Harriers start recovery 29/06/03

After a disappointing start to their season, Cwmbran Harriers athletes have turned the corner, and produced on of their best results to date in their UKA Young Athletes League match. With a successful Welsh Championships last weekend held in at Cwmbran Stadium, the club’s juniors hosted clubs from Bromsgrove & Redditch, Yeovil and Bitton, and claimed a very creditable and comfortable second place.

Many of the athletes collected season best results, and noticeable strength in depth in a number of events and age groups. Under 15 girls Bryony Turnbull and Amy McNiven proved too strong for their opposition in the 100m, with Lauren Lewis joining Bryony for a double 200m win. In the 800m it was double delight for Jessica Dickson and Bethan Dainton, with sister Nia Dainton joined by clubmate Adrienne Davies closing out the 1500m. Completing the clean sweep of track events for the u15 girls, Claire Andrews won the 75m hurdles, and the 4 x 100m relay squad romped home for an excellent win.

Not to be outdone, the u15 girls field athletes, lead by Cerian Williams, and joined by Tanith Booth and Adrienne Davies won between them the Discus, Shot putt and Javelin events. For the u17 women Ceri Hanrahan ran two personal bests to win the 300m and 800m, with Steph Turnbull and Zoe Davies cleaning up in the Discus and Shot putt.

Providing on of the best races of the afternoon were Gavin Hanrahan and Ieuan Thomas in the u15 boys 800m; surely two rising stars in the middle distance event. Backing them up in the field were Neil Powell, Chris Wannell and Ben Gwyer. The u17 men, though few in number contributed with excellent wins for Tom James, Anthony Jones and Mark Hicks on the track, and with Tom Waters and Simon Barnard in the field.

Final result 1. Bromsgrove & Redditch 347: 2. CWMBRAN HARRIERS 314: Yeovil 258: Bitton 33.

Attention now turns to the Welsh Schools’ Championships this weekend (5th July) in Brecon. The next club match will be the Welsh Junior League match, to be held at Newport on Saturday 12th July.