OFFICIAL results from the third Gwent Cross Country League fixture have yet to be confirmed but the initial feedback from team manager Chris Elson appears to suggest that Bristol & West AC’s senior women will have strengthened their grip on the overall standings.
In testing conditions B&W’s first three scorers finished in the top ten led by Catie O’Donoghue in sixth with Issy Talbot-Price seventh and Natalie Griffiths ninth.
They were ably supported by Hannah Pollak in 13th and Ellen Harrison 15th while Ana Duran-Mingo (22nd, W35), Sarah Everitt (24th, W50), Naomi Aylwin (27th) and Katrina Entwistle (28th) all made the top thirty and Clare Jolliffe (38th, W50) and Emma Jolliffe (44th) also finished in the top fifty.
“Bryn Bach Park, Tredegar, was a real X-country course,” said Elson. “Very muddy with wind and rain. A great venue nevertheless.”
The B&W women went into the fixture in top place after the first two meetings with 2,915 points from Swansea Harriers on 2,823 and Westbury Harriers third on 2,784.
In the senior men’s race the club’s leading runner was Andy Watt in 13th but then there was a big gap to Otis Mondir in 57th and Pete Baines in 59th.
Other scorers were: 75 Josh Habgoode-Coote, 77 Nick Hall, 87 Brad Pontin, 88 Darren Garmen (M45), 100 David Eagon, 103 Alberto Beltran, 104 Andy Drake, 111 Jon Bennett, 114 Cameron Grayley, 120 Ciaran McQuaide (M40) 124 Sam Bentley, 125 Keiran Batty.
“Owain Jones, Kurt Taylor, Jack Bancroft & Joe Ballard were nursing injuries, Maciej Bialogonski was working and others of our top blokes were saving themselves for next week’s Telford 10K,” added Elson.