CARDIFF and the Vale of Glamorgan Schools Athletics Association looked to be in real difficulties when the plan to stage the annual cross-country Presentation Evening at Ysgol Bro Morgannwg hit a major problem with the school hall being needed for external examinations.

"We stage a very comprehensive programme of activities in the summer term", said Association Chairman, Mr Rob Glaves, the Head of PE at St Cyres in Penarth. "We have a one week window in May when there are no track and field fixtures, and that’s the week that we hold our Cross-Country Evening. We wanted to keep the event in the Vale but, with Bro Morgannwg not able to take us, and the other Vale schools having the same problem, things were looking grim. "Thankfully, I have had dealings with Barry Town Football Club owner Mr Stuart Lovering in the past, and have always found him most supportive. I called in to the clubhouse to talk the matter over and he and his staff could not have been more helpful. "The outcome was that the event went ahead on the planned date and we had a room packed with pupils and parents. It was a hugely successful evening, which celebrated the achievements of many talented pupils, and I would like to place on record our association’s gratitude to Mr Lovering and Barry Town Football Club for their help and support. "We were also delighted that Mr Fred Malkin, the Chairman of Barry and the Vale Harriers, was able to attend as one of our guests, and help with the presentation of awards."

Although there were a number of encouraging individual performances in the schools’ cross-country season, which started in September 2008 with league fixtures and ended in late February 2009 with the Welsh Schools’ National cross-country championships at Brecon, the Vale secondary schools, with two exceptions, had to settle for the minor placings in the majority of the 12 league and championship team competitions.

In the league programme, two Vale girls, Kate Coker (Stanwell) on her debut in the year 7 section, and Bonvilston based Caitlin Bryant (The Cathedral School) in the years 8 & 9 section, gained the awards as the leading points scorers.

In the championships, held in January and February, the same two girls claimed the individual titles while year 11 Darren Jones was the leading u17 (years 10 & 11), a section held within the senior boys race. There were also two team successes in the u15 (years 8 & 9) section with the Cowbridge quartet of Fiona Bray, Katie Wynne, Rachel Bradshaw, Rebecca John winning the Glamorgan Shield and the Barry Comprehensive squad of Matthew Edwards, Callam Barrie, Rhys James, Richard Lewis taking the Wiggins Teape Cup.

Thirty-six Vale pupils were awarded their Cardiff & Vale Schools colours medals for representing the district at the Welsh Schools National cross-country championships at Brecon on February 28. They were part of an 88 strong team, the largest ever fielded by Cardiff & the Vale, with the year 7 girls and the junior (years 8 & 9) boys winning their team competitions, the two senior squads claiming second place and the year 7 boys and junior girls finishing third.

Five Vale athletes received plaques to mark their selection for international teams. Caitlin Bryant represented the Welsh Schools u15 team at the annual SIAB Schools’ international, which was hosted this year by Wales at the Faenol Estate outside Bangor. Year 13 Tom Whitmarsh-Knight (Bro Morgannwg) competed for Welsh Athletics team at the Celtic Schools and Inter-Association u20 match, which was held on the same Faenol programme, while Megan Osborne (Llantwit, year 8) and Elliot Mears (Cowbridge, year 10) represented Welsh Schools at the adidas Mini London Marathon on April 26.

One athlete, Barry College student Vicky Jackson, represented Welsh Schools at Faenol and the Mini Marathon.

Of the four special awards presented at the end of the evening, only one went to a Vale pupil. The Denys Gumbley award for service, a shield named in memory of a long-time member of the Cantonian High School staff, who resided in Harbour Road, Barry, was presented jointly to Tom Whitmarsh-Knight of Bro Morgannwg and Bethan Davies (Llanishen) in recognition of the six years that they have represented the association.

The evening ended with Mr Glaves recording the association thanks to Mr Stuart Lovering and Barry Town FC.

AWARDS

Vale pupils who gained awards.

