Newyddion
Weekend Round-Up (13-14 September)
15/09/2025 00:00, I Mewn Blog /
BRITISH AND IRISH MOUNTAIN RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS – CAERNARFON, SEPTEMBER 13
The most promising British and Irish junior mountain runners converged on Y Fron, near Caernarfon for the 29 running of the British And Irish Junior Mountain Running Championships.
As expected, England and Scotland were in fierce competition against each other for the major medals on what turned out to be a dry, clear day with a slight WSW breeze.
Welsh athletes performed very well against very stiff competition with the Maldwyn Harriers Benson brothers winning individual medals. Both brothers had won the trial races for the event, at the same venue and race routes.
In the under-17 race (6.23km/257m) Chris Benson finished 3rd (bronze) in a time of 25:28 behind 1st Billy Sutherland (Scotland) 25:19 and 2nd Jake Ireland (England) 25:24.
Backed up by: 5th Osian Parry (Menai T&F) 25:48; 26th Alfie Bartley-Rose (Deeside AAC) 30:20 and 28th Noa Dafydd (Betsi Runaways) 30:38, Wales under-17 boys won team bronze.
This feat was matched by the Welsh under-17 girls led by: 9th female Nansi Griffiths (Carmarthen Harriers) 31:20; 12th Sali Owen (Carmarthen Harriers) 32:20 and 13th Tamsin Seguin (Menai T&F) 32:47. Unfortunately, Amelia Williams (Carmarthen Harriers) suffered an injury during the race and was unable to continue.
Not to be outdone by his brother, Matthew Benson went one better to win individual silver in the under-20 race (6.84km/300m) in a time of 26:53 behind Jack Sanderson (England) 26:19 and Sam Bentham (England) 27:01.
Wales under-20 men’s team: 12th Cai Dafydd (Meirionnydd) 28:41. 16th Oberon Kearney (Warriors Pentathlon & AC) 29:31 & Will Chalk (Newport Harriers) 29:40 won team bronze.
Due to a late withdrawal, Wales under-20 women only had the three athletes competing: 10th female Madison Hughes (Maldwyn Harriers) 35:04; 14th Josephine Hughes (Deeside AAC) 36:32 and 20th Anwen Hockley (Eryri Harriers)
Not surprisingly, all of the course records, male and female were broken.
England and Scotland tied for the City of Edinburgh Overall Team Trophy with Wales doing well to finish third.
Well done and thank you to all of the volunteers who gave up their time to assist with the event, Crib Goch Outdoors for their generous sponsorship, Canolfan Y Fron (Race HQ) for being so accommodating as were the local community. Món Medics and Bangor University for accommodating all the teams and of course, the athletes and team management staff.
By Arwel Lews, event organiser.
BWAA AND BWRA GRAND PRIX SEPTEMBER 2025 – STOKE MANDEVILLE, SEPTEMBER 13
Welsh Athletics National Development Programme wheelchair racer Toby Richardson (Yate and District AC) returned from Stoke Mandeville with an armful of medals and a personal best.
Richardson, who has enjoyed an outstanding season and has ambitions of competing at the LA Paralympics, finished third in the 100m in 17.20.
Next up came the 1500, where Richardson was in PB form as he finished second in 3:50.84 – obliterating his previous best of 3:58.34.
Over the one lap distance, Richardson finished third in 56.13, while in the 800m he was second in 2:07.13.
TELFORD GAMES – SEPTEMBER 13
Welsh Athletics National Development Programme thrower Lucy Harris (Swansea Harriers) celebrated two wins at the Telford Games. Harris threw 41.99m in the discus and 9.58m in the shot put.
WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS – TOKYO, SEPTEMBER 14
Jeremia Azu bowed out at the semi-final stage of the men’s 100m at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Sunday
Drawn in a high quality line-up, the Cardiff Athletics sprinter looked desperately disappointed to finish in fourth place.
Finishing outside the top two meant Azu missed out on automatic qualification for the final.
The World Indoor 60m champion’s time of 10.05 was not quick enough to see him go through as one of the fastest non-automatic qualifiers.
Azu looked relaxed before the race despite a delay and the stellar line-up competing in his semi-final.
Wales’ fastest man typically got out to a fast start, but reigning World and Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles, of the USA, and rising Nigerian star Kanyinsola Ajayi came through to take the top spots. Former Commonwealth Games champion Akani Simbine, of South Africa, was third.
The final was won by Jamaica’s Oblique, who took the title in a new personal best of 9.77.
On Saturday, Azu had qualified for the semi-final automatically by finishing third in his first round heat. Running into a headwind, Azu started well and crossed the line in 10.10 to progress.
After his heat, the 24-year-old said:
It was pretty smooth. I got out well, transitioned quite well and maintained it. I didn’t want to leave it to chance. I made sure I qualified top three.
It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve raced, so it was just to get back into that rhythm and we did that. It felt good, the track’s quick. I’m ready to roll, I’m excited for what’s next. I’m confident in my abilities.
Azu will now turn his attention to the 4x100m where he is part of the Great Britain relay squad.
Last year, Azu ran the first leg in the GB team which claimed a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics – becoming the first Welsh track and field athlete in 28 years to win a medal at the Games.
The relay heats take place next Saturday, September 20.
STRATFORD SPEED GP – NEWHAM, SEPTEMBER 14
Olivia Breen (City of Portsmouth) continued her preparations for the World Para Athletics Championships in India later this month.
The Commonwealth Games T38100m champion ran 13.24 as she finished third in her heat.
Welsh Athletics Transition Programme T11 sprinter James Ledger (Swansea Harriers) ran 11.79 in his first heat on Sunday. In his second heat he ran 11.84 as he finished third.
Sam Gordon (Cardiff Athletics) finished second in his first round heat at Newham, clocking 10.49 running into a slight headwind.
The second round saw the Great Britain international go faster as he finished third in 10.34.
ADMIRAL SWANSEA BAY 10K – SEPTEMBER 14
Dewi Griffiths (Swansea Harriers) claimed victory on home turf in the men’s race for the second year running as Louise Small (Aldershot Farnham and District) won the women’s race.
Commonwealth Games marathon competitor Griffiths claimed the victory in wet and windy conditions in 29:46 – also claiming the 2025 Welsh 10k Championship title in the process.
Swansea Harriers claimed a home clean sweep as World Athletics Championships marathon runner Josh Griffiths was second in 30:16 and club-mate Jonathan Butler was third in 30:27 to complete the race and Welsh Championship podium.
In the women’s race, Small claimed the overall victory in 33:22. In second place, and the first Welsh finisher, was Olivia Tsim (Pontypridd Roadents), who claimed the Welsh title in 34:09.
The silver medal and third place overall went to Eden O’Dea (Deeside AAC) in 34:58, while next home to claim bronze was Donna Morris (Builth and District) in 36:07.
The wheelchair race was won by Welsh Athletics National Development Programme athlete, who followed up his win Brecon Carreg CDF 10k last weekend by also taking the honours here in 31:53.
More than 5,000 runners entered the race which has been run along the Swansea seafront for more than 40 years.
DRAGON’S EYE 2 – TRELEWIS, SEPTEMBER 14
Runners at this event choose how far to go - from 5km to 10k, half to marathon to ultra, competitors complete as many, or as few, laps as they like of a 5.3km, 3.28 mile, out and back, course through Parc Taf Bargoed.
Runners and walkers are welcome to complete one lap or keep going to see how far they can get in the full 7-hour time limit. Everyone gets a bespoke finishers medal.
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