Issue 147

Running Riot

23rd October 2006

academic year has only just begun, the University Running Club has already competed in two crosscountry fixtures.

The first, taking place on Sunday 8 October in the Afan Forest Reserve, Pontrhydyfen, was the opening race of this season's West Glamorgan League. Before any races had even started the UWS Running Club were credited with two winner's trophies for last year's season. Carol Glover was overall winner of the women's competition, and Helen Bealey was the Under 20's Champion.

With this year's season already off to a promising start, the women's race saw our very own Carol Glover take the victory, with team mates Elysia Ridley and Emily Gibson finishing close behind in second and fifth respectively. Returning athlete Nicola Threfall finished thirteenth, and Freshers Sara Bruton and Alison Tay came in 29th and 30th. Completing the team was Tasmin Thomas, who finished 35th. The ladies ended up winning the team event for the day, edging in front of local team 3m's Gorseinon by just eight points. As well as team victory, Elysia, Emily and Alison were the first three finishers in the Under 20's category.

In the men's race club captain, Chris Friend, led the club in finishing seventh, ex-university runner James Padfield followed in nineteenth, then came social secretary Stephen Richards in 41st. Chris Rees completed the team, finishing 90th. With a weakened team, the men only managed fourth in the team standings, but had the top two finishers in the Under 20's category in Chris and Stephen.

The whole squad ran brilliantly on a tough course, and it has left them in a good position to continue to compete for the eventual team prize at the end of the season. The second race was held at Leckwith Stadium, Cardiff, on Saturday 14 October. This was the opening fixture of the Gwent Cross Country League. This week saw a fast, flat course, with over 150 competitors in the women's race, and just less than 300 in the men's. In the women's race there was stiff opposition from University of Bath, UWIC and Brecon AC, but the team worked hard and finished 12th overall, with Carol Glover finishing 17th, Emily Gibson was 39th, cross-country captain, Helen Bealey, was 88th and Alison Tay was 116th.

The men finished 22nd in the team standings; with Chris Friend finishing 19th, Gareth Day came in 43rd, Pete Greenwood 143rd, PHD Student Malcom Burrough was 266th and athletics captain Peter Watkeys was 272nd.

This was a promising result for the whole squad, some of which ran with injuries in order to field a scoring team in one of the biggest league fixtures of the season.

Chris Friend