Hedydd puts final touches to second book
A GIANT of Welsh athletics is putting the final touches to his second book about the Carmarthen Harriers sports club.
While he has always been very modest about his own athletic sporting achievements, which includes a Commonwealth Games appearance, 82-year-old Dr Hedydd Davies has always been fiercely supportive of nurturing the stars of tomorrow and is still president of the Carmarthen Harries.
The club meets at the athletics track at Carmarthen Leisure Centre in Johnstown.
He worked to obtained grants of up to £156,000 to create the allweather running track in 1988 and in 2019 the spectator stand was named after him.
Dr Davies has spent the last 40-plus years organising athletics events in Carmarthenshire from primary to international level including many British schools events and 35 Welsh championship competitions.
He also organised the Carmarthen’s Mayor’s Race for 25 years and was one of its founders in 1981.
Last year he and his wife Eiddwen moved from the village of Capel Dewi near Carmarthen to Aberaeron in Ceredigion and following the move he published a book called Athletics, Education and Carmarthen Harriers which detailed the history of the athletics club, complete with results from over the decades.
Now a second book, called Carmarthen Harriers Memories 1948-2022, is almost ready to hit the shelves and will include input from some of Carmarthenshire’s sporting greats who have had links with Carmarthen Harriers over the years.
Among those who have contributed chapters to the book are Welsh and British Lions rugby legends Sir Gareth Edwards, Brynmor Williams and Carmarthen’s own Roy Bergiers, who were all members of Carmarthen Harriers.
Dr Davies said: “This new book is a continuation of the first one, whereas that one had my own history and club result details from over the years, this one has chapters where notable sporting greats and those associated with the club have contributed and spoken about their time with Carmarthen Harriers.”
Gareth Edwards in his chapter writes: “I was proud to be a Carmarthen Harrier and to have such excellent support in my younger days from the chairman Ron Evans and its chief coach Ernie Jones.
“As a Gwaun-cae-gurwen schoolboy I was mad keen on all sport and would spend hours every day out playing on the road or playing field.
“I was fairly quick as a runner when I was at primary school and good at all sports, not only rugby but also football and athletics.
“Not only as a sprinter I competed also as a long jumper and hurdler, I can remember competing for the Harriers in the match against Birchfield Harriers, Birmingham, at the Ystrad Tywi track in Johnstown, Carmarthen in August 1965 in the 110 yards junior hurdles event and the 4 x 110 yards junior relay.”
He added: “Carmarthen Harriers was a great friendly club and I enjoyed coming down to Carmarthen to train with a fine group of athletes and club members.
“My fellow British and Irish Lions Brynmor Williams and Roy Bergiers are also proud to have been members of Carmarthen Harriers.
“May this great club continue to provide opportunities for young athletes in West Wales for many more years.”
Another giving their insights is Lynn Davies the Olympic, European and Commonwealth Games champion and there are two chapters paying tribute to the club founders Ron Evans and Ernie Jones.
Dr Davies also gives his personal views in one chapter and the book also looks at successful periods over the decades - particularly the ‘glory years’, as Dr Davies calls them, of 1990-2010.
There is also a chapter on the Mounsey family, who through their Mcdonald’s franchises have sponsored many of Dr Davies’ sporting events over the years and have contributed towards the costs of publishing the book.
Dr Davies said: “The book is expected to come out sometime in the first half of next year and the final touches are now being made to it.”
A release date for Carmarthen Harriers Memories 1948-2022 will be made public soon.