RUNNING
THE SWANSEA HALF 2017
Over 8000 runners from all across the UK took part in the fourth JCP Swansea Half Marathon on Sunday which was enjoyed by thousands of spectators along the route willing the runners on.
The race kicked off in the heart of the city centre at the junction of Union Street and Oxford Street and went past Swansea castle and along a six-mile stretch of Swansea Bay towards The Mumbles before eventually looping back into town.
The ‘Swansea Half’ is favoured for being a flat, fast and scenic 13.1 mile course, which is equally suitable for first-time runners as it is for club runners, elites and wheelchair athletes but the warm air and blustery conditions made it very tough.
One runner who took it all in his stride was eventual winner Dewi Griffiths of Swansea Harriers an elite athlete who completed the course in 64 minutes and he was just under a minute ahead of Michael Clohisey of Dublin.
The fastest woman was Claire Gibbons-McCarthy from County Cork who romped home in 1:14;34
Among the competitors were fellow Swansea Harriers’ runner Matthew Rees (1:14:30), who stopped close to the end of the London Marathon and his face was beamed to millions of tv sets as he helped David Wyeth who was struggling, cross the line.
Wyeth (pic below) came home in 25th place overall with a time of 1:17:09 not far ahead of Cardigan solicitor David Cole (pic above) who posted a time of 1:19:22.
Sportsline spotted a number of local runners on course including David Cole as well as Cardigan running club members Steve Blackford and Melanie Davies and the father and daughter pairing of Clive and Leah Evans and Huw Clarke, all from Cardigan.
Well done to you all.
