*Pictured above - Master veteran Alan Davies may have set a new world record at the Swansea Bay 10k race.
Alan Davies set out to break a new M70 World Record at the Swansea Bay 10k...
Report by David Gibson.
The Swansea Bay 10k is a well-loved event that has been going nearly as long as the London Marathon, and the 2024 set of races held on Sunday 15th September was the 43rd edition.
Unlike last year which was wet, the weather this year was good for running with only a bit of a south westerly breeze working against the runners on the outward leg.
Whilst the 10k race is the headline element of the day, there are also other races encouraging all members of families to take part. These are a 1k for youngsters seven and under; a 1k for 8 to 11-year-olds, a 3k for older children, and a 10k wheelchair race, which was won by Owain Terrell of Disability Sports Wales in a time of 31:05.
The main 10k race saw Dewi Griffiths come home in a time of 28:31 marginally ahead of Kadar Omar. The first female runner was English International athlete Calli Hauger-Thackery of Hallamshire Harriers in a time of 31:57, comfortably ahead of Lauren Cooper of Western Tempo.
Star of the day.
However, the star of the day has to be veteran Alan Davies who set out with the clear intention of breaking the M70 Road 10k World Record. This he did in style (subject to ratification) with a fantastic time of 37:07, so bettering Belgium’s Eddy Vierendeels time of 37:12 and trouncing many of the Swansea 10k field much younger than his 72 years of age.
This World Record adds to his M70 Road 5k World Record (subject to ratification) set last month at the Tri-Hard Harriers 5k on the Bay, which also uses part of the Swansea Bay 10k course.
*The provisional Swansea Bay 10k Category winners are: - F35 – Calli Hauger-Thackery, F45 – Sian Stephen, F55 – Tracy Jenkins, FJ – Chloe Hartley-Green followed by her sister Sophie Hartley-Green only two seconds behind! FS – Lauren Cooper, M40 – Phillip Matthews, M50 – Lee Aherne, M60 – Ifan Lloyd, M70 - Alan Davies.