ATHLETICS

STEPHEN Davies last Saturday made a telling break to win the 205th staging of the Porthcawl 5k Parkrun, writes Tony Poole.

The Cwm Ogwr Running Club member was on cue from the outset to gain a first race victory in a time of 18mins 8secs.

This, however, was seven seconds outside his personal best time.

In boisterous conditions along the Wales Coastal Path a lower than normal 295 runners faced the starter.

Runner-up Rowan Hobbs completed the course in 18:52, and clocked the same time as Brackla Harriers colleague Christopher Jeynes.

First-time competitor Mark Burley (Bristol & West Running Club) was fourth in 19:05 with two unattached runners next to finish – Morgan Freeman 19:08 and Jack Evans 19:33.

The other top-12 finishers all carded sub-20 minute times – Will Edwards (Porthcawl Runners) 19:35, Simon Bow- en (unattached) 19:38, Dave Bennett (Porthcawl Runners) 19:40, first-timer Julian Michael Boon (Forest of Dean) 19:41, Ian Ogilvie (Brackla Harriers) 19:42 and Greg Newhams (Bridgend) 19:52.

Top female finisher and 21st overall was Gabriella Maine (Les Croupiers) who completed the course in a time of 21:20 from Laura Gush (Bearbrook Running Club) 28th in 21:35 and Lucy Edwards (Cornelly Striders) 48th overall clocking 22:45.

It’s left the overall points competition for men with Will Edwards still out in front on 3,999 points from Porthcawl Runners team-mate Dave Bennett 3,783 and unattached man Adrian Phillips 3,720.

The female competition is still headed by Deborah Goule (Porthcawl Runners) with 4,539 points from Joanne Edwards (Cornelly Striders) 4,479 and Jane Ogilvie (Brackla Harriers) 4,362.

The 78th Junior 2k Parkrun in Newbridge Fields on Sunday attracted 86 starters with a sixth win in the event going to Hywel Leyshon (Bridgend).

He was a mere 16 seconds outside his personal best time, winning the race in 7mins 59secs, from Alfie Smallman in 8:27.

Thomas Green recorded a personal best time of 8:43 to finish third with Anna Rose Merchant (Bridgend) top female in 8:44.

The other top 10 finishers were Aled James 8:52, Finlay Cannon 8:53, Matthew Bridges 9:16, Joshua Morgan (Bridgend) 9:19, Leroy Griffiths (Rhondda) 9:19 and Thomas Clarke 9:21.

Other sub-10 minute times came from Megan Froley (Bridgend) 9:27, Jack Green personal best 9:31, Aneira Phillips 9:31, Taylor Greig 9:45 and Elin Vigus 9:59.

Twelve other personal best times were registered and went against the names of Scarlett Hodges, Izabella Evans, Elly Lewis, Rhydian Lloyd-Francis, Hannah Green, Delyth Dickson, Madison Pang, Harry Rees, Charlotte Moon, Ben Bailey, Evey Dykes and Jensen Parsons (Cwm Ogwr Running Club).