The 15th edition of the Merthyr Mawr Lane 5km where held in thundery conditions, which produced rain in the hours before the event, but if relented to leave a warm balmy still evening.
Rory McClaggan from Merthyr Mawr Estate got the event underway and immediately Aberdare AAC vests were to the fore with the leaders going through the 1km in 3:06, by 2km (passed in 3:12) Adam Bull was moving away on the gradual climb along Ton Fruit Farm.
In the ladies race, Ffion Higginson (who leads the UK u17 Women’s Steeplechase rankings) had to pull up in the first mile and team mate Georgie Dando who was alongside her, sacrificed her race in stopping to support her.
The turn around the Candleston Car Park and climb up to the 3km mark (3:15), saw Bull away increasingly from his younger under 20 clubmate Joseph Reardon, which had extended to 23 seconds by the finish line which he crossed in 15:48, compared to 15:30 in last years event where he finished third. Pontypridd Roadents Simon Lewis took third in 16:43, ahead of clubmate Paul Graham.
Meanwhile Melanie Edwards of Brackla Harriers came through to take the victory in women’s race in 19:45.
Les Croupiers took the 4 to score Men’s team title, ahead of Bridgend’s AC and Neath Harriers, whilst Bridgend AC Women’s A Team, beat their B team ahead of Brackla Harriers on a 3 to score basis.
Over 250 runners finished this popular spring midweek event that hosts a mob match between Les Croupiers RC and a combined Bridgend AC/Brackla Harriers, which was retained giving an 8 – 6 score since the inception of the Mob Match. For the first time the event hosted the South Wales Regional 5k Road Championships.
Support from St Johns Ambulance and over 30 volunteers from the host club Bridgend AC and local running community, again made the event a great success in idyllic surroundings, with permissions from the Merthyr Mawr Estate, local farmer Jon Tudor and co-operation from the local residents were again greatly appreciated.
Full results available on available on https://bridgendac.wordpress.com
Photos, courtesy of Oliver Roche -Clarke – https://www.facebook.com/groups/145613252163679
Start video (Leon Evans) – https://www.facebook.com/leon.evans.902/videos/10216368780157276
Next Event: Merthyr Mawr Trail Running Festival – Saturday 16th June 2018 – from 4pm http://www.merthyrmawrtrailrunningfestival.com
Leading Results
Men
1st Adam Bull Aberdare Valley AC 15:48
2nd Joseph Reardon (u20) Aberdare Valley AC 16:11
3rd Simon Lewis (v35) Pontypridd Roadents 16:13
Women
1st Melanie Williams (v45) Brackla Harriers 19:34
2nd Katrin Higginson (u20) Bridgend AC 19:46
3rd Deborah Goule Porthcawl Runners 20:37
Teams
Men (4 to score)
1st Les Croupiers RC 5, 10, 11, 15 41 points
2nd Bridgend AC 7, 12, 13, 14 46 points
3rd Neath Harriers 6, 8, 18, 24 56 points
Women (3 to score)
1st Bridgend AC “A” 2, 4, 5 11 points
2nd Bridgend AC “B” 6, 7, 8 21 points
3rd Brackla Harriers 1, 13, 15 29 points
Age Group Winners
Men
U20M Tom Wright (2nd) Bridgend AC 17:45
M35 Richard Jackson-Hookins (2nd) Les Croupiers RC 16:33
M45 Matt Hurford Les Croupiers RC 17:14
M55 Ian Bell San Domenico RC 19:28
M65 Keith Powell Cornelly Striders 20:41
Women
U20W Sophie Evans Bridgend AC 20:40
W35 Clare Hughes Bridgend AC 21:09
W45 Cath Stephens (2nd) Bridgend AC 20:42
W55 Julie Scholey Les Croupiers RC 22:30
W65 Jackie Lewis Cwm Ogwr RC 29:09
