Newyddion
Weekend Round-Up (22 - 23 November)
24/11/2025 00:00, I Mewn Blog /
LIVERPOOL CROSS CHALLENGE – NOVEMBER 23
Cari Hughes (Cardiff Athletics) overcame illness and a muddy course to win the senior women’s race at the UK Cross Challenge event in Liverpool on Saturday.
The brilliant performance also secured Hughes automatic selection for next month’s European Cross Country Championships in Portugal – the seventh time she has been picked to represent Great Britain at the event.
Hughes, who finished second in Liverpool last year, had missed the Cardiff Cross Challenge two weeks ago because due to illness.
But the Welsh steeplechase record holder returned to action with a bang, breaking clear of Poppy Tank (City of Plymouth) and Izzy Fry (Newbury) in the closing stages to compete the 8K course in 27:17, two seconds ahead of her nearest rival.
A delighted and mud-spattered Hughes said afterwards:
I am over the moon with that. I really didn’t know what to expect coming into the race.
It has been a difficult two weeks leading up, as there were some issues my body wasn’t ready for, so to come here and take the win, I cannot believe it. I am so happy.
The Anglesey athlete, who has been based on the continent with OAC Europe added:
I wasn’t 100 per cent right before Cardiff so I had to miss that, take some time to recover, then I got a good week of training in last week, and I was ready to go today.
The race went off pretty hard, the pace was fast from the start. I just had to settle in the first lap. Then the second lap I was finding myself pushing towards the front.
At the start of the third lap, I was at the front and I just thought ‘why not, I’m always the one following the move, so I’ll make the move’. It didn’t actually work, I wasn’t able to pull away.
I thought ‘I have to be smart here and keep some for the last straight, because it’s a long straight here’. I just wanted to make sure I had enough in reserve to kick.
Looking ahead to the European Championships, Hughes said she would look to learn from last year’s event in Antalya, Turkey:
I had a really bad race in Antalya last year. I actually overcooked myself in the two weeks post Liverpool.
I guess me and my coach will sit down and make a different plan. Try and be in the same shape as I am now, perhaps a little bit better for Euros. I haven’t really thought that far ahead yet because I needed to get the job done today first.
There were a number of other noteworthy Welsh performances in the age group races on Saturday.
They included Zac Munn (Cardiff Athletics) winning the 3K under-13 boys race in 10:20 – five seconds ahead of his nearest rival Mason Sandford (Chelmsford AC). Another Welsh athlete, Rowan Carson (Bridgend AC) finished fifth out of the 151 starters in 10:36.
In the under-15 boys race, Oliver Cobbold (Swansea Harriers) finished 15th in 10:11. In the under-15 girls race, Bella Thie (Bridgend AC) was 17th, just ahead of Martha Bown (Menai Track and Field).
Alex Smart (Cardiff Athletics) finished 17th in 13:42 in the men’s under-20 race, while Dafydd Jones (Swansea Harriers), who competed at last year’s European Cross Country Championships, finished 18th in the men’s under-23 race in 17:26.
The full Novuna GB & NI team for the 2025 European Cross Country Championships will be announced later next week.
NCCA CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP – COLOMBIA, MISSOURI, NOVEMBER 22
Gwenno Goode (Cardiff Athletics) competed in the NCCA Cross Country Championship finals in the US on Saturday.
The LaSalle University junior completed the 6K course in 20:14.6 for 152nd place out of more than 260 finishers. Goode’s time was 17 seconds faster than her performance in last year's nationals race.
Nia Clatworthy also competed, placing 196th in a time of 20:33.8.
The title was won by Kenyan Doris Lemngol (Alabama), who crossed the line in 18:25.4.
NORTH WALES CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE – BALA, NOVEMBER 22
The latest fixture of the David Alun Williams North Wales Cross Country League was hosted by Meirionnydd RC in Bala on Saturday.
Ali Lavender (Oswestry Olympians) won her third race out of three this season as she once again claimed the honours in the senior women’s race in 20:38. Joanne Henderson (Denbigh Harriers) was second in 22:19 with Gemma Moore (Eryri Harriers) was third in 22:20.
The team victory went to Eryri Harriers who maintain their position at the top of Division One.
In the senior men’s race, Andrew Moore (Bangor University) led the field home in a winning time of 31:12, followed by Meirionnydd RC duo Rhodri Owen in 31:23 and Dan Kashi in 31:44.
Those second and third placings helped Meirionnydd RC to the team victory and kept them top of Division 1.
The under-17 men’s race was won by Xander Brandon-Higgs (Maldwyn) in 19:57 ahead of Ryan Delaney (Deeside AC) in 21:08 and clubmate Isaac Walker in 23:08. Deeside took the team win and stay top of their division.
In the North Wales Junior League, Isaac Garcia Lucas (Denbigh Harriers) won the under-15 boys race in 17:12. Daniel Purcell (Menai Track and Field) was second in 17:15 with Henry Jones (Denbigh Harriers) third in 17:28.
Winner of the under-15 girls race was Bethan Roberts (Deeside AAC), in 14:58, comfortably clear of Grace Hughes (Wrexham AAC) in 15:35 and Elin Evans (Colwyn Bay AC) in 16:15. Menai Track and Field stay top of their division alongside Colwyn Bay AC.
Jacob Price (Menai Track and Field) was triumphant in the under-13 boys race, winning in 13:25. Tobi Jones (Deeside AAC) was second in 14:22 and Osian Tullock (Deeside AAC) third in 14:25. The Deeside placings help keep them top of their division.
In the under-13 girls race, Monique Brandon-Higgs (Maldwyn Harriers) edged a close race to finish a second ahead of Lois Evans (Colwyn Bay AC) in 10:43. Poppy Collins (Menai Track and Field) was third in 11:19. Deeside AC lead the division.
Niall Betteridge (West Cheshire AC) led the way in the under-11 boys race, clocking 10:31. Elliot Steele-Jones (Menai Track and Field) was second in 10:36 and Eben Davies (Denbigh Harriers) third in 10:44. Denbigh Harriers maintain top spot.
The under-11 girls winner was Zoe James (Deeside AAC) in 7:31, ahead of Madeleine Fata (Colwyn Bay AC) in 7:36 and Matilda Thomson (Deeside AAC) in 7:38. Deeside AC are top of the division.
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