Newyddion
SIAB Cross Country International 2025 - Round-Up
25/03/2025 00:00, I Mewn Blog /
40 young Welsh athletes travelled to Falkirk, Scotland, to compete at the SIAB Cross Country International on Saturday.
Perfect weather and firm underfoot conditions welcomed the Welsh athletes who made the long trip north for the traditional close to the cross-country season. This is always one of the more challenging away trips, with the long coach ride on Friday not the best preparation for performance. Athletes stayed overnight at the Best Western Hotel at Bathgate with a 25 minute coach ride taking them into the venue at Falkirk. The course used the natural contours of the park terrain and provided a great test for all, it proved popular with both athletes as well as being totally spectator friendly.
Our Schools athletes got the day under way with the Junior Girls race over 3k, the first event. A group of English athletes were quick to the fore and this set the pattern for the day. Only Martha Bown (Bodedern) was able to secure a top 20 placing, crossing the line in 18th place.
The junior boys were able to go one better as they produced 2 top twenty finishes as the Glamorgan Valleys’ Nate Greig (Bryntirion) finished I 13th. and Lewis Durston (Brynteg) in 15th.
Our Middle Girls had been expected to pick up team medals, but they were pipped for the bronze by Scotland. They di,d however produce the individual performance of the day as Holly Humphries (Gwyr) finished in a highly creditable 8th place, Sioned John (Glantaf) was another top 20 finisher coming in 20th exactly.
Osian Parry (David Hughes) was first home in the Middle boys event in 14th and he was closely followed by Sam Griffiths (Bro Myrddin) in 17th. It was again England taking the team awards ahead of Ireland and Scotland. Attention now had to turn to the two Mixed Relays if Welsh Schools were to capture any team medals.
The Junior Relay got us underway, these are run over alternating 1500m legs and this year returned to the boy, girl, boy, girl format. There was an inspired opening leg from Macsen Watts (Gwynllyw), this got the team into medal contention and set up Leah Rhodes (Bassaleg), Ioan Vale (St John Baptist) and Manon Flur Phillips (Bro Myrddin) to hold both their nerves and form and secure the bronze medal by a significant margin ahead of the Scots.
The tactic of starting strong looked to have paid off in the Middle Relay as well with Lucas Salvage (St Julian’s) getting another strong start. However, a powerful second leg by the Scottish athlete took the field away from Olivia Morgan (Cathedral) who was making her second appearance in the relay. Dylan Evans (St Joseph’s Newport) and Rebecca Harries (Pencoedtre) were unable to significantly close the gap and it looked as if the medal chance had gone. However, it later emerged that the dominant English Schools quartet had missed a changeover between legs 1 and 2 and were, as a result, disqualified. This handed victory to the hosts, silver to Ireland and a second team bronze to Wales.
The Association’s thanks go to the Management Team travelling with the party under Team Leader Zane Maynard (Morriston Comprehensive) alongside Thomas John (Pencoed Comprehensive), Donna Welsh (Coleg Cambria), Ffion Price (Ysgol Canol Cymru) and John Messum (Menai T&F). In addition, Dai Gatehouse (SIAB Chair), Steve Jones (WSAA Chair) and Dai Williams (WSAA Vice President) who provided support around the course after attending the SIAB board meeting. Thanks also go to the small army of parents and family members travelling in support of the athletes, as well as those members of the Endurance Coaching community who travelled to the venue.
Thanks also go to Steve Mitchell and Ieuan Jones from the Welsh Athletics performance team for their tireless work behind the scenes.
Steve Jones
Chair, WSAA