9 am 4th MARCH 2012

Llanelli  Half a BIG Hit ...

Well done and thank you to all who helped and took part in the 7th Llanelli Waterside Half Marathon. This race continues to be Carmarthenshire’s premier mass-participation running event. With almost 2,500 entrants the poor weather kept the number of those who actually ran lower than hoped for. Almost 1,600 hardy and wonderful runners and thousand more spectators braved the weather and travelled from across the UK and Europe to take part in and watch this fantastic and hugely successful Llanelli event.

In wet and very windy conditions, the quality field of runners still managed to post some excellent times. In a very competitive finish for the men, regular runner of HBA events, Mark Roberts of Swansea Harriers finished in a fantastic time of 1hr 11mins 1sec. Mark was closely followed by Stephen Patterson of Cardiff based running club Les Croupiers in a time of 1hr 11mins 6secs. In third was Steve Rees of Port Talbot Harriers in a time of 1hr 11mins 50secs.

In the female category Shan Roberts of TROTS finished first with a superb time of 1hr 23mins 56 secs. Second home for the women was Julie Poole from Clevedon AC in 1hr 27mins 27secs and third was Laura Jones in 1hr 27mins 36secs.

There was success all the way through the field of runners, with many posting PB’s. Many others were triumphant by completing their very first half marathon. HBA events are attracting runners from far afield including Henk Manden from the Netherlands and Jose Fernandz, Fernando Esteban and Luis Corripio from Spain

These events could not take place without support from many. HBA would like to thank all those involved in making it possible including the Llanelli Star, Carmarthenshire County Council, the Coastal Park Management, Welsh Athletics, the Scarlets the Rob Davies Gym, AcuNat, Alleviate Physiotherapy, Dave Tucker, St John Ambulance, Llangennech Scouts, Llanelli Police, Llanelli Ramblers, 3M’s Road Runners, College Sir Gar, Sanshirokwai Dojo and family and friends.

To continue with the success of this HBA event, the 2013 Llanelli Waterside Half Marathon will start and finish at the Scarlets Stadium. HBA is proud to work with the Scