WEST GLAMORGAN CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE

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FIXTURES 2017/2018 SEASON (40th Season of the League)

At the recent AGM it was confirmed that we will hold 6 fixtures in the 2017/2018 season with the provisional dates/venues as follows:

September 17^th 2017 – Llanmadoc

October 22nd 2017 - Gnoll Estate, Neath

November 26^th 2017 – Kenfig Nature Reserve

January 14^th 2018 – Round the Res Race, Margam

Feb TBC 2018 – Margam Park or Aberavon Beach

March TBC 2018 – Margam Park or Aberavon Beach

The Welsh Cross Country Championships will be held in Singleton Park, Swansea in February

We will confirm the dates/venues when we are in a position to do so.

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DAVID OAK

This week we received the very sad news of the untimely passing away of David Oak.

Dave was a keen athlete, running locally for Neath Harriers and Port Talbot Harriers and went on to gain international vests for Wales.

His natural organisational skills have seen him play a major role in the development and growth of Port Talbot Harriers in recent years while his legacy to the West Glamorgan League was his instrumental role in establishing Margam Park as a venue for us all to use. His close links with Margam Cricket Club enabled us to use the venue and we even used to use the Cricket pavilion for registration in the initial years. The fact that we still use the venue today is testament to Daves hard work in the past.

Always a gentleman, Dave will be missed by his fellow athletes and friends in athletics and our thoughts and condolences go to his family and friends at this sad time.

Donations if desired can be made to Blood Bikes Wales & Wales Air Ambulance care of Mr Michael Condon, Condon Funeral Services, Glanafan Court, 48-50 Margam Road, Port Talbot SA13 2BN.

JOHN COLLINS

Many of you will have heard the sad news of the passing of our very own John Collins.

John was a legend.

His contribution to athletics in our area and far beyond has been enormous for well over sixty years and he will be sadly missed by everyone connected with the West Glamorgan League.

As an athlete, administrator, official or supporter, John always gave 100%, but what set him apart from most was his undiluted, infectious love of our sport

From local school athletics to dealing with athletes at the highest level, John made no difference in how he treated anyone.

Help. Support. Friendship. Respect. Sportsmanship. These are the things John offered to the people he dealt with, always delivered in his own polite, courteous manner. He always looked for and saw the best in people.

As a competitor he competed fiercely in the West Glamorgan League over many decades, before finally refereeing at matches when illness prevented him from running.

Our sport has lost a true gentlemen.From local school athletics to dealing with athletes at the highest level, John made no difference in how he treated anyone.

Our sport has lost a true gentleman.

2016/2017 (39th Season)

The first West Glam League fixture of the season was held at Llanmadoc on Sunday September 25th 2016 at Llanmadoc with 278 athletes taking part with subsequent successful fixtures at Gnoll Estate Neath, Kenfig Nature Reserve and Margam Park with over 300 athletes taking part in all events.

The final fixture of the season was held at Aberavon Beach, Port Talbot on Sunday March 26th 2017 with Swansea Harriers Matthew Rees and Helen Marshall winning their respective races and overall individual league titles. A full list of team and individual winners is listed below. Full details of all of the seasons fixtures are on the pages of this website.

The Leagues fixtures for the 2016/17 season are now complete, the League will re-commence in September 2017.

2016/2017 WINNERS

Men

Overall Winner - Matthew Rees (Swansea Harriers TNT's)

U20 Winner - Cian Evans (Run4All)

V35 Winner - Adam Jelf (Swansea Vale Runners)

V40 Winner - Gareth Davey (Neath Harriers)

V45 Winner - Paul Flynn (Swansea Harriers TNT's)

V50 Winner - Thomas Guest (Swansea Harriers Masters)

V55 Winner - Peter Osborne (Llanelli A.C.)

V60 Winner - Alan Davies (Llanelli A.C.)

V65 Winner – Peter Turner (Cornelly Striders AC)