IT LOOKS like there is going to be a terrific contest for the senior women’s team title in the Gwent Cross Country League this winter.
Reigning champions Bristol & West AC were surprisingly pushed into second places by Les Croupiers Running Club in the opening match at Llandaff Fields, Cardiff.
The Welsh club scored 1584 points to finish 29 clear of the B&W squad of Katrina Entwistle (5th), Jessie Sanzo (11th), Katy Roy (15th), Elian Gard (22nd) and Hannah Dyer (29th).
Joint team captains Elaina Gard and Owain Jones admit the senior women have a battle on their hands but having won this title seven times in a row since 2015 – the 2020/21 season was cancelled due to Covid – it is a contest they are relishing.
“We took a strong team to Cardiff but Les Croupiers have really stepped it up this season with a number of new signings and a good turnout,” said joint team Gard and Jones.
“The next match is in Bristol where we are hoping to overturn that 29 point margin and establish ourselves as the club to beat this year.”
Indeed, the next match is scheduled for the popular Blaise Castle course on Saturday November 12th so expect a strong B&W turn-out – as well as from host club Westbury Harriers who were fourth in that opening match not far off Swansea Harriers tin third and were the last club other than B&W to win the women’s team prize back in the 2013/14 season.
It is promising to be an exciting contest for the senior women’s team title as the Welsh club mounts a serious challenge to take the crown back over the Bristol Channel
Meanwhile B&W’s senior men got their title defence – they have won the award four times in a row – off to a wining start as they finished 96 points clear of Les Croupiers.
Senior women: 1 Les Croupiers Running Club 1584; 2 Bristol & West AC 1555; 3 Swansea AC 1547; 4 Westbury Harriers 1520.
Senior men: 1 Bristol & West AC 2386; 2 Les Croupiers 2290; 3 Parc Bryn Back Running Club 2287.
Gwent League remaining fixtures:
Sat November 12th Blaise Castle
Sat December 3rd Pembrey Country Park
2023
Sat February 11th TBD
Sat March 4th TBD