Alex Donald brings you a full report on the Welsh Nationwide XC Championships
Lauren Cooper stormed to a maiden victory as James Hunt retained his crown on the 117th Welsh Cross Nation Championships on Saturday.
The occasion returned to Pembrey Nation Park for the ultimate time in its three version cycle with underfoot circumstances remaining agency on the sand primarily based course and powerful winds not capable of deter from a day of high quality racing within the coronary heart of Carmarthenshire.
Lauren Cooper (Parc Bryn Bach Runners) was clearly delighted together with her win which got here in 27:37 forward of Caryl Jones of Swansea Harriers and Chloe Dooley (Pontypridd Roadents) who was third within the race outright and Kate Roberts who took the Bronze medal within the Championships.
Swansea took high membership honours with Lliswerry Runners second and Bridgend AC in third.
‘I had no thought how properly the race was going to go till right this moment’ stated Cooper. ‘There’s all the time some massive names right here and I wished to be sure that I used to be within the combine’.
‘My race plan went out of the window fairly early on, however I felt actually robust all through so I simply went for it’.
‘It’s all the time such a fantastic occasion and I’m over the moon to be on the high of the rostrum right this moment. Hopefully that is an indicator of my health going ahead. It was positively a much-needed confidence increase’.
Picture: Paul Stillman / Welsh Athletics
Third title for Hunt
James Hunt’s (Cardiff Athletics) third Senior title was all of the extra particular as he was getting back from harm unyet was capable of maintain off an assault from clubmate Dan Nash who had in all probability seemed the race favorite forward of the Senior Males’s contest over 10.3km.
Triathlon specialist Adam Bowden of Bridgend AC cleared out the rostrum positions with seven-time Champion Dewi Griffiths doing his bit for his Swansea crew, ending in ninth.
Each Hunt and Nash helped to steer their membership to an emphatic defence of the cub title with Matt Edwards, Mike Kallenberg, Alex Jackson and Larry Ryan additionally ending within the high 10.
Hunt commented; ‘I used to be thrilled to take my third Senior Welsh Cross Nation title and had a fantastic battle all the best way round with Dan Nash. I’m over the moon to take the win right this moment’.
‘Getting back from harm and Covid to have the ability to practice ache free is simply superb. I’m actually grateful to be again racing and practically again to full health’ he added.
Picture: Paul Stillman / Welsh Athletics
All of the junior motion
Ellen Mary Kearney (Wirral AC) made her victory within the U20 Ladies’s race look simple. Moli Lyons (Cardiff Athletics) and Eden O’Dea of Deeside AAC claimed Silver and Bronze medals.
Carmarthen Harrier Dafydd Jones overcame Cardiff duo Ben Miles and Lloyd Sheppard-Brown to say U20 Males’s honours within the final race of the day’s 11 race programme. This was true to the shape guide following Jones’ efficiency as the primary scorer on the Celtic Cross Nation Worldwide at Belfast not too long ago.
Ceri Griffiths (Newport Harriers) sailed to u17 Ladies’s victory with Artie Savage-Swaine taking the title within the Males’s equal age group.
