Monday 11 December 2023
The Spar European Cross Country Championships returned took place on a muddy and testing course at Laeken Park in the Belgian capital, Brussels on Sunday. A strong British Team topped the overall medal table once again, repeating the feat also achieved at last year’s Championships in Turin.
In the U20 Women’s Race, Moli Lyons (Cardiff Athletics) finished in a strong 31st place (5th British athlete) on her Major Championship Debut helping the British Team to Gold in the Team standings.
Dewi Griffiths (Swansea Harriers) achieved a top five finish in 28:41, marking a welcome return to fitness for the Welsh Athlete that now looks likely to regain his crown as the inform Welsh endurance athlete and showed a glimpse of the form that saw him run a 2:09 marathon and claim eight Welsh Cross Country titles.
The next Welsh athlete to finish was Michael Ward (Cardiff AAC) in 29:37. Other top performances included Jonathan Butler who once again came very close to the illusive 30 minute barrier in 30:09. Ben Miles (Cardiff Athletics) was next in 30:16 followed by Tom Wood (Eryri Harriers) in 30:18. Commonwealth Games performer Jonathan Hopkins (Swansea Harriers) finished in 30:23.
Also in action on the day were Jenny Nesbitt (Pontypridd Roadents) who recorded her quickest 10k of the year in 33:37 and Lauren Cooper (Western Tempo) who finished in 35:34.
Saturday saw the Deeside Indoor Track host the inaugural North Wales Christmas Indoors Open, bringing an exciting day of action with a range of events, athletes and age groups with competitors travelling from all over Wales. Over 110 competitors took part.
Mike Roderick (Tri-Hard Harriers) came home in front in 17:51 at Neath’s festive 5k, followed by Osian Davies (Neath Harriers) and Chris Lloyd (Unattached).
Naomi Sutton (Run4All Neath) took the title of first lady in 21:04, followed by Lilly Williams and Alex Hatton.
Jacob Tasker (Ogmore Phoenix) finished in 40:13, in front of James Hunt (Cardiff Athletics) and Rhys Doyle (3M Gorseinon Road Runners), as runners braved the famed sandy terrains and steep ascents of the iconic dunes at Merthyr Mawr.
Sian Edwards (Swansea Harriers) came home in front for the Women, with Antoinette Rose (Lliswerry Runners) and Jessica Hegarty (Unattached) completing the female top 3.
Janos Vranek (Aberystwyth AC) won the Aberystwyth Charity 10k in a time of 32:10, while Emma Price (Aberystwyth University) was the first woman home.
South Pembs’ favourite Christmas run returned this year in aid of Green Acres Animal Rescue. The Men's winner was Edward Clements (Unattached) in 34:31 and the first lady was Lucy Walwin (Unattached) in 42:48.
Official club photography supplied by Paul Stillman
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