Report from the Gwent XC match at Bridgend Oct 11^th

Early report…do you want to add anything – if so let us have your report to add…

The Dragon comes home - Fox first again – a number of other top ten runs by juniors….

What a great day out we had at the opening fixture of the Gwent League. The weather was drizzly as we arrived in Bridgend but the sunshine came out later. Only 2 years ago the first expedition of Wells & Yeovil athletes to the Gwent League had seen some 11 or 12 hardy souls make the intrepid journey into the unknown in search of well organised competitive races for our juniors and seniors– 2 years on and we were 33 strong!

Everything started well on the day. We were there early and took pride of place with our tent – almost had the ability to rent space to others who weren’t so well prepared! Before the races started we received our award as the Club with the best set of Junior results for the 2008/09 season. The ‘dragon trophy’ was accordingly handed over and later left Wales to be held in England for the next 6 months or so. Carmarthen Harriers are threatening to mount a raid to re-claim it for they think it is theirs, after they have won in for the past 4 years!

Anyway we also probably had the youngest competitor of the day in the first race we were involved in. Briony Keeble set off over the mud and hill to come in a glorious 60^th place in the minor girls race (1.5km) and she’ll still be young enough to do this one in three years time!

Then came the main races. In the u13 boys race (2.5km) Oliver Fox once again stormed away from the field and ran out a clear winner. He was backed up by a great squad of boys – Charlie Martin 5^th, Luke Prior 11^th, Tom Jones, 27^th and Daniel Bowditch, 57^th.The latter two made impressive debuts here. With another three or four left at home we could have a very strong u13 boys squad this year.

In the u’13girls race (2.5km) , with some of the team buoyed up by receiving their medals from last season, we saw a great race at the sharp end with Abigail Gibbons coming in a stride ahead of Jemma Jones in 5^th and 6^th place respectively. Annabel Arnold wasn’t far behind in 8^th and then Rebecca Bowles was 20^th, Lydia Guest, 33^rd and Katie Packard 72^nd in a huge field of runners. Well done to all of you, especially Rebecca and Katie making your first appearance.

Then came the senior ladies race and we have to say well done to both Katrina Prior and Debbie Keeble for making sure that we continue to have family turn outs at our matches! They covered the 6km course of mud fairly quickly finishing in 60^th and 152^nd position.

The u15 boys team (4.4km) had been decimated by colds, injuries and football call-ups, so the three that started were flying the flag. Unfortunately Sam Bedford found it a race too many after competing on Friday in the Schools Cup and pulled up with a thigh strain when contesting near the front end after one lap. Matthew Cole came through to be first for the team in 29^th with Sam Harding, running for the first time in the League working his way through steadily and closing on 31^st. Commiserations Sam 1, and Well done Sam 2.

The under 15 girls team competed over the same distance of 4.4km and Emily Smith carried on as she had done at the recent road relays with a nippy run against front runners a year older. She finished in a clear 4^th place, backed up by an equally impressive Lily Hawkins, also making her debut here, who was 23^rd.

Then came the u17 men’s race over 6km and we await confirmation of final positions as this race was combined with the u20 men’s race. Overall we know that George Harris did enough to stay ahead of Cameron Rafferty, 37^th to 39^th, and that Reuben Whitcombe worked his way through to finish in 45^th for good team packing. In the u17/u20 women’s race there was also good running by the team of three – Alice Murray-Gourlay was 17^th overall, with the two u17 athletes, Jess Wood, 22^nd, and Jessica Potter 30^th.

And finally we saw a huge field of well over 300 runners in the Senior men’s race over 10km. The Wells & Yeovil team had managed to rummage up a greatly enthused squad of 8 runners, despite various pull-outs and ‘unavailabilities’ (if there be such a word?). Step forward Alistair Lindsey for your 60^th position – holding off the Tim Hawkins surge through the field from last (at the start) to 61^st, despite his legs only just recovering from a great Berlin Marathon result of 2.37 some two weeks ago. Then came Simon Prior starting to see his training pay off with a solid 158^th place, and a crowd of others all packing well together: Paul Chadwick, 216, Simon Arnold, 236, Jason Tuck (the kit man) 241; Rex Whitcombe, 254; and Geoff Cole 273.

Many thanks to all team managers, minibus drivers, tent erectors, parents, supporters and athletes, of course.

We go again at University of Bath next month. Let’s try and get 50 runners out.

Full times and team positions will be revealed later this week on the website…

Also see Rogues Gallery later for photos

…..do you want to write the report at the next match? Let Paul know.