Newport Harriers
Gwent Cross Country League
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Gwent League
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Newport Harriers
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The 2006-07 cross-country season commenced in fine autumnal sunshine in Cardiff. The going was soft as the course twisted and turned around Leckwith Stadium.
The 8-strong senior men's team acquitted themselves well. Regular top-100 finisher Chris Oxley led the Harriers charge in 89th place - not that there was any temptation to turn his disc upside down and make him 68th. Brett Davis returned to Gwent League competition after a gap of 12 years to finish 125th. Steve Wadley (136th) ran strongly to beat club-mate Darryn McAtee (154th) over cross-country for the first time. Paul Young (157th) was snapping at Darryn's heels while Malcolm Medhurst finished 174th - strange how Malcolm can run a 10k cross-country but can't complete a simple 4x200m track session. In a team that was 87% Vets, M50 stalwarts Dave Proffitt (213th) and Gareth Jones (242nd) rounded off a fine effort.
Newport Harriers continue to improve as a team. In Division 2 they are in 4th place, their highest position for years. On the day we outscored Lliswerry Runners from Division 1.
Pos. Team Pts. 1 Sarn Helen Orienteering & R. C. 1119 2 Chepstow Harriers 956 3 Thornbury Running Club 833 4 Newport Harriers Athletic Club 793 5 University of Wales - Swansea 711 6 San Domenico Road Runners Club 520 7 Brecon Athletic Club 499 8 Abertillery Achilles Athletic Club 478 9 Stroud & District Athletic Club 464 10 Taf Running & Orienteering Teams 304 11 Brackla Harriers 231
The fortunes of the senior women's team are also looking good. Ann Saxena was 42nd overall but within the Female Vet 50 category she was 1st. Cath Locke (59th) returned to competitive running after a gap of some 20 years and was pleased with her run. Regulars Cynthia Greenslade (84th) and Carole Fereday (89th) provided ever-reliable performances. Completing the team was Gwent League debutant Jane Carpanini who finished an excellent 106th (from 154 starters). She was smiling at the end, so must have enjoyed it.
Newport's senior women's team is 100% Vets and they are 2nd in
Division 2, so a promotion campaign seems to have kick-started.
Pos. Team Pts.
1 University of Bath 494 2 Newport Harriers Athletic Club 411 3 Cardiff University Harriers 409 4 Sospan Road Runners 297 5 Amman Valley Harriers 259 6 Lliswerry Runners 245 7 Brackla Harriers 160 8 Neath Harriers 128 9 Great Western Runners 120 10 Chepstow Harriers 37
Newport Harriers had four athletes in the Boys U13 race. Elliott Hardee won following a sprint finish, followed by Daniel Chesworth in 3rd place. Curtis Goodger has just moved up a year and ran well in 22nd place, with Ryan Davies (54th) completing the team.
Another to move up a year is Chris Carpanini in the Boys U15 race. He was an impressive 8th, followed by Emrys Penny (22nd) and Nicholas Brimble (33rd). Top Newport runner in the U17 race was Nathan Hardee (17th), followed by Chris Wreford (21st) and Edward Lantzos (44th). Matthew Wreford was 10th in the U20 race and will soon be running for the senior men in the Welsh road relay championships.
Youngest Newport athlete on the day was Olanika Olwa-Fela (26th) in
the Novice Girls. Other junior female athletes were : Delwen Louden
(50th, U13), Keria Rice (28th, U17), Danielle Paige (10th, U20).