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Christmas Round Up 2025
05/01/2026 00:00, In Blog /
MANCHESTER OPEN MEETING – DECEMBER 21
Several Welsh athletes produced notable performances at the Manchester Open Meeting on the Sunday before Christmas.
Under-17 sprinter Tomos Rigby (Menai Track and Field) posted a new 60m PB of 7.36 as he finished second in his heat, while Gil Fook (Deeside AAC) also celebrated a new best of 7.61 finishing fourth in his race.
Under-20 athlete Eli Jones (Menai Track and Field) claimed a 60m victory in 7.84, while in the under-15 60m heats, Alice Sykes-Hand (Deeside AAC) also won in a new PB of 8.08.
In the 300m races, Tomos Rigby claimed a win in his heat with another PB of 37.21 to add to his 60m best time.
Promising under-17 multi-eventer Aidan Angilletta (Deeside AAC) displayed his sprinting talent as he claimed a heat win in 48.90.
At the other end of the age range, V55 athlete Neil Davies (Wrexham/Welsh Masters) claimed a 300m PB as he won his heat in 43.45.
In the 600m races, 400m specialist Ffion Mair Roberts (Menai Track and Field) ran a new PB as she won her heat in 1:31.22.
PORTHCAWL BOXING DAY RUN 2025 – DECEMBER 26
More than 400 runners braved the cold easterly wins to take part in Porthcawl’s Boxing Day run.
The men’s winner, retaining his title from last year, was Samuel Boyce (Cardiff Athletics) who completed the course in 19:46, finishing ahead of Porthcawl Runners’ own Ed Slaughter in 19:49 and Rhys Hardman (Bridgend AC) in 20:03.
The first female to finish was Bryony Boyce (Cardiff Athletics), who also retained her title, this year crossing the line in 22:37. Bryony was followed home by Sally Pugsley (Porthcawl Runners) in 24:16 and Bethan Hardman (Bridgend AC) in 24:45.
OLD FATHER TIME 5 MILE – DECEMBER 28
The Old Father Time 5 miles, organised by Les Croupiers Running Club, is a veterans-only event (athletes 35+), with a long history based on tradition, dating back to 1989.
This year, the men’s race was won by M40 athlete Ross Purchase (Porthcawl Runners) taking the win in 26:07. M35 runner Oliver Williams was second in 26:49, while M50 club mate Jerome Edwards (Les Croupiers) was third in 27:03.
First female runner home was F35 athlete Gabriella Booth who made it a double for Porthcawl Runners with a time of 29:26. Second was F40 Swansea Harrier Maria Kowal in 29:43, with F35 runner Lizzie Dimond (Lliswerry Runners) third in 29:54.
GLYNNEATH FESTIVE FIVE MILER – DECEMBER 31
Michael Roderick (Tri Hard Harriers) took the honours in the men’s race in Glynneath, crossing the line in 26:12.
National Development Programme middle distance runner Thomas Loynes (Neath Harriers) was second in 26:27, while Lewis Munro (Islwyn RC) was third in 26:41.
In the women’s race, Naomi Sutton (Run 4All Neath) led the field home in 29:02. Emily Davies (Neath Harriers) was second in 29:16, with Jessica Davies (Neath Harriers) third in 30:25.
BOCLASSIC – BOLZANO, DECEMBER 31
Cari Hughes (Cardiff Athletics) completed a hugely successful 2025 with another impressive performance in Italy on New Year’s Eve.
The multi-talented distance athlete finished fourth in the high quality BOClassic 5K race which was won by world and Olympic 10,000m silver medallist Nadia Battocletti in 15:51.
Hughes just missed out on a place on the podium as she clocked 16:06 at the prestigious race held in the picturesque old town of Bolzano.
Among the many highlights for Hughes during 2025 where her switch to the 3,000m steeplechase, where she broke the Welsh record on her debut, a medal at the UK Championships and another appearance at the European Cross Country Championships were she helped Great Britain’s senior women win a team silver medal.
NOS GALAN ROAD RACES – MOUNTAIN ASH, DECEMBER 31
The running year in Wales came to its traditional end with the Nos Galan Road Races event held in memory of Welsh runner Guto Nyth Brân, which first started 1958.
In line with convention, a mystery runner was unveiled before the event – this year it was Wales’ greatest ever female footballer – Jess Fishlock.
On the roads themselves, there were a number of age grade races from under-8 up to under-15s – with the evening being rounded off with the men’s and women’s elite races.
Ben Reynolds (Cardiff Athletics/Virginia Tech) won the elite men’s race over 5k in 14:55. Dion Griffith (Meirionnydd RC) was second in 15:02 with Matthew Nelson (Parc Bryn Bach) third in 15:24.
The elite female race, run over the same distance, saw Bryony Boyce (Cardiff Athletics) follow up her victory at the Porthcawl Boxing Day race by winning in 17:17.
Ceri Griffiths (Newport Harriers) was second in 17:50 from Donna Morris (Builth and District) in 18:03.
LLANDEILO NEW YEAR’S EVE 10 MILER AND 10K – DECEMBER 31
The men’s 10-miler in Llandeilo was won by Jacob Tasker in 55:38 ahead of Tom Baird in 57:34 and Sam Joseph in 1:00.28.
Meanwhile, the first woman home was Nia Banfield, who took the win in 1:12.25. Amy Griffiths was second in 1:12.43, with Joanna Lloyd-Davies third in 1:12.48.
In the 10k, Macsen Toogood took the honours in the men’s race in 35:24. John Perkins was second in 36:27 and Steven Taylor third in 36:42.
The first female home was Millie Thorne in 41:47, followed by Lydia Morgan in 43:45 and Kate Lynock in 44:10.
BE FIT FOR TODAY TRACK ACADEMY INDOOR SERIES 2 – LEE VALLEY, JANUARY 4
A number of Welsh athletes started the year in excellent style during a trip to London for the second meet of the BFTTA Indoor Series.
Welsh international Jess Mantle (Cardiff Athletics) twice improved her 60m personal best of 6.52.
Mantle ran 7.48 as she finished in third in her first round heat before going on to run even faster in the second round where she clocked 7.44 to once again finish third.
In the same second round heat, under-20 sprinter Nell Desir (Cardiff Archers), who last year represented Great Britain in the relay at the London Diamond League meeting, equalled her PB of 7.50 as she finished fourth.
There was a huge PB in the under-15 boys 60m heats for Jacob Barnes (Cardiff Athletics). Finishing second in his heat, Barnes clocked 7.34, to shatter his previous best of 7.53.
Sian Harry (Belgrave Harriers), normally a 400m specialist, won her 200m heat in a time of 25.00.
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