Race Reports

The Carmarthen Mayor’s Fun Run provides children and adults of all abilities and ages the opportunity to take part in a large Town centre sporting event and ensures that this healthy life activity proves to be enjoyable, and is something they will hopefully continue to participate in for many years.

30th Carmarthen Mayor’s Fun Run – 2011

The 30th Carmarthen Mayor’s Fun Run sponsored by St Catherine’s Walk proved to be a huge success and attracted over 500 runners and over two thousand spectators to the Town for this popular annual event.

The races this year were raising funds for local charities Ty and Ty Hapus Family Centres, Glangwili Therapeutic Day Services Unit, Ty Cymorth Hospice Appeal and Carmarthen Shopmobility.

The weather conditions were perfect and the glorious sunshine enjoyed over the Easter break continued into the May Day bank holiday.

The event saw many changes this year with a new two lap course for the Junior races and a new three lapped circuit for the 5Km Fun Run which took runners up to the Drover in the St Catherine’s Walk shopping development.

There were new age categories for the Junior races and having been held on Easter Monday for the last 28 years the move to the May Day bank holiday proved to be very popular with runners and spectators.

The first of the ten children’s races started at 10:00am with the Primary School Girls Years 1 & 2. The category winners were :

  • Primary School Girls Years 1 & 2 – Phoebe Davies from Fairfach
  • Primary School Boys Years 1 & 2 – Liam Edwards from Ysgol Y Dderwen
  • Primary School Girls Years 3 & 4 – Tanwen Cox from Ysgol Griffith Jones
  • Primary School Boys Years 3 & 4 – Tegid Griffith from Melin Griffith Cardiff
  • Primary School Girls Years 5 & 6 – Cerys Davies from Bryn Saron
  • Primary School Boys Years 5 & 6 – Thomas Jones Nantgaredig
  • Secondary School Girls Years 7 & 8 – Naomi James from Queen Elizabeth High School
  • Secondary School Boys Years 7 & 8 – Neary Nikita from Ysgol Dyffryn Taf
  • Secondary School Girls Years 9,10,11 – Rhian Homer from Ysgol Bro Gwaun
  • Secondary School Boys Years 9,10,11 – Laurie Howarth from Ysgol Sir Thomas Picton

There were also over 50 children taking part in the Under 6 category with many of them being accompanied by their parents. The new two lapped course for all the juniors proved to be a huge success and allowed parents and supporters to applaud the children at the end of the first lap.

The 5Km Fun Run had over 130 runners taking part and the new course didn’t disappoint in providing an excellent spectacle for the Town with the Burry Port brass band providing entertainment for the runners as they passed through the shopping precinct. The Corporate Team event had three teams taking part with Burns Pet Nutrition entering 16 runners and Bethel chapel entering over 20 runners. The Relay Team event was won by Cotswold Outdoor Activity of St Catherine’s Walk and these two new categories certainly brought the ‘Fun’ factor to the event. The overall Male winner was Anthony Powell who won in a time of 17:19 and narrowly beat Steffan Hughes who last year came 2nd in the S4C programme ‘Wales’s Fittest Man’. In the women’s race Kirsty Murray took the honours in a time of 19:49.

Race Organiser Noelwyn Daniel said, “We had an excellent event today and the changes made to this year’s event have proved to be very popular and certainly brought Carmarthen Town to life. The event however would not be such a huge success if it wasn’t for the excellent support we get from Dyfed Powys Police, St John’s Ambulance, Carmarthen Town Council, Carmarthenshire County Council and St Catherine’s Walk. The marshalls also do a great job and many thanks this year to Dr Mz’s, Towy Riders, ACT, Hywel Dda Health Board staff, friends and family – their support ensures all runners have a safe and enjoyable run.”