The Annual Llandysul 10K and 5K races took place on New Year’s Eve with great representation from Sarn Helen Running Club. The 5K race saw Delyth Crimes running her first race following injury in a time of 27:32 which also secured her 1st F55, Sarah Puetz had a good run in 28:08 with Osian Jones coming 2nd in the U13 category in a great time of 22:49.
The 10K race was an out and back route on country lanes with a few sharp hills to overcome. Dylan Davies was the first Sarn Helen runner home crossing the line in 3rd place overall and 1st M35 in a superb time of 37:50, 3rd M35 was Wyn Thomas in a great time of 39:21, Mike Davies had another good run to claim 1st M55 in 40:21, Teifion Davies was 2nd OM in 41:35, Matthew Walker 43:26, Kevin Jones was 2nd M45 in 44:06, Steven Holmes 45:17, Geraint Blayney 47:15, Ian Williams 50:52, Stephen Kenworthy 57:13.
Eleri Rivers was 3rd female overall and 1st F45 in a fantastic time of 47:16, Liz Pugh was 1st F55 in 55:28 closely followed by Michelle Billing in 55:36, Nia Venville 2nd F35 in 59:34, Ceinwen James 59:41 and Jane Holmes 1:03:21.
Llandeilo also held it’s Annual 10 mile New Year’s Eve race with Sarn Helen runners Carwyn Davies and Dan Hooper taking to the start line. Dan Hooper had a super race to finish 2nd M50 in 1:08:50 and Carwyn Davies having done a lot of running recently also having a great race in 1:15:49.
The Narberth Night Nobbler is a gruelling 7 mile race, ran in the dark over mixed terrain with a lot of mud and hills to overcome. Ollie George was obviously not deterred by the challenge and finished 2nd overall in a superb time of 54:04, only 4 seconds behind the winner. Kevin Jones also navigated his way around the course in a fantastic time of 1:07:12 and was 2nd M50.
Rory Fairhurst 1:11:41, Ian Williams 1:18:38 and Elin Jones 1:40:59.
And so, another year of running has started with the 120th Welsh Cross Country Championships at Pembrey Country Park. Sarn Helen Seniors had 5 runners competing with different distances for women and men, Emma Palfrey had another amazing race to take 2nd in the F40 category in a time of 32:27, Dee Jolly had a great run in 34:11, Alix Arndt 37:21, Hannah Jones 40:41 and Mike Davies 45:04.
Sarn Helen Junior and Youth members also competed well within their different age categories, U13 Girls Elle Tansley 16:49, Evelyn Eadon 18:01, Esther Llwyd Jones 18:39, U15 Girls Talia Jones 18:13 and Ella Phillips 22:51.
The Urdd Welsh Athletics Cross Country Series have partnered with Welsh Athletics to host a series of Primary School cross country races across Wales with one of them being at Pembrey on the same day. The following Sarn Helen members represented their respective schools on the day and all ran well within their age groups. Elis Herrick, Jacob Hall, Dylan May John, Alfie Clarke, Emlyn Tansley, Hawys Gruffudd, Alaw Freeman and Molly Rose.
The Team Pursuits is a relay event that all Sarn Helen runners look forward to and this year was no exception. Weather conditions on the day were far from perfect with gusty winds, heavy rain with mini streams on the tarmac surface. Covering a distance of 6.6 miles the race started and finished at Maenclochog Village Hall taking runners along country lanes to complete a circular loop, an undulating course with gradual climbs and welcoming downhills.
It proved to be another successful day for Sarn Helen Running Club with three of the six teams entered picking up category awards. The Veteran Mens Teams claimed 1st and 2nd places whilst the Mixed Team came 1st.
The winning veteran team consisted of Dylan Lewis 38:54, Simon Hall 40:01, Dylan Davies 41:06, Dan Hooper 42:53 and Carwyn Davies 43:09. The 2nd Vets Team aptly named Golden Oldies were Mike Davies 44:36, Glyn Price 44:52, Arwyn Davies 45:58, Kevin Jones 47:33 and Tim Rayner 50:06. The Mixed Team were Ollie George 38:09, Wyn Thomas 42:11, Daniel Jones 42:25, Emma Palfrey 44:55 and Dee Jolly 46:29.
The Open Male team were Steven Holmes, Geraint Thomas, Mick Taylor, Geth Ap Phyllip, Sion Tansley, Open Ladies Teams were Nia Venville, Liz Pugh, Michelle Billing, Nia Rees, Alix Arndt and known as Team Goldilocks and Team Glamour Girls were Jane Holmes, Kerri Irwin Hall, Ceinwen James, Claire Williams and Sarah Puetz, all runners competed well given the adverse weather conditions.