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Weekend Round-up (4-5 October 2025)
06/10/2025 00:00, In Blog /
WORLD PARA ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS - NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 27 - OCTOBER 5
Welsh athletes will return from India with two gold medals, three bronze medals, a world record and a European record following a hugely successful World Para Athletics Championships
Hollie Arnold (Blackheath and Bromley) won the first of Great Britain’s haul of 25 medals when she claimed bronze in the F46 javelin on the opening day of the championships.
While Aled Davies (Cardiff Athletics) claimed the last of GB’s seven gold medals as he claimed his seventh consecutive world title in the F63 shot put on the final day of the event.
In between, Sabrina Fortune (Deeside AAC) won her fourth F20 shot put world title by breaking her own world record by a whole metre, while Michael Jenkins (Swansea Harriers) won F38 shot put bronze with a new European record.
There was also an excellent bronze medal for Funmi Oduwaiye (Cardiff Athletics) in the F44 shot put final as well as fine performances from Harrison Walsh (Swansea Harriers), Bree Cronin (Cardiff Athletics) and Olivia Breen (City of Portsmouth).
NORTH WALES CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE – FIXTURE 1 - ST ASAPH, OCTOBER 4
The first fixture of the David Alun Williams North Wales Cross Country League was held at St Asaph on Saturday.
The senior men’s race was won by Noa Vaughan (Eryri Harriers) in 28:26 ahead of Andrew Moore (Bangor University) in 28:59 and Ed Slaughter (Bangor University) in 29:34.
The women’s senior race saw Alison Lavender (Oswestry Olympians) take the win in 24:21. Deeside AAC pair Eden O’Dea and Martha Bown finished second and third in 25:10 and 25:26 respectively.
The under-17 men’s race was won by Zac Campbell (Deeside AAC) in 23:05 ahead of team mate Ryan Delaney in 23:45. James Myatt (Colwyn Bay AC) was third in 24:11.
In the junior races Elliot Rowe (Deeside AC) won the under-15 boys race in 16:00, while Martha Bown (Menai Track and Field) won the girls race in 10:14.
Spencer Jones (Wrexham AAC) won the under-13 boys race in 9:33 with Gwen Hayes (Deeside AAC) taking the honours in the girls race in 8:26.
The under-11 boys race was won by Elliot Steele Jones (Menai Track and Field) in 8:31. Zoe James (Deeside AAC) won the girls race in 7:05.
OYSHO CARDIFF HALF MARATHON – OCTOBER 5
Dan Nash (Pontypridd Roadents) and Natasha Wilson nee Cockram (Micky Morris Racing Club) claimed the Welsh Half Marathon titles in Cardiff on Sunday.
Nash, who retained his title as he finished 15th overall in 1:04.28, said afterwards:
It was great – it’s such a good race and such a good atmosphere.
I live 20 minutes away so there was brilliant support for me out on the course. It was really good but really hard too with the headwind in the Bay.
It’s very rare that you can come to a race so close to home and race the world’s best on a fantastic course.
Jonathan Butler (Swansea Harriers) was second in the Welsh Championships with Daniel Hamilton (Pontypridd Roadents) third.
Wilson claimed the women’s title thanks to an eighth placed finish overall in the women’s field, clocking a time of 1:12.58.
The former Welsh marathon record holder’s achievement came after recently suffering from COVID.
Wilson said:
I really didn’t want to miss Cardiff this year, I’ve had Covid recently so I just wanted to get to the start line as I haven’t trained.
This was my first hard work out, but the support on the course was incredible, especially the start and finish so I’m so glad I made it.”
Olivia Tsim (Pontypridd Roadents) was second in the championship race with Louise Flynn (Les Croupiers) third.
In the wheelchair race, Welsh Athletics National Development Programme athlete Owain Terrell (Newport Harriers) finished fifth overall, behind Callum Hall, who claimed the win.
At the head of the race, which is one of the Super Halfs series and attracted 29,000 entries, Yismaw Dillu smashed the men’s course record as Miriam Chebet defended her crown.
The Ethiopian Dillu marked his half marathon debut in style as he shaved more than seven seconds off the previous record set by Leonard Langat back in 2019 to finish in a time of 59:22.
The 20-year-old broke clear of Kenya’s Ismael Kiprono and compatriot Fikadu Liche after the 10K mark in Cardiff Bay, and never looked back to take the title. Kiprono (1:00:04) and Liche (1:00:33) stayed strong to finish second and third respectively.
It was my first time running the half marathon so I am very, very happy to win the race and set a new record,” said Dillu. “It was very windy but I felt strong and I am so pleased to win.
After battling the rain to win in 2024, Chebet this time conquered blustery conditions to retain her Oysho Cardiff Half title.
The Kenyan, who added the Istanbul Half Marathon gold medal to her collection earlier this year, was five seconds quicker than she was 12 months ago as she took the tape in 1:06:36.
In a similar tale to the men’s race, Chebet surged away from her rivals after the Cardiff Bay Barrage and maintained the gap to finish 56 seconds clear of Ethiopia’s Alem Nigus (1:07:33) and Wudinesh Alimu (1:08:08).
Former half marathon world record holder Florence Kiplagat ended a two-year elite racing sabbatical in Cardiff and finished 10th in a time of 1:14:28.
I was ready for this race, especially after I won last year, I wanted to win again,” said Chebet. “After 8K I felt the strain and the wind was really strong at that point, but I did my best and I am so happy to come back and win for the second time.
There was lots of support on the roads and the crowds really helped me push through to the end.”
Saturday’s junior races had to be cancelled due to the adverse conditions caused by Stormy Amy.
BLAZE THE BIBLINS – ROSS ON WYE – OCTOBER 5
Due to the high winds forecast due to Storm Amy, this year’s event was cancelled after Forestry England put safety precautions in place across all of their sites.
BANGOR HALF MARATHON AND 10K – OCTOBER 5
The Bangor Half Marathon also fell victim to the effects of Storm Amy on Sunday with parts of the course affected by debris.
However, the 10K race was able to go ahead. The men’s race was won by Andrew Moore (Bangor University Athletics Club) who finished in 32:55. Next home was Ed Slaughter (Porthcawl Runners) 33:25 ahead of Martin Sunderland (Woking) in 34.42.
Sarah Attwood (Crook AC) was the first female finisher, clocking 38:53. Llio Jones (Cybi Striders) was second in 40:47 and Laura Coucill (Salford Harriers) third in 40:49.
CHESTER MARATHON – OCTOBER 5
Great Britain international Josh Griffiths (Swansea Harriers) produced an excellent run to win the Chester Marathon on Sunday having finished second last year.
The two-time World Athletics Championships marathoner and Commonwealth Games Team Wales athlete claimed the honours in 2:17.16 ahead of Alex Carter (Team Bath) in 2:17.21.
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