THE Brecon AC/Rotary Club of Brecon 3,4,5 mile series finished on a high with 162 runners completing the five mile race.

This was the highest total for 2018 and higher than any previous five mile races. The junior fun run also had a 2018 high of 57 finishers.

Dan Bodman of Aberdare made it three in a row as he won this race with a 19 second winning margin over Samuel Jody Richards of Pontypridd. Next in was Aberdare’s Joe Reardon who again won the U20 award. Dan took the overall senior prize as well as the £50 series prize for the first male in any age group.

The womens five mile race was won by F40 Wendy Price of Carmarthen in an impressive 32.19 ahead of Brecon AC’s SF Katie Ironside (32.44) and Pontypridd’s SF Kristie O’Connell (33.32) making her first appearance since running as a teenager a few years ago.

The front end of the womens series has been keenly contested and Wendy’s win, significantly ahead of an injury affected Donna Morris (Brecon AC) saw her grab the overall £50 prize with a combined time of 1.17.06. Katie Ironside (Brecon AC) moved into second with 1.17.49 and Donna held onto third with 1.18.53.

The first U20M overall was Joe Reardon who not only took a trophy home but a voucher from age group sponsors Llangorse Climbing Centre. Brychan Price Davies (Brecon AC) was second overall ahead of brother Evan in what has been the most competitive U20 series yet. Hollie Jehu of Aberdare was the U20F winner and will also get the chance to try climbing as a good way of topping up core stability. Second U20 was Addy Carter from Hay with Izzy Goodridge, also of Hay third.

It was Katie Ironside who was first in the SF category overall after three solid runs. Katie, better known for her fell and ultra exploits took home a voucher for a Dragonfly canal boat hire trip.

Second SF was Donna Morris and third was Aimee Ferguson.

Dan Bodman won a Pilgrims Restaurant ‘Dinner for Two’ voucher for his SM winning performance as he finished ahead of Brecon AC pair Michael Holloway in second and Gareth Lawrence in third.

The M35 winner, consistently in the top five was Phil Morris who pocketed a meal for two voucher at The Red Lion Llangorse. Second was Andrew Driscoll of Aberdare and third Brecon AC’s throws coach David Roberts. Elizabeth Harvey of Hay won the F35 Likey’s voucher with Stacey Jones second and Fiona Jones third.

The remaining category winners were: F40 Wendy Price (Mountain Warehouse voucher), M40 Barney Goodrich, Brecon AC (Likey’s voucher), F45 Claire Griffiths, Aberdare (Welsh Athletics insulated mug and tea/coffee assortment) M45 Adrian Lewis, Aberdare (W H Smith voucher), M50 Charlie Northey, Brecon AC (Llanfaes dairy Ice Cream Voucher) F50 Gunver Troelsen (Builth, WA insulated mug and tea/coffee), M55 Phil Kendrick (Rhayader, Lunch for two at The Black Cock, Llanfihangel Talyllyn) F55 Suzanne Kendrick (Rhayader, WA Insulated mug and tea/coffee), M60 Graham Mack (Merthyr, Old Railway Garden Centre voucher), F60 Rose Thomas (Rhayader, Old Railway Graden centre voucher), M75 Ray Sharrat (Rhayader, Trophy and wine).

In total 114 completed the whole series.

The junior fun run produced another 2018 best entry with 57 this time. This might also be an all-time best entry. On the night Jack Organ (Brecon AC) just pipped previous winner Scott Price (Carmarthen) with Owen Griffiths (Brecon AC) third. Isobel Brassington was the first girl to finish (seventh overall) with Ruby Herdman in tenth overall.

Brecon AC would like to thank The Rotary Club of Brecon for their continued generous sponsorship that allows the club to pay many of the considerable expenses associated with events like this as well as having a generous prize list. Major thanks are also due to the many marshals and officials that make the races a positive and safe experience.

Also playing a vital role are the results team of Dave Higginson and Muriel Thompson, the timekeepers Peter Hunt and Adam Jones and the organising team of Rob Williams and Becca Jones.