Newyddion

01/12/2025 00:00, I Mewn Blog /

WELSH INTER-REGIONAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS – NEWTOWN, NOVEMBER 29

More than 1,000 runners from primary school age to over-65 athletes competed at the Welsh Inter-Regional Cross Country Championships in Newtown on Saturday.

Regional pride was on the line as competitors representing North, East, South and West Wales did battle over 12 age groups.

Twenty-plus primary schools were also represented as 250 youngsters took part in four primary school races organised in conjunction with the Urdd.

The winner of the senior men’s race was Noa Vaughan (Eryri), who was representing North Wales.

Vaughan, who started the year by winning the under-20 title at the Welsh Cross Country Championships at Pembrey, completed the 9.55K course at Newtown’s Dolerw Park in 25:37.

Second place went to East Wales runner Craig Williams (Newport Harriers) in 25:42, with North Wales’ Andrew Moore (Bangor University) clocking the same time in third place.

Eight top 30 finishers, led by Morgan James (Swansea Harriers), helped South Wales claim the senior men’s team title ahead of East Wales.

The women’s senior race was won by Lucy Williamson (Parc Bryn Bach), who was representing East Wales.

Williamson made short work of the 6.34K course, crossing the line in 22:48 – nine seconds ahead of North Wales athlete Mia Roberts (Deeside). Nynke Kuiper (Les Croupiers) was third in 22:58 for South Wales.

The team race saw Williamson’s win help East Wales claim the senior women’s title with South Wales second and North Wales third.

There were also some excellent performances in the age group races.

In the under-13 boys 2.52K race, Zac Munn (Cardiff Athletics) followed up his brilliant win at the Liverpool Cross Challenge by taking victory here for South Wales in 7:59.

In fact it was a clean sweep for South Wales as Farley Pritchard (Cardiff Athletics) was second in 8:03 and Rowan Carson (Bridgend Athletics) was third in 8:04. Unsurprisingly, South Wales also took the team title.

The under-13 girls 2.52K race was won for South Wales by Alesha Santos (Rhondda) in 8:38. Deeside twins Gwen Hayes and Ella Hayes were second and third respectively for North Wales in 8:39 and 8:48. South Wales took the team title.

The under-15 3.82K races saw Martha Bown (Menai Track and Field) win the girls race for North Wales in 13:24. South Wales and Bridgend Athletics duo Esme Lewis and Bella Thie were second and third in 13:32 and 13:37. South Wales once again took the team title.

There was an individual win for West Wales in women’s under-17 5.04K race where Amelia Williams (Carmarthen Harriers) took the honours in 18:01. South Wales’ Bryony Boyce (Cardiff Athletics) was second in 18:09, while another Carmarthen Harrier and West Wales athlete Nansi Griffiths was third in 18:11. South Wales pipped West Wales for the team title.

There was a dominant display in the men’s under-17 5.81K race where Lewis Morris (West Cheshire) took the win for North Wales in 17:14. East Wales’ William Chalk (Newport Harriers) was second in 17:42 with Osian Parry (Menai Track and Field) third for North Wales in 17:53. The team title went to North Wales.

There was another convincing victory in the women’s under-20 5.04K race where Cara Scott (Menai Track and Field) finished almost a minute ahead of the field for North Wales in 18:24. Caitlin Jones (Pontypridd Roadents) was second for South Wales in 19:22 and West Wales athlete Lily Williams (Celtic Tri) was third in 19:35. North Wales were the team winners.

Cardiff Athletics runners enjoyed a clean sweep of the podium in the men’s under-20 5.81K race. The winner Henry Evans, who crossed the line in 17:11, was representing East Wales, while second and third placed athletes Samuel Boyce (17:44) and Iwan Froley (17:49) were representing South Wales. And it was South Wales who claimed the team honours.

Among the winners in the masters races were Ifan Lloyd (Swansea Harriers), who won the masters men 65 race for West Wales in 22:58, while the master women 65 race was also won for West Wales by Lindy Geyer (TROTS) in 26:49 – more than four minutes ahead of her nearest rival.

RESULTS

LEEDS ABBEY DASH 10K – NOVEMBER 30

Melissa Courtney-Bryant (Poole AC) conjured up a remarkable performance to win the Leeds Abbey Dash 10K on Sunday morning.

The multiple Welsh record holder on the track had not run a 10K since clocking 33:15 in France back in December 2016.

But on the streets of Leeds, the Commonwealth Games 1500m medallist clocked a new personal best of 31:37 to beat a high quality domestic field attracted by the event incorporating the 2025 England Athletics 10K Championships.

Courtney-Bryant’s time puts her second on the Welsh all-time 10K rankings behind Charlotte Arter (Cardiff Athletics) who holds the Welsh record with 31:26.

The men’s race saw Adam Barber (Leeds Beckett University/Harborough AC) warm up for the Telford 10K, where he will compete as part of the Welsh team, by finishing ninth in a PB of 29:25, surpassing his previous best of 29:51.

RESULTS

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