Maesteg joins party as more people enter run
ATHLETICS
BRIDGEND County Borough now has two 5k Parkrun events each Saturday with Maesteg joining the party, writes Tony Poole.
The inaugural event at the Welfare Park attracted a bumper field of 174 competitors, who tested the course along permanent paths around Heol Ty Gwyn.
Victory in event one went to Sean Lewis (Brackla Harriers), who completed the course in a time of 18 minutes 9 seconds.
Runner-up Adrian Lewis (Aberdare Valley) clocked 18:40 with the remaining top-10 places going to Jonny Morris (Taff Running & Orienteering) 18:50, former Llan Rangers football star Niki Puleio (Ogmore Phoenix Runners) 18:59, Gethin Edwards (Pontyclun Roadrunners) 19:51, Stephen Williams (Parc Bryn Bach Running Club) 19:57, Mark Evans (unattached) 20:23, Michael Davies (CDF Runners) 20:33, Gareth Thompson (unattached) 20:53 and James Lawson (Port Talbot Harriers) 20:55.
First female home was Ffion Lewis (Run4AllNeath) 21:21 (13th) from Deborah Goule (Porthcawl Runners) 22:25 (21st) and Catherine Powell (Pontyclun Roadrunners) 22:43 (23rd).
The second staging of the event in the Old Parish last Saturday saw 52 competitors face the starter with Gabrielius Stuokus (Lew Croupiers) sweeping to victory in a time of 19 minutes.
The previous week, Stuokus took the 225th staging of Porthcawl Parkrun in a time of 18:07.
Runner-up Gareth Thompson, who finished ninth the week before, clocked 21:03 while the other top-10 finishers were Daniel Morgan (Bridgend) 21:22, Kevin Jones (Les Croupiers) 21:25, Peter Walsh (Ogmore Phoenix Runners) pb 21:52, Ian Hendry (Run4AllNeath) 22:05, Matthew Bunce (Brackla (Harriers) 22:20 along with three unattached runners – Bradley Hulme 22:13, Wayne Preece 23:16 and Gregg Harris 23:19.
PORTHCAWL 5K PARKRUN
THE 226th staging last Saturday of the Porth- cawl 5k Parkrun followed the town’s Sea Festival theme on the day with some runners dressed as pirates.
Victory for an 18th time in 43 Porthcawl runs went to Andrew Hodgson (Bridgend) in a time of 17:34.
Christopher Jeynes (Brackla Harriers) was next to finish in 18:17 ahead of Geraint Lewis (Porthcawl Runners) 18:40.
Personal best went against the name of fourth-placed Liam Osborne (Bridgend) 18:50 and he was followed across the finishing line by Jordan Groves (unattached) 19:08, Dave Bennett (Porthcawl Runners) 19:11, Ian Ogilvie (Brackla Harriers) 19:21, Ian Edwards (unattached) 19:24, Thomas Attwood (Bridgend) pb 19:26 and Will Edwards (Porthcawl Runners) 19:34.
Other sub-20 minute runs came from Richard Self (Les Croupiers) pb 19:37, Dave Cascarina (Cornelly Striders) pb 19:54 and Tony Allen (unattached) pb 19:58.
Top female was Meg McCloy (Bridgend) pb 20:07 (14th) ahead of Katie Robinson (Team Bath) 20:40 (19th) and Clare Hughes (Bridgend) 21:29 (35th).
And last Saturday was the 200th time for Bridgend stalwart Stuart Davidson to act as a volunteer.