ATHLETICS
HIGH summer in Porthcawl last Sunday provided a mixture of sun, sand and quality running via the inaugural Healthspan Porthcawl 10K, writes Tony Poole.
A measure of how successful the return of the event proved – following an absence of around a quarter of a century – was the start being delayed for half an hour.
This was down to some competitors being stuck in traffic jams approaching the seaside town from both east and west. But once a field of 3,385 competitors set out on their journey through Coney Beach and Newton to Lock’s Common, the blue touch paper was lit on the carnival atmosphere with music accompanying runners throughout the town.
And the event – which forms part of this year’s Run4Wales programme – very nearly produced a local winner.
But James Hunt (Cardiff AAC), who hails from Bridgend, was hunted down during the final kilometre by Josh Griffiths (Swansea Harriers).
Hunt seemed to have the race at his mercy heading back to Porthcawl, but Griffiths, who is a Team Wales & Great Britain marathon runner, found another gear entering West Drive to pip him by a mere three seconds.
But Hunt could take a lot out of the race, as it was the first time for him to drive home a 10K time of under-30 minutes.
Griffiths set the bar for future years at 29:55; Hunt clocked a pb time of 29:58 with Great Britain 20K runner Phil Wylie (Cheltenham/Highgate) taking third spot in 30:41.
The lead charity partner on the day was Ty Hafan – the hospice for children in Wales – and they were out in force along with Brecon Carreg who encouraged recycling of their water bottles.
All in all the day proved a resounding success and for most who attended they simply can’t wait for next year’s event.
Among the 3,385 starters was a healthy gathering of local runners, who also rose to the occasion.
Rob Hunt (Bridgend) turned in an exceptional 38:30 to not only finish 46th but also win the 55+ category by a country mile.
Jeffrey Thomas took the male 50+ section in 39:42 while his Bridgend team-mates Leigh James (39:52), Catherine Stephens (40:20) and Katrin Higginson (41:49) all secured top-10 female finishes.
The best times from local runners were as follows: petitor Sioned Cordiner, who clocked 5:27:38. RICHARD Dando (Bridgend) last Saturday won Porthcawl 5K Parkrun for a 19th time, clocking 18:03.
The event this time around served as an appetiser for the following day’s Healthspan Porthcawl 10K, but it nevertheless attracted 341 runners.
Sean Lewis (Chepstow Harriers) was runner-up in 18:40 from Alun Williams 18:59, top female Hannah Jenkins (both Porthcawl) pb 19:08, Ben White (Bridgend) 19:20, newcomer Luke Thorn (unattached) 19:24, Mike Edwards (Pencoed Tri Club) 19:31, Mike Furness (Porthcawl Runners) 19:32, Gareth DanterHill (Cornelly Striders) pb 19:33, Dan Perkins (Pencoed Tri Club) pb 19:41 and Dave Bennett (Porthcawl Runners) 19:46.
Second female home in 46th place was Amy De Beaux (unattached) in 22:17 ahead of Fleur Jones (Cornelly Striders) 22:57 (62nd), Nicole Edwards (unattached) 23:17 (70th), Louise Mordue (Porthcawl Runners) 23:34 (75th) and Elaine Wharmby (Pegasus, Cardiff) 23:50 (84th). PAUL Speyer (Brackla Harriers) last Saturday took the 97th staging of Maesteg 5K Parkrun in the Welfare Park. His winning time was 19:24 and it represented a fourth success in the Llynfi Valley event.
Thomas Elward (unattached) followed him home in 19:37 ahead of four members of the Ogmore Phoenix club – Aled Hughes 21:15, Adrian Pearce 21:22, Niki Puleio 21:23 and Keith Coleman 22:38.
Joseph Austin (unattached) drove into seventh place in 23:23 from Timothy Rees (Ogmore Phoenix) 23:47, newcomer Dave Meyrick (unattached) 24:02 and top female Libby Lavis (Brackla Harriers) 24:04.
Second female finisher was Jenny Sleath pb 24:46 (12th) from Ariannah Thomas 26:00 (15th), Kaitlin O’Neill (all unattached) 26:03 (16th), Jackie Bourne (Brackla Harriers) pb 26:32 (17th) and Jacqueline Villis (unattached) 27:06 (19th0.
Owing to the Healthspan Porthcawl 10K, Bridgend Junior 2K Parkrun was cancelled and will resume this Sunday.