Newyddion

28/12/2025 00:00, I Mewn Blog /

2025 was the fourth year of the Masters International programme, with the number of opportunities increased to six during the year, and the age groups increased to 75+ and, on one occasion, even 80+.

In the first Masters International of the season, the Shrewsbury Festival of Running in May, Wales had a great day in the scintillating heat with Mike Whyatt, Eryri Harriers, Sue Peters, Swansea Harriers, and Dave Gibson, Tri Hard Harriers leading the charge with gold medals in their respective M60, W65 and M70 age groups. Mike Whyatt was undoubtedly Wales' star of the da,y winning his M60 category by over a minute. The day was a huge success, with a great family atmosphere created by race organisers Run Cheshire, which helped produce our Wales best results in the past 3 years. In total, Wales had 16 top three finishers at Shrewsbury.

Mike Whyatt, after his Shrewsbury Festival of Running victory

Second event up was a home fixture at the Swansea University Swansea Half Marathon in June. Having done so well in the first fixture the Welsh Team were further inspired with the singing of the national anthem before the start of the race and performed even better with 17 top 3 finishes. Top performance of the day went to Alan Davies, Swansea Harriers, who as well as winning his M70 age category by six minutes also broke the British M70 half marathon record. However, M45 Phil Matthews, Parc Bryn Bach, also showed his class by finishing second overall in 67-58. Other winners on the day included Mark Jennings, Mickey Morris Running Team in the M50, and Dave Wareen, Cardigan in the M60 age group.

The Great North 10km, Newcastle was next race up in July and the smallest team of the year ventured north and it was therefore no surprise that Wales came away with only 6 trophies. Not satisfied with breaking the Welsh and British records at the Swansea Half Marathon, Alan Davies, Swansea Harriers once again emphatically won his M70 category by nearly two minutes and he ran the undulating Newcastle course in 38-34! Not to be outdone, Mike Whyatt, Eryri Harriers also won his second Masters International out of two, when he won his M60 category by 73 seconds.

Alan Davies, Swansea Harriers, being presented with his trophy by Welsh Team Manager Luke Northall

For the first time in 2025 a trail half marathon was introduced into the programme and the Forest of Dean Trail Half Autumn Marathon hosted both teams superbly in September. Wales picked up just under half of the top 3 places available, which is by far the best performance of the season. There were some terrific performances across all ages and sexes. In total there were seven first places; nine second places and six third places.

Mark Jennings, Mickey Morris Running Team, and Dave Warren, Caridgan repeated their victories at the Swansea Half Marathon, whilst Mike Whyatt, Eryri picked up his third victory of the season. Amongst the women, Tracy Jenkins, Porthcawl, upgraded her third place at Swansea to a win, whilst Joanne Henderson, Denbigh, Linda Tyler, Farnham Runners, and Fiona Davies, Pontypridd all earned their first.

At the final Road Masters International race of the season, there were some terrific performances from Welsh athletes in the Abingdon Marathon with none more that Louise Flynn, Les Croupiers and James Elgar, Mickey Morris Running Team. Louise led from the gun and earned a 22 second race victory over Claire Frankland of England. James Elgar also challenged everyone from the gun and dominated the race until the winds took their toll in the final few kilometres but he battled on well to third place overall and second place in his M40 category. Other winners on the day were Martin Green, Meirionydd RC, and Linda Tyler, Farnham Runners. In total Wales won eleven top three trophies.

Louise Flynn sprinting down the finish line in the Abingdon Marathon.

The final opportunity of the year was the BMAF Cross Country International in Leeds in November. This event has been staged since 1988 and 2025 was the first time since I’ve been involved as Team Manager (approximately 20 years) that I can remember having full scoring teams at across all ages. Unlike the road internationals, which involve just Wales and England, the Cross Country International involves all five home nations and therefore medals are much harder to come by. However, one of the biggest winners of the day was David Cundy, Les Croupiers in the M70 age group. Equally competitive was the M65 were Ifan Lloyd, Swansea and Dave Warren, Cardigan, couldn’t be separated on time but Ifan did just enough to retain his M65 title and also help the M65 team to gold medals. Bronze medals were also won by the M60 and W70 teams.

Over the year 241 different athletes represented Wales at Masters level (131 men/110 women) with 90 athletes making their Welsh debuts in one of the six events. Seventy-five top three individual places were achieved by Welsh athletes and a Welsh and British record was achieved by Alan Davies, Swansea. There is no doubt that the standard of master athletics in Wales is increasing with places in Welsh teams becoming even harder to obtain. When the programme was started four years ago we were struggling to get six runners in 10 year age groups and only did three age groups – 35, 45, & 55. Now we have teams of six across all age groups from 35 to 70 and this season has seen an increase in the number of 75+ athletes achieving the standards and representing their country.

A big thank you to the Masters Advisory Group, who put together these opportunities and the Team Managers throughout the year, Luke Northall, Jacqueline Brace, Bernie Jones, Caroline Jones, and Helen-Marie Davies.

Next season’s programme again includes distances from 5km through to marathon, trail and cross country internationals and for the first time we will also be hosting track endurance internationals against England with a number of 3,000m races. Details of the 2026 programme, together with the minimum standards, selection dates and how to express an interest, are on the Welsh Athletics website here.

For further details contact Bernie Jones, Chair Masters Advisory Group Bernie-jones@sky.com