School celebrates record-breaking cross-country achievements

April 3, 2018

A Monmouth school is celebrating the record-breaking achievements of its talented athletes in the Gwent Cross-Country League.

Harry D capped Monmouth School Boys’ Prep’s most successful cross-country season, finishing runner-up in the individual section of the Novice Boys’ event.

Harry was also part of the school’s A team and took bronze in the Novice Boys’ team section alongside Harry G, Frankie, Tom C, John, and Seb.

The B team of Gabriel, Tom K, Jacob, Cameron, Ben and Matthew helped the school to carry off the Leading School accolade.

The boys were presented with their medals at a special assembly attended by Newport Harriers’ Darryn McAtee, a Welsh Athletics coach and East Wales Team Manager, and Dr Huw Evans, an athlete and teacher at Monmouth School for Boys.

A proud team manager, Alex Dawes, said: “The boys showed plenty of grit and determination. Each boy who ran for the school can be proud of their achievements. The races were not easy.”

Harry D became the school’s first overall top-five finisher while eight athletes sealed places inside the top 50 compared to four 12 months ago. 

Harry D with his silver and bronze medals.

Mr Dawes said: “Out of 57 teams, our A team finished third, which was the highest ever for the school, after coming sixth last year.

“Our B team were 11th, which was the highest ever finish for our school and, for the first time, we fielded a C team, which finished 27th.”

The Gwent Cross-Country League consisted of four races: Llandaff Field in Cardiff, Brecon Leisure Centre, Pembrey Country Park in Llanelli and Pontypool Park. The final race of the series at Blaise Castle in Bristol was cancelled due to the bad weather.

Mr Dawes said: “Eighteen boys from the school ran at least one Gwent League race compared to nine last year and no club had more runners who completed all four races than us.

“Our combined squad scored 2,808 points, the second highest tally behind Carmarthen Harriers on 3,190 and above Brecon on 2,668.”

He added: “As our current crop of Prep IV runners move up to the Monmouth School for Boys in September, their cross-country achievements will have been well and truly noticed and noted.

“We cannot fail to recognise the contribution made by Dr Huw Evans in putting together the school’s Gwent League teams for the previous two seasons and his continued interest in how the boys ran.”

Mr Dawes will now be standing down from his position and was presented with gifts by the school and by parents for his dedication, hard work and commitment in his role as team manager.