ATHLETICS

RICHARD DANDO (Bridgend) last Saturday broke clear of the pack to pull off an eighth Porthcawl 5k Parkrun victory, writes Tony Poole.

He clocked 17mins 32secs – 18 seconds outside his best time – while runner-up Nathan Flear (3M Gorseinon) carded a personal best 18:05. Thirdplaced Stephen Davies also produced a personal best 18:08 with Christopher Jeynes (Brackla Harriers) next home in 18:26.

The other top-10 finishers were Tom Rhoden (unattached) in a personal best 19:16, Dave Bennett (Porthcawl Runners) 19:21, Rowan Hobbs (Brackla Harriers) 19:26, Wilf Edwards (Porthcawl Runners) 19:27, Ian Ogilvie (Brackla Harriers) 19:32 and Aled Hughes (Cwm Ogwr Running Club) in a personal best 19:33.

Wilf Edwards still heads the annual points competition for men on the strength of 3,811 points from Porthcawl Runners team-mate Dave Bennett 3,591 and Adrian Phillips (unattached) 3,545. Deborah Goule remains in charge of the corresponding female event, carding 4,344 points, from Joanne Edwards (Cornelly Striders) 4,291 and Jane Ogilvie (Brackla Harriers) 4.173.

Meanwhile, the topthree placings in Sunday’s 76th Bridgend Junior Parkrun in Newbridge Fields were occupied by young female runners.

Pride of place for a 12th time in the event went to Anna-Rose Merchant, who clocked 8mins 22secs which was 20 seconds outside her personal best.

Runner-up Mia Allen carded a personal best 8:56 with a third Bridgend female competitor, Megan Froley, completing the 2k course in nine minutes.

Fourth-placed Joshua Morgan (Bridgend) was next to finish in 9:02 from first-time competitor Leroy Griffiths (Rhondda) 9:09 and Matthew Bridges 9:13. The other top-10 positions were occupied by Cari Baber in a personal best 9:20, Jessica Craw- ley (Bridgend) 9:28, Iwan Froley 9:40 and Aiden Lewis with a personal best time of 9:43.

Other sub-10 minute times were recorded by Daniel Perriman, Georgia Smele (Bridgend), Evan Lewis, Liam McNally (personal best), Gruffydd James and Evan Jenkins.

There were 30 other personal best times, and they came from Maddison Mustoe (Cornelly Striders), Elliot Jenkins, Imogen John, Samuel Humphreys, Luke Woodhouse, Scarlett Hodges, Sophia Miles, Ava Sewell, Atharva Kotwal, Dan Grandl, Izabella Evans, Mali Paige Roberts, Lucy Bradbury, Lucy Griffiths, Xia Parry, Emrys Fairburn, Sebastian John, Rhydian LloydFrancis, Seren Downward, James Thomas, Luca Nicholas (Cornelly Striders), Isabel Stephenson, Lily Richards, Jack Woodhouse, Megan Thomas, Gemma Stevenson, Maizy Nicholas, Holly Stevenson, William Munro and Holly Watson.

Finally, Pencoed Tri Club were actively in- volved last Saturday in the Hooka One Trail Half Marathon in Margam Park.

A hilly mountain course that took competitors around Margam Country Park and an upper forest trail saw Mike Edwards take first place for Pencoed.

Hot on his heels came Dave Spry, Steven Bassett, Jan Jones and James O’Flaherty.

There was also a large turnout of members from the Cornelly Striders club in Meadow Street.