ATHLETES SEEK DYFED PLACES

SCHOOL pupils from the four areas in Dyfed went head to head as runners looked to book their spots at this week’s Dyfed Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships at Oakwood Park.

Pembrokeshire, Brianne, Ceredigion and Llanelli hosted area events featuring nearly 30 schools.

There were races for almost all year groups at secondary school level with all pupils invited to represent their school.

Fixtures began with the Year 7 athletes taking part in this competition for the first time following their step up from primary over the summer. They were followed by the combined Year 8 and 9 race and Years 10 and 11.

Haverfordwest High School, Ysgol y Preseli, Ysgol Greenhill, Ysgol Dewi Sant, Ysgol Bro Gwaun, Tasker Milward School, Milford Haven School and Pembrokeshire College were first to set off at Haverfordwest Racecourse.

Just a few hours later, some 50 miles away at Ammanford Recreation Ground, Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, Ysgol Maes y Gwendraeth, Ysgol Bro Myrddin, Ysgol Bro Dinefwr, Ysgol Dyffryn Taf, QE High School and Llandovery College gathered outside the rugby club field for the Brianne Secondary Schools races. This follows two league matches that have already been held in Brianne in September and October.

The Ceredigion Secondary Schools Championships certainly had the better of the conditions at the Urdd Campus in Llangrannog. Ysgol Aberaeron, Ysgol Bro Pedr, Ysgol Penweddig, Ysgol Penglais, Ysgol Emlyn, Ysgol Aberteifi, Ysgol Henry Richard and Ysgol Bro Teifi were all in attendance.

The fourth and final event of an action-packed week was at Pembrey Country Park for the Llanelli Secondary Schools.

Runners from six schools had to contend with strong winds and driving rain, but luckily for pupils from Ysgol y Strade, Ysgol Bryngwyn, Ysgol Coedcae, Ysgol Glan-y-Mor, St Michael’s School and St John Lloyd School the underfoot conditions were ideal, as is always the case at Pembrey.