ATKIN TAKES THE WIN AT BRYNGARW
GARETH Davies (Bridgend) and Charlotte Johns (Brackla Harriers) are the individual leaders after the third round of this season’s Bridgend County Running League, writes Tony Poole.
Last week the Porthcawl Runners club organised the third event on the calendar – The Beauty of Bryngarw Park – with Rob Atkin (Bridgend) storming to victory in 20 minutes 14 seconds.
In a dramatic climax, he finished just four seconds in front of Rhys Francis (Brackla Harries) with Mark Emery (Bridgend) third in 20:50.
The remaining top-10 places went to Joseph Thomas (Bridgend) 20:56, Neil Jones (Ogmore Phoenix Runners) 21:36, Rowan Hobbs 21:43, Sean Lewis (both Brackla Harriers) 21:48, Ross Purchase (Cornelly Striders) 21:53, Ryan Evans 22:06 and Jamie Vanstone (both Ogmore Phoenix Runners) 22:21.
First female finisher in 21st place was Melanie Williams (Brackla Harries) in 23:19 ahead of Angharad Mason (Bridgend) 23:58 (29th ), Anneliese Loveluck (Ogmore Phoenix Runners) 24:09 (33rd), Catherine Stephens (Bridgend) 24:41 (44th), Deborah Roberts-Goule (Porthcawl Runners) 25:14 (50th) and Gemma Roche-Clarke (Bridgend) 25:28 (53 rd).
The team result read: Bridgend 330 points, Ogmore Phoenix Runners 453, Brackla Harriers 490, Porthcawl Runners 890, Pencoed Tri Club 1,095 and Pencoed Panthers 1,374.
Overall after three events, Bridgend lead the way with 846 points from Ogmore Phoenix Runners 1,451, Brackla Harriers 1,755, Cornelly Striders 2,239, Porthcawl Runners 2,510, Pencoed Tri Club 3,281 and Pencoed Panthers 4.097.
Top male is Gareth Davies with 56.91% from Bridgend colleague Rob Atkin 55.16, Keith Powell 54.43 and Dave Cascarina (both Cornelly Striders) 54.2. Charlotte Johns (Brackla Harriers) tops the female chart with 52.08% in front of Deborah RobertsGoule (Porthcawl Runners) 51.54, Angharad Mason (Bridgend) 51.4 and Jane Ogilvie (Brackla Harriers) 47.96.
PORTHCAWL 5K PARKRUN
NEIL Jones (Ogmore Phoenix Runners) made it five wins from 10 starts in taking the 272 nd staging last Saturday of Porthcawl 5k Parkrun along the Wales Coastal Path to Rest Bay and back.
Considering the sweltering weather conditions, he took an event that attracted 381 runners in a splendid 17 minutes 30 seconds.
It was, however, 29 seconds outside the personal best he recorded in finishing runner-up to James Thie (Cardiff AAC) during the 244th event last December.
Runner-up Matthew Hurford (Les Croupiers) completed the course in 17:51 with first-time competitor Richard Keep (Bourneville Runners) taking third spot in 17:59.
The next eight finishers were also inside 20 minutes – David John Williams (Les Croupiers) 18:23, Chris Medcalf (San Domenico RC) firsttime competitor 19:15, Andrew Wright (Caerleon RC) 19:18, Liam Osborne (Bridgend) 19:20, Peter Osborne (Llanelli AAC) 19:33, Michael Furness (Porthcawl Runners) 19:37, Matt Mulcahy (Caerleon RC) pb 19:42 and Jim Seabury (Epsom & Ewell Harriers) first-time competitor 19:56.
Deborah Roberts-Goule (Porthcawl Runners) returned to familiar territory in being first female runner home in 21:09 (30th) from Mandy Morris (Port Talbot Harriers) 21:32 (33rd), Charlotte Morgan (Caerleon RC) 23:27 (67th), Katie Robinson (Team Bath) 23:30 (69th), Annamarie Parsons (Port Talbot Harriers) 23:34 (71st) and Kat Angell (Porthcawl Runners) 23:41 (75 th ).
MAESTEG 5K PARKRUN
MARCUS David (unattached) turned up for a first time at Maesteg 5k Parkrun last Saturday and took the 46 th staging of the event in a time of 18 minutes 43 seconds.
The run also doubled up as the inaugural staging of the “Keeper of the Colliery” with 55 competitors braving hot conditions.
It was also the 20 th fastest time in Maesteg Welfare Park history, and they are set to celebrate a first anniversary on July 21.
Plans are already in hand to make first-birthday celebrations at the Llynfi Valley event special.
Adrian Pearce was runner-up in 19:25 with another unattached competitor, Morgan Thomas, clocking a pb time of 19:27.
The remaining top-10 places were occupied by Paul Flynn (Swansea Harriers) first-time competitor 19:51, Michael Chandler (Bristol & West AC) 20:08, Joe Lewis pb 22:08, Steven Browning first-time competitor 22:10, Paul Kearns (all unattached) 22:14, Paul Winstanley (Run4All Neath) 22:36 and Tobias Kearns (unattached) 23:56.
Top female was again Kaitlin O’Neill (unattached) in 25:17 (13th) ahead of Libby Lavis (Brackla Harriers) 25:56 (16th ), Jane O’Neill (unattached) 27:29 (21st), Rachel Monks (Port Talbot Harriers) 27:57 (22nd), Laura Butlin (Pencoed Panthers) pb 30:12 (28th) and Michelle Thomas (unattached) 31:27 (31st).
BRIDGEND JUNIOR 2K PARKRUN
DAN May last Sunday carded a first victory at the 20 th attempt in Bridgend Junior 2k Parkrun at Newbridge Fields.
The young member of the Cornelly Striders club crossed the finishing line in a personal best time of 8 minutes and 6 seconds at the end of the 141 st Bridgend event.
It replaced a previous best 8:28 that he registered when finishing runnerup to Jamie Harrowing a year ago in race number 96.
Runner-up Dylan Jones clocked 8:31 while Joel Rees carded a pb time of 8:53 to collect third-place honours.
The next nine finishers in a field of just 71 runners, owing to the heat, were also inside 10 minutes.
The list comprised Leroy Griffiths (Rhondda) 9:07, top female finisher Livia Summers in a pb time of 9:26, Samuel Spurgeon 9:30, Luke Woodhouse 9:35, Ariannah Thomas 9:41, Bethany Jenkins 9:43, Lewis Durston 9:51, Scarlett Hodges 9:54 and Eloise Neenan pb 9:55.