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Welsh Road Relays Championships - Round-Up
09/09/2024 00:00, In Blog /
Almost 1,000 entries were received for Saturday’s ever popular Welsh Road Relay Championships at Pembrey Country Park.
They competed in 18 categories ranging from under-11 boys to over-65 women, across a variety of distances.
Clubs from as far afield as Meirionnydd and Caldicot were represented at the prestigious event which always generates a hugely competitive but friendly rivalry.
Swansea Harriers continued their dominance of the senior men’s and women’s categories as they retained both titles at the weekend.
In the senior men’s race, which was contested over four legs of 5,400m, the Swansea A team were once again led to victory by their two-time Commonwealth Games representative Dewi Griffiths.
The Wales and Great Britain international, who ran the fastest time of the day in last year’s victory, did so again with 16.25 as the team, which also featured Dafydd Jones, Jonathan Butler and Matthew Verran, posted the fastest combined time of 1:08.53 to claim gold.
Like last year, the runners-up were Pontypridd Roadents A, who completed the course in 1:09.36 thanks to their team of Dan Nash, James Heneghan, Daniel Hamilton and Ben Hughes.
The bronze medal went to Meirionnydd Running club who posted a combined time of 1:09.44 from the efforts of Owen Roberts, Rhodri Owen, Ifan Dafydd and Tomos Roberts.
The senior women’s race, which was run over the same distance, also saw Swansea Harriers A defend their title with a combined time of 1:22.38.
Swansea’s women also had a Commonwealth Games marathoner in their midst in the shape of Caryl Jones, who was joined by Megan Williams, Gemma Tutton and Kate Roberts.
Silver went to Les Croupiers A, as it did last year. Their team included the fastest individual finisher of the day, Alaw Evans, who clocked 20:04. She was joined by Mia Goddard, Emily Jones and Louise Flynn as they posted a total time of 1:23.38.
The CDF Runners team of Emily Fell, Ceri Merwood, Ellie Clemence and Nynke Kuiper, finished third in a time of 1:28.07.
The day’s races had got underway with the primary boys, where the Bridgend A team of Rowan Carson, who claimed the fastest time of 4.51, Aaron Durston and Edward Spiller, took the honours ahead of Aberdare Valley A and Cardiff Athletics A.
The winning team in the Primary Girls was Swansea Harriers A – made up of Molly-Mae McQueen, Ruby Harvey-Flinn and Olive Knutson-Watson. Aberdare Valley A were second once again with Carmarthen Harriers third. Aberdare’s Gwendolen Rowe was the fastest finisher in 5.35.
The Under-13 boys, which was contested over four legs of 1900m, was won by the Swansea Harriers A team in a total time of 24:47, ahead of Carmarthen Harriers A in 24:52 and Cardiff Athletics A, who were just behind in 24:53. The honour of running the fastest leg went to Cardiff’s Osian Phillips.
The girls race was run over the same distance and won by Rhondda AAC A team in a time of 27.54. Their fastest finisher was Isabelle Kelland with 6.23. Carmarthen Harriers A claimed silver with 28:35 and Swansea Harriers A bronze in 28:40.
Three laps of 3,200m was the target for the under-15 boys and the first team to complete it was Newport Harriers A in 33.22. Cardiff Athletics A were second in 33:25 with Swansea Harriers A third in 33.35. Cardiff A’s George Turner was the fastest finisher overall in 10.30.
The gold medals continued to be shared around the various clubs in the girls race as Cardiff Athletics A took the glory in 36.01, with Bryony Boyce comfortably clocking the fastest individual time of 10.00. Newport Harriers A were second in 37.38 with Carmarthen Harriers third in 38:41.
Neath Harriers made their first appearance on the podium of the day in the under-17 3x3,200m men’s race. They took the top step as they completed in a total time of 30:11. Cardiff Athletics A were second in 30:22 and the consistent Carmarthen Harriers third in 31:21. Neath’s Thomas Loynes was the only runner to dip under 10 minutes as he posted a rapid 9:44.
Swansea Harriers enjoyed a highly successful under-17 women’s race as their A and B teams finished first and third in 33:28 and 36:50 respectively. They were split by Cardiff Athletics A, who claimed silver in 34:34. Millie Gold, who has enjoyed a successful season this year claimed the fastest time overall clocking 10:37.
There were also a number of hotly contested masters age group races which saw Swansea Harriers take the men’s title in the Men’s 35 category, while Les Croupiers took the honours in the women’s race.
Pontypridd Roadents won the Men’s 45 honours, with Les Croupiers claiming the women’s gold.
Swansea Harriers were once again victorious in the Men’s 55 group, with TROTS winning the women’s race, while in the Men’s M65 race Meirionnydd Running Club topped the standings with TROTS successful again in the women’s race.