Sian Jones and Marinus Petersen took victories at the annual Pembrokeshire half-marathon and 10k races in Dale on Sunday.
 
Organised by the Pembrokeshire Tri Club, mercifully there was no sign of the inclement weather that saw the event cancelled in 2024, with hundreds of runners instead treated to sunshine and calm conditions when things got underway at 9am.
 
Amid large crowds along the roads, the courses were marshalled by volunteers from Greenacres Rescue, with the event raising £500 for the charity.
 
In the half-marathon it was female runner Jones who stormed home in 1:25:58, more than two minutes ahead of second placed Ben Dare.
 
His time of 1:27:26 was just enough to hold off third placed Joseph Cooke (1:27:29),  but it wasn't just about the lead competitors as 73 entrants made it to the finish line outside Coronation Hall, having headed up to the lighthouse and then around the peninsula to complete the 13.1-mile route.
 
The 10k got underway minutes after the longer race, again incorporating the famous Dale hill to the lighthouse, and it was Marinus Petersen who dominated the field in a course record time of 35:25. Pembrokeshire Harrier Martin Jones was next in 38:46, and Jason Cole third in 39:43.
 
Winners speak after superb displays
 
"I don't like looking at a course beforehand as I don't like to pre-empt anything," Jones told Pembrokeshire Sport afterwards.
 
"Huge thank you to Gary, my coach from Peak Performance, who gives me the motivation when I need it. Thank you to everyone who ran this event today and also to Greenacres, an amazing charity who supplied the volunteers."
 
New record holder Petersen said: "I went off quite fast and went up the hill, I was careful coming down it but had something in reserve for the finish. I wasn't sure how to pace it beforehand but thankfully it came off."
 
Half-marathon results (top 10):
1: Sian Jones (TROTs), 1:25:58.
2: Ben Dare (Pembrokeshire Tri), 1:27:26
3: Joseph Cooke, 1:27:29.
4: Andy Holcroft (Pembrokeshire Harriers), 1:30:22.
5: Alex Poole, 1:32:37.
6: Paul Williams (Aberystwyth AC), 1:33:02.
7: Mike Harrison (Penarth and Dinas), 1:34:39.
8: Terry Francis, 1:36:16.
9: Stuart Crees (Les Croupiers RC), 1:36:52.
10: Milos Pechtor, 1:37:05:44.
 
10K results (top 10):
1: Marinus Petersen, 35:25.
2: Martin Jones (Pembrokeshire Harriers), 38:46.
3: Jason Cole (Pembrokeshire Tri), 39:43.
4: Jamie Lee, 39:59.
5: Ieuan Rose, 40:06.
6: Jonathan Payman (TROTs), 42:43.
7: Huw Cooke, 43:32.
8: Fraser Watson, 43:52.
9: Frankie Parton, 44:44.
10: Zach Evans, 46:07.






 
Images by Julia Barker