By Owen Morgan

South Wales won the overall team award at the 20th annual Welsh Inter Regional Cross Country Championships on Saturday.

The event held at Trefonnen Primary School in Llandrindod Wells was a successful one for the South Wales region as they also claimed the overall female title. The overall men’s team title was won by West Wales. 

More than 500 athletes from all over Wales competed in the 12 races spread across the day ranging from primary school girls and boys to men’s and women’s over 55-years categories.

They faced difficult conditions underfoot on a challenging course which wasn’t made any easier by blustery showers.

The men’s senior race, run over a 9,940m course, was won by reigning Welsh Cross Country James Hunt representing the South Wales team.

The Cardiff AAC athlete completed the course in a time of 33:54, almost a minute ahead of East Wales pair Abed Teweldebrhan, of Newport Harriers in 34:51 and Mark Hopkinson, of Torfaen Runners, who finished third in 35:19.

The senior women’s race, competed over a 6,340m course, was won by West Wales athlete Alaw Beynon Thomas.

The Swansea Harrier romped home in 25:43 ahead of her club mate Helen Marshall, whose time of 27:12 saw her finish first in the women’s 35 age group for West Wales. Third in the overall senior women’s race was Cardiff AAC’s Lucy Marland, representing South Wales, in 27:25.

The men’s under-20 race was won by Swansea Harrier Dominic Smith in 23:00 just ahead of his Harriers and West Wales team mate Elliott Lawrence in 23:05. Cardiff AAC’s Larry Ryan was third for South Wales in 23:12.

The women’s U-20 race was won by Cardiff AAC’s Naomi Reid for South Wales in 18:42, followed in by her club and district team mate Laura Wright in 18:54. Deeside’s Martha Owen finished third in 19:31 for North Wales.

Menai Track and Field’s Mike Spill took the win for North Wales in the men’s U-17 race in a time of 15:34, ahead of West Wales’ Swansea Harrier Nathan Jones in 15:45 and Cardiff AAC’s Lloyd Shappard, of East Wales in 16:04.

Mia Roberts of Deeside AAC made it a North Wales double in the women’s under-17 race, completing the  4,140m course in 16:47. Ashley Williams, of Swansea Harriers was second for West Wales in 17:11 and Cardiff Archer Aimee Callow finished third for South Wales in 17:32.

Team results

Female Overall:
1 South Wales 113
2 East Wales 98
3 West Wales 97
4 North Wales 78

Male overall:
West Wales 111
South Wales 108
East Wales 99
North Wales 98

Overall winners:
South Wales 221
West Wales 208
East Wales 197
North Wales 176.

The full results from all the day’s races can be found on the Welsh Athletics Website.