who clocked 54.52 seconds.
The winners were Cardiff Archers in a time of 53.54 from Cwmbran Harriers in 54.43.
And the U15 Girls team did likewise in the 4 x 100m relay through Amber Williams, Hannah Dixon, Molly Ridge and Ella Hubbarde.
They recorded 53.12 while the winners were also Cardiff Archers in 51.21 from Swansea Harriers 52.29.
Merthyr Mawr was last Saturday the scene of the second Trail Running Festival with damp conditions welcomed by runners but loathed by dedicated marshals.
Results will be carried in next week’s column.
Finally, tonight (Wednesday), Cornelly Striders are the host club for the fourth event on the Bridgend County Running League calendar – the Kenfig Nature Reserve 5k.
The course will offer competitors great high summer views of the Bristol Channel together with gentle rolling hills over sand dunes, in an idyllic spot like Sker that is steeped in history.
MAESTEG Rugby Club has arranged three pre-season friendlies as follows:
August 12: Caerphilly (A)
August 19: Ebbw Vale (H)
August 23: Pencoed (H)
AT the AGM of Maesteg Rugby Club David Morgan stepped down as chairman after seven years service and becomes a trustee.
The new chairman is Tim Brimble who is the son of former Maesteg RFC chairman and treasurer Mike Brimble.
Mike’s grandson, Tim’s nephew, is Darren Farmer who was membership secretary for a number of years and has been club secretary for the last two years.