SILVER LINING FOR HARRIERS
WALES’S up-and-coming and established cross-country runners took a break from club representation but instead were on regional duties at the final championship event of 2018 before the Christmas break.
Staged for the 20th time, the Welsh Athletics Inter-Regional Cross-Country Championships headed to a brand-new venue at Ysgol Gynradd Trefonnen in Llandrindod Wells.
Primary school races started off the programme, with a team silver for Carmarthen Harriers’ boys. Alex Coles was second overall, with teammates James Sloyan and William Coles completing the scoring team in sixth and seventh.
Running for the Llanelli club, Amelie Campion also took part and came in the top 10 for the girls.
Leading the under-13 girls’ West Wales team home was Frances Mackie, who finished second overall. She was supported by Chloe Hale in 14th and Erin Morgan in 18th.
Next to cross the line were Carys Wood (26th) and Amy Greatrick (29th).
The majority of the under-13 boys’ team were from the Johnstown club, with Zach Elvy the first in thanks to his third-place finish and Jack Thomas not too far behind in eighth. Ifan Bowen and Iwan Thomas worked together to place 15th and 16th. The other quartet of Ellis Caddick, Steffan Davies, Jake Lynock and Rogan Cox in 21st, 23rd, 24th and 28th helped the West go second in the team result.
Adam Beer added another under-15 boys’ win to his already growing list this year and was supported by Dafydd Jones, who ensured a clean sweep of individual medals for the West as they finished 1-2-3. Ioan Cressey-Rodgers and Scott Price helped secure team gold in 12th and 31st. Tanwen Moon and Amy Tucker represented the under 15 girls’ team, finishing in 26th and 38th positions.
There was a ninth-place finish for Eva Edwards in the under-17 women’s race, while Ellie Kiff in the under-20 women’s came 11th. Joining her in the team was Carys Jones, who was 12th.
In the corresponding age group, there was a close finish between Callum Campion and Ieuan Griffiths in 23rd and 25th, with Samuel Bird in 33rd and Lewis Jones 39th ensuring good representation from Carmarthenshire.
The day finished off on a good note as the under-20 men’s team of five helped the West win their third gold medal in the team event. After some excellent early-season performances, it was more of the same for Ben Thomas in sixth, with Rhys Davies also among the finishers in 14th.
There were some good senior women’s performances over a muddy route. Wendy Price was one of the top 10 ladies in 30:33. She was followed by Kate Lynock (36:34), Lisa Forrest (39:03), Jessica Davies (46:32) and Janet Webb (50:23).
Jason Price (43:03) was the first to finish in the senior men’s race. He was followed by Matthew Phillips (43:20), Paul Osborne (44:39), Paul Lynock (47:36), Ian Webb (48:16), Dafydd Bowen (49:28) and Huw Davies (50:18).
Craig Hopkins (50:44), Nick Venables (51:58), Gordon Orme (54:04) and Jonathan Cox (53:09) and Paul Osborne also contributed towards a successful day which saw a big haul of medals return south.