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21/03/2025 00:00, In Blog / School News /

Welsh Schools Athletics Association

SIAB Cross Country/Home Countries International

Callendar Park, Falkirk, Scotland – Saturday March 22nd. 2025

This coming weekend sees Welsh Schools take teams to Scotland for the annual Schools International Athletic Board’s Cross Country. Teams of 8 boys and girls will compete over the Junior and Middle age groupings incorporating pupils from Years 8 to 11 from schools across Wales. This year’s event will also again see a mixed relay across both age groupings as teams of 4 (2 boys and 2 girls) compete over 1500m legs, alternating boy, girl, boy, girl.  

Athletes from English Schools are expected to dominate the event but the Welsh Team will go into the weekend with high hopes of team medals across the age groups as they battle it out with athletes from our Celtic neighbours, Scotland and Ireland.

Teams are selected from performances at the Welsh Schools Championships held at Brecon in February, with performances Indoors supporting the relay selections. This weekend gives an opportunity to test form against the cream of cross-country talent from across the UK and Ireland. Athletes of the calibre of Osian Parry (David Hughes) and Oliver Cobbold (Bishopston) who both posted top 10 finishes in the recent UK Inter Counties are expected to feature, although they are sure to find the opposition stronger. Others who showed up well at Nottingham include Heather Watson (Hawarden) 11^th in her age group and Sioned John (Glantaf), 20^th. in her race. The SIAB teams are captained by Millie Pierce (Olchfa) and Will Chalk (Monmouth Comprehensive), both experienced campaigners at this event.

In the Relays both Lucas Salvage (St Julian’s) and Rebecca Harries (Pencoedtre) have had strong Indoor seasons and will be well supported by Olivia Morgan (Cathedral) and Dylan Evans (St Joseph’s, Newport).

The team departs South Wales early on Friday morning for the long coach journey into Scotland. 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) also travel. They will attend the SIAB board meeting and then assist with supporting athletes on race day. No doubt there will also be a small army of parents and family members travelling in support of the athletes. A safe journey to all.

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