PONTYPOOL Runners had a really strong showing at the final Gwent Leisure Centre League cross country event at Blackwood on Sunday January 11.

The men’s team won their competition and the women came in second - against nine other teams.

On a really muddy course that saw plenty of people falling and slipping over in the ankle-deep swamp, Pontypool had a strong turnout of runners in the event that also doubled as the first race of the new club championships.

The team were brought home by Matt Symes, who won the race outright, with Sean Taylor close behind in second place. Pontypool had ten men in the top 30 places, as well as two category winners - Steve Davies in the M55-59 age group and Dimitri Vorres in the M50-54 group.

The women’s team also performed very well - the overall team prize went to the historically dominant Chepstow Harriers, and Pontypool beat off strong competition from the likes of Lliswerry, Parc Bryn Bach and Fairwater. First home for Pontypool was Lou Summers in fifth followed by Emma Sowrey in eleventh and Maria Richards in sixteenth.

Men’s captain Ray Morgan said: “I'm just overjoyed at the success of our first Leisure League race as captains. To see both teams do so well was amazing and to have 10 men in the top 30 on a day when we were missing a couple of our faster runners shows that we have real strength in depth.

"With such strong displays from the men and women it has got the new club championship off to a flying start.”