Carmarthen hosted the ever-popular Dyfed primary schools athletics championships last Wednesday evening (June 14), which again delivered as they turned up in their hundreds.

Following excellent numbers at the Dyfed cross country edition at Nantyci’s United Showground back in March, attention turned to the track and field athletics.

On a pleasant, warm and sunny evening in West Wales after a rather wet and windy weekend which resulted in the cancellation of the secondary schools competition, the 30th annual event sponsored by McDonalds and the Rotary Club of Carmarthen attracted an impressive number of just under 400 athletes.

The dry weather helped boost the numbers of spectators that were in attendance from Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion. The championships have grown every year since Hedydd Davies, Carmarthen Harriers chairman, organised the first event 27 years ago in 1990.

The schools athletics season in Dyfed continued with the annual midweek Dyfed championships at the leisure centre facility in Johnstown as approximately 45 schools from across the three areas participated. Once again the track was full, car park packed and food was quickly sold, with plenty of local talent out on show watched on by family and friends.

The event timetable included a series of 14 events in total and saw the championships go on until late. With races coming thick and fast, the 100m and 800m were popular, with a number of heats having taken place and completed - 35 heats, six finals, two time trials and six field events.

The West Wales Athletics network officer, Andrew Jenkins, said: “A fantastic evening of athletics at the Dyfed primary championships on an ideal evening for holding an outdoor sporting event. Well done to all pupils, teachers and officials who participated and contributed towards a successful meeting. From our point of view, the aim is that school competitions will hopefully gain experience and attract children to join clubs from the talent that is shown, with the potential for many to progress further in the future.”

The winners this year were Ysgol Y Dderwen, the Carmarthenshire schools athletics champions last month, scoring 49 points and finishing off in style with both teams in the relay finals. Ysgol Aberaeron were rewarded for their long journey down south with a second place finish (26). Not far behind were familiar top placing schools: Ysgol Iau Llangennech with 24, Ysgol Griffith Jones (21) and Ysgol Gymraeg Rhydaman (20).

A total of 30 schools scored, more than ever before.

Special guests were on hand to help with the presentation of awards to the top three in each event, with a good crowd staying on as darkness fell to cheer the athletes who made it onto the podium.

Presentations were awarded by: Clr Irfan Jones, chairman of Carmarthenshire County Council, Clr Phil Grice, Sheriff of Carmarthen, Raja, the president of the Rotary Club of Carmarthen, and Lynette Harries, president of Welsh Athletics, who were all impressed with the turnout and the standard of the competition. Results were:

Girls: 70m Hurdles - 1. Fiona Allen (St. Florence), 2. Maisie Williams (Griffith Jones), 3. Julia Dabrowska (Richmond Park); 100m - 1 Keira Carmody (Model), 2. Megan Roberts (Gorslas), 3. Sophia Reid-Thomas (Llangynnwr); 800m - 1. Bethan Adams (Iau Llangennech), 2. Lucy Wintle (Hafan Y Môr), 3. Erin Morgan (Y Dderwen); 4 x 100m relay - 1. Ysgol Bigyn, 2. Ysgol Llangynnwr, 3. Ysgol Iau Llangennech; High Jump - 1. Hannah Forkuoh (Bigyn), 2. Freya Evans (Griffith Jones), 3. Eleanor White (Roch); Long Jump - 1. Jessica Lee (Llys Hywel), 2. Hanna Evans (Y Ddwylan), 3. Mel Allen (Hafan Y Môr); Shot - 1. Julia Makejew (Templeton), 2. Lowri Jones (Aberaeron), 3. Ffion Davies (Saron).

Boys: 70m Hurdles - 1. Harri Howells (Y Dderwen), 2. Jake Lewis (Bro Pedr), 3. Osian Roberts (Carreg Hirfaen); 100m - 1. Llew Vardill (Y Dderwen), 2. Tiaan Sparrow (Gymraeg Rhydaman), 3. Shivo Hinds (Y Bedol); 800m - 1. Ifan Bowen (Y Dderwen), 2. Jack Thomas (Richmond Park), 3. Rhys Jenkins (Aberaeron); 4 x 100m relay - 1. Ysgol Y Dderwen, 2. Ysgol Gymraeg Rhydaman, 3. Tenby Junior School; High Jump - 1. Dion James (Y Dderwen), 2. Jake Williams (Griffith Jones), 3. Ceri James (Penygaer); Long Jump - 1. Oscar Miles (Tenby), 2. Morgan Evans (Griffith Jones), 3. Ioan Mutter (Lamphey); Shot - 1. Tomos Phillips (Gymraeg Rhydaman), 2. Casper Kracewich (Bro Pedr), 3. Jenson Lloyd (Aberaeron).

Carmarthen Harriers social media and press officer, Nathan Jones, added: “It is great to see so many schools and children supporting the events arranged by the club in Dyfed and West Wales, as was evident with the large number of visitors at the recent Carmarthenshire and Dyfed schools championships. For the last 25 years, athletics meetings have been arranged in Carmarthen to give young people the opportunity to compete and to find the stars of the future. Whatever their ability, the evening’s programme was open to everyone in the district to get involved in running while enjoying the race day atmosphere supported from the sidelines by friends, teachers and families.”

The partnership between Dyfed clubs, including Carmarthen Harriers and Dyfed schools, continues to grow and has already resulted in the club being awarded with the Welsh Athletics Partnership Award a number of times over the past few years, including in 2016 for its work with McDonalds.

As usual, volunteers played a huge part in supporting the competition and organisers would like to thank everyone who helped in any way to ensure that the event was once again a high quality occasion, with great performances and team spirit all round.

The school calendar for the season concludes with the annual Dyfed v West Glamorgan inter primary schools match, this year to be held in Carmarthen (5.15 pm) on Thursday, July 13, following the staging of the Welsh NAS/UWT track and field cup and plate competition at the Brecon athletics track earlier that day, where the best secondary teams from the eight Welsh districts will battle it out to be crowned Welsh schools champions (12 noon).