Matthew Rees and Rachel Davies made it a Swansea Harriers double in the 2019 Port Talbot Half Marathon.
One of Wales’ toughest half-marathon routes from Glyncorrwg down the Afan Valley to Rhyslyn and then back up to Glyncorrwg attracted a record field of almost 600 runners and organisers and volunteers worked through the night to ensure the race went ahead after some horrendous weather conditions.
Rees showed his quality coming home in an impressive 1:13:25 to take the honours ahead of 2018 winner Simon Lewis from Pontypridd Roadents in 1:15:51 and Port Talbot Harriers’ James Hockin, second last year, rounding out the podium in 1:17:23.
Davies, defending the title she won last year, was in a class of her own in the women’s race, breaking the tape in 1:27:05, more than two minutes ahead of runner-up Sioned Howells from Amman Valley Harriers in 1:29:17. A great day for Swansea Harriers saw Llinos Jones, second behind Davies in 2018, take the third step on the podium in 1:30:49.
“It was a great day and huge thanks have to go to all the volunteers who ensured things went ahead smoothly after the terrible weather conditions we’ve had to battle against this year,” said race director Darren Vaughan.
