Event day on the 3rd August 2003 turned out to be hot and sunny for the 20th annual road race and fun run. A late surge of runners travelled to Brecon on the morning taking up late entries and boosting the total entry figure to 285. Of this total 256 started the race with 254 completing the course. The conditions proved too hot for any attempts at course records and generally athlete’s times were down by a couple of minutes. Several runners however achieved a faster time than previous year.
Mark Jennings was the outright winner 59 seconds ahead of his nearest rival Danny Norton of Rhondda Valley Runners. Jennings of Cardiff AAC clocked 54.33 to Nortons 55.32. Winning the female section of the Brecon event for first time was Helen Yule in 1.04.46 and considering the hot conditions this time was quite a good achievement. This also put the Lliswerry runner in 20th place overall and winner of the Vet 35 category. First Brecon athlete home was Colin Davies (16th) in 1.04.04. Another excellent achievement was made in the Male vet categories seeing Jeremy Collins of Swansea Harriers (male 50 vet) gaining overall 6th position in 1.00.35 with super vet (60 plus) Barrie Buckland being placed in overall position of 29th in a time of 1.06.25.
With the new artificial turf pitch at Penlan under construction some changes had to be made to the Fun Run course. This proved no problem however for the young athletes and supporting parents that took part. To make up for the shorter distance in the middle of the course, runners were taken up the grass bank just after the start and this bit of hill work proved beneficial for Craig Moses (Brecon) and Neil Murphy (Cardiff). Their overall strength enabled them to take an early lead but It was Craig Moses who proved to be the stronger in the final stages finishing in 13.48 with Neil Murphy 2nd in 14.03. Just behind third placed Matt Kersley (14.41) was the first girl home, Leigh Barker in an excellent time of 14.44. Her fast pace down the final straight almost put her in 3rd position. Congratulations however must go to all that participated, they were all champions on the day!
Category Results - Brecon 10 Mile:
MALES:
1st Mark Jennings, Cardiff AAC 54.33
2nd Danny Norton, Rhondda Valley Runners 55.32
3rd Julian Baker, Les Croupiers 57.23
FEMALES:
1st Helen Yule, Lliswerry Runners 1.04.46
2nd Anne Follan, Pontypridd Roadents 1.08.42
3rd Joanna Pritchard, Les Croupiers 1.09.01
Male Vet 40 – 49 Keith Tannetta, Cardiff ACC 1.01.11
Male Vet 50 – 59 Jeremy Collins, Swansea Harriers 1.00.35
Male Vet 60 plus Barrie Buckland, 1.06.25
Female Vet 35 – 44 Helen Yule, Lliswerry Runners 1.04.46
Female Vet 45 – 54 Fiona Davies. Bridgend AC 1.10.56
Female Vet 55 plus Clare Johnson, Les Croupiers 1.27.56
1st Team Brackla Harriers 1st Female Team Les Croupiers
Brecon & District (Local results) – 10 Mile:
C. Davies (16th) 1.04.04, D. Osborne (35th) 1.07.47, M. Brown (43rd) 1.08.53, G. Blewitt (54th) 1.10.12, T. Wilcox (80th) 1.13.16, R. Kersley (88th) 1.14.37, J. Williams (102nd) 1.16.45, B. Tucker (107th) 1.18.01, S. Ratcliffe (117th) 1.19.15, C. Trollen (124th) 1.20.30, S. Morgan (134th) 1.21.43, M. Gittoes (139th) 1.22.40, A. Williams (144th) 1.23.35, D. Rogers (146th) 1.24.20, T. Holloway (166th) 1.26.25, S. Kersley (177th) 1.27.47, R. Barham (199th) 1.33.09, RM Davies (200th) 1.33.09, P. Keddle (201st) 1.33.12, E. Jones (206) 1.33.45, K. Hovers (207th) 1.33.45, T. Jackson (208th) 1.33.48, M. Barham (210th) 1.34.03, A. Nicholas (221st) 1.36.41, R. Stephens (222nd) 1.36.42, J. Roberts (226th) 1.39.45, D. Lewis (228th) 1.40.48, D. Fearns (229th) 1.40.48, E. Roberts (235th) 1.42.41, D. Hughes (249th) 2.05.29.
2 Mile Fun Run Results:
1st C. Moses 13.38, 2nd N. Murphy 14.03, 3rd M. Kersley 14.41, 4th L. Barker 14.44, 5th Z. Speake 15.30, 6th G. Blewitt 16.20, 7th R. Williams 16.21, 8th H. Abraham 17.37, 9th B. Williams 18.16, 10th J. Whiteside 18.17, 11th K. Kersley 19.04, 12th R. Williams 19.47, 13th J. Cleary 19.58, 14th W. Blackledge 20.19, 15th J. Buck 20.21, 16th B. Davies 20.32, 17th R. Brogden 20.48, 18th I. Brogden 20.50, 19th R. Wilcox 21.23, 20th G. Murphy 21.36, 21st N. Ismail 21.49, 22nd H. Buck 23.10, 23rd A. Ratcliffe 23.29, 24th H. Ratcliffe 24.03, 25th S. Wilocox 24.40, 26th B. Like 25.33, 27th E. Like 25.33, 28th M. Like 26.21, 29th J. Like 26.21, 30th J. Buck 28.10, 31st Unknown 28.11, 32nd R. Schefer 28.56, 33rd H. Schefer 28.57.
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Colin David of Brecon in the 2002 Event |