LEAGUE

Individual Points Winners

Years 7 Girls: Kate Coker (Stanwell) 539

Years 8 & 9 Girls: Caitlin Bryant (The Cathedral) 535

Teams awards

Years 7 Girls: 2 Llantwit Major

Years 8 & 9 Girls: 3 Cowbridge

Years 10 to 14 Girls: 3 Cowbridge

Years 8 & 9 Boys: 2 YG Bro Morgannwg

Years 10 to 14 Boys: 3 Cowbridge

CHAMPIONSHIPS

Year 7 Girls

1st Kate Coker (Stanwell)

3rd Lauren Williamson (St Richard Gwyn)

Years 8 & 9 Girls

1st Caitlin Bryant (The Cathedral School)

3rd Fiona Bray (Cowbridge)

Years 10 & 11 Girls

2nd Bethan Daw (St Cyres)

3rd Cerri-Anne Santos (St Cyres)

Sixth Form Girls

2nd Vicky Jackson (Barry College)

Year 7 Boys

3rd Josh Kirk (Barry Comprehensive)

Years 8 & 9 Boys

2nd Rory Heslop (YG Bro Morgannwg)

Years 10 & 11 Boys

1st Darren Jones (Llantwit Major)

3rd Oliver Beaman (Cowbridge)

Sixth Form Boys

2nd Tom Whitmarsh-Knight

3rd Joe Beech (Cowbridge)

Teams

Year 7 Girls

3rd – Cowbridge: Annabel Curle, Jordan Carpenter, Olivia Brown, Sophie Thomas

U15 – Years 8 & 9 Girls

1st – Cowbridge: Fiona Bray, Katie Wynne, Rachel Bradshaw, Rebecca John

Year 7 Boys

3rd – Llantwit: Ben Owen, Arran Bright, Connor Beattie, Ben Murphy

U15 – Years 8 & 9 Boys

1st – Barry Comprehensive: Matthew Edwards, Callam Barrie, Rhys James, Richard Lewis

AWARD OF DISTRICT CROSS-COUNTRY

COLOURS to athletes who competed at the 47th Welsh Schools’ National Championships at Brecon on February 28, 2009

Year 7 Girls – 1st – 74 points 7th Kate Coker (Stanwell); 23rd Erin Hayes (Llantwit); 26th Annabel Curle (Cowbridge); 27th Rachel Cosier (Bryn Hafren); 31st Jordan Carpenter (Cowbridge)

Junior Girls – 3rd – 101 points 6th Caitlin Bryant (The Cathedral); 14th Fiona Bray (Cowbridge); 16th Megan Osborne (Llantwit); 28th Anthea Young (Llantwit); 33rd Lucy Tarrant (Llantwit); 56th Rachel Bradshaw (Cowbridge); 57th Katie Wynne (Cowbridge)

Middle Girls – 5th – 171 points 14th Bethan Daw (St Cyres); 41st Laura Bowles (Stanwell); 55th Molly-Ann Manley-Lamb (The Cathedral); 62nd Sabrina James Cowbridge

Senior Girls – 2nd – 56 points 3rd Vicky Jackson (Barry College); 30th Elspeth Bisson (Cowbridge)

Year 7 Boys – 3rd – 118 points 16th Dafydd George (Bro Morgannwg); 30th Arran Bright (Llantwit); 50th Josh Kirk (Barry); 65th Tim Harry (Stanwell)

Junior Boys – 1st – 75 points 16th Rory Heslop (Bro Morgannwg); 17th Matthew Edwards (Barry); 23rd Callam Barrie (Barry); 27th Huw Evans (Stanwell); 58th Dan Owen (Llantwit)

Middle Boys – 4th – 129 points 9th Elliot Mears (Cowbridge); 19th Darren Jones (Llantwit); 41st Duke Durham (St Cyres); 42nd Oliver Beaman (Cowbridge); 47th Joseff Whitmarsh-Knight (Bro Morgannwg)

Senior Boys – 2nd – 87 points 13th Joe Beech (Cowbridge); 15th Tom Whitmarsh-Knight (Bro Morgannwg); 35th Dominic Jackson (Howells); 40th Joseff Swain (Bro Morgannwg)

ATHLETES WHO GAINED INTERNATIONAL SELECTION

SIAB u15 Schools International at Faenol (Bangor) on March 28 Caitlin Bryant (Welsh Schools) Celtic Schools u20 International & Inter Association Match at Faenol (Bangor) on March 28 Tom Whitmarsh-Knight (Welsh Athletics) Mini London Marathon at London on April 26th Megan Osborne (Welsh Schools u13 team) Elliot Mears (Welsh Schools u15 team) Faenol & Mini London Marathon Vicky Jackson (Welsh Schools u19 Team)

SPECIAL AWARDS

The Denys Gumbley Shield for Service – Tom Whitmarsh-Knight (Bro Morgannwg) & Bethan Davies (Llanishen)