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Cross Country Round Up Monday 9 December 2019

The European Cross Country Championships held in Lisbon, Portugal was televised live Sunday morning, by BBC. As usual GB teams won a host of team medals across the main 6 races, winning 5 team titles, and men and womens Relay race.

In the Senior womens race Cardiff's Charlotte Arter was an excellent 7th with Jenny Nesbitt 29th. The women's team won the team race. Therefore, Charlotte and Jenny return with Gold medals.

The course was an extremely testing one on the side of a large hill overlooking Lisbon, watching it live, it looked like a Fell race, there was no course flat running, except, start and finishing straight.

Great Britain Team Selection Tuesday 26 November 2019

Following the European Trials at Liverpool last Saturday, while knowing the race results, delayed web report until today. When the GB teams for the European Cross Country Championships in Lisbon, Portugal, on 8th December, was annouced in the media.

Cardiff's Charlotte Arter 2nd, Jenny Nesbitt 6th, were selected for the senior women's team. Charlotte appeared in GB team last year's event held in Netherlands. Jenny, this will be her first senior Euro Cross appearance. The course was muddy but did not stop races being run fast from start, with GB team places at stake. Charlotte and Jenny have shown out standing good racing form this Autumn, but they still have to produce that form in Trial race, to get selected. Congratulations to both Ladies. See below other Cardiff runners at Liverpool.

European Cross Country Trials Thursday 21 November 2019

This Saturday many athletes head to Liverpool to compete for places in Great Britain's U20 and Senior teams, for the 2019 European XCC held in Lisbon, Portugal on 8th December. WA's U20/U17 teams have been selected for Liverpool. Individual entries have been made for XChallenge 3.

Last Saturday the Welsh Inter-Regions was combined with the Schools Regional Championships held in Brecon, over a tough hilly and muddy course. Watching the senior races, and U20 races, noted who was not competing, obviously with Liverpool Trials in mind. Cardiff's Mattie Edwards won the senior men's race by nearly a minute. The senior women's race was a comfortable win for Alaw Beynon-Thomas, who a week before won the senior women's Gwent League race at Pembrey over a mainly dry course. A week before Brecon. Welsh senior men and women teams took part in a low key race in Northern Ireland. It was held in pouring rain over a muddy course. On same weekend, Charlotte Arter and Jenny Nesbitt took part in an International XC race in Spain, against top class runners from Africa. Charlotte won the Liverpool Trials in 2018, and is favourite to win Trials again this Saturday. Jenny Nesbitt following an autumn season of good results, will be in contention to make GB team.

Paris Half Marathon Wednesday 20 November 2019

Last Sunday Cardiff's Jake Smith was 5th in the Paris Half Marathon, his time 62.02 is UK record for U23M. His time is also the 4th UK fastest time of Sir Mo Farah, Callum Hawkins, and Dewi Griffiths. Jake took 2mins off his previous best Half Marathon time.

Jake (James Thie) has had a breakthrough season with a series of improving results going back to last summer. He was 8th in the European U23 10,000m. Last month in the Great South Run 10ms he was 5th with 47.41 in a loaded field of GB runners. His 10m time gave notice that his Half Marathon time is no surprise. Well done Jake, who can look forward to future success in endurance running.

International Cross Country Belfast Monday 11 November 2019

On the 9th November in the Bobby Rea International XC Match held in Billy Neill Centre, Belfast Welsh runners had very good results with the men having 3 runners in the first 5 places. Cardiff's James Hunt 2nd 30.00 (4secs behind 1st place) Ieuan Thomas 3rd 30.05: and Ciaran Lewis 5th 30.50.

Mike Ward DNF due to turning an ankle in race, when with race leader, after first aid treatment with ankle strapped, he has muscle strain from turning ankle. As reported by Andy Ward.

Cardiff's Ladies also had very good results in their race, with Lucy Marland 4th 19.42: Clara Evans 7th 20.06: Laura Wright 20.25 9th.

Our runners didn't excape the poor weather in Ireland, as us in Wales, they had heavy rain in race, over a muddy course.

International Cross Country Atapuerca Monday 11 November 2019

Cardiff's Charlotte Arter and Jenny Nesbitt represented Wales in this International XC permit meeting, that included top runners from Africa in both senior races, held in the mountains of Burgos, Northern Spain. Wales had no representive in senior men's race.

Charlotte finished 7th 26.29: was the first European finisher in race, and also improved on her performance in same race in 2018. Jenny Nesbitt 9th 27.18 was 3rd European finisher, also improved on her 2018 performance.

Charlotte and Jenny have had fine race results this Autumn season, that will give them confidence going into the European Cross Country Trials at Liverpool, held on Saturday 23rd November. There are GB places for U20M and U20W, Senior Men and Senior Women.

Liverpool is also UK XChallenge 3rd meeting, of the five race series, held during the 2019/2020 season.

SPAR European Championships Major Events Cross Country, held in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sunday 8th December 2019.

International Cross Country Thursday 7 November 2019

Male and Female teams are representing Wales in an International XC event in Northern Ireland on Saturday. The Male team of 4 are all Cardiff runners.

Michael Ward, Ciaran Lewis, James Hunt, Ieuan Thomas.

In the Female team of 5 runners, Cardiff have 3 runners.

Clara Evans, Lucy Marland, Laura Wright.

Congratulations to all, and good luck in races.

Unfortunately on same day Gwent L 2 takes at Pembrey Country Park, above selection will weaken Cardiff's senior men and female teams, after their good team results, in last months Gwent 1 at Llandaff Fields Cardiff.

Cross Country Wednesday 6 November 2019

This weekend club has two cross country events that has club interests. In terms of numbers taking part, on Saturday 7th December, the third Gwent League fixture takes place in Bristol, at Blaise Castle covering all age groups male and females. See details below.

On Sunday 8th December, the European Cross Country Championships take place in Lisbon, Portugal. Club has Charlotte Arter and Jenny Nesbiit taking part in the Great Britain senior women's team. The event is broadcast live on BBC Television starting at 10am.

Richard Burton 10k Monday 4 November 2019

Yesterday the Richard Burton 10k took place in Cwmavon. The race was won by Jon Hopkins Swansea in 30.36. There was a close battle for the next 3 finishers, with Cardiff's James Hunt 2nd 31.45, Tom Marshall 3rd 31.52, and Matthew Ewards 4th 32.27. If their was a team race Cardiff's 3 in first 4 places secured team win. Good to see Tom Marshall getting back towards race fitness. Cardiff's Lucy Marland was the first lady in race to finish in 36.43.

Comments made by the winner, said it was a tough course, not helped by the weekend bad weather. Noted that all runners above were over 1 minute down on their best times for 10k.

Apologies, missing Cardiff's Jake Smith excellant 10mile race performance 47.41 4th place, in a class field at the Simplyhealth Great South Run, held on 20th October.

Leeds 10k Monday 28 October 2019

Charlotte Arter in the form of her life won the womens race in Leeds yesterday. The race is one of the popular 10k road races in the North East of England. Charlotte reported the race always starts fast and got in with a group of men until 5k when she felt them slowing, so pushed on ahead looking for a fast time, checking her watch near finish, Charlotte pushed on again to win in 31.35.

Charlotte time is a new Welsh All Time record, 5th fastest time in Europe during 2019, and 5th fastest on All Time UK records.

Charlotte led home the Welsh team in winning the team gold medals. Cardiff's Clara Evans 33.17, and Swansea's Sophie Harries 35.08 were other members of the selected Welsh team. Cardiff's Lucy Marland finished in 34.27. See men's results below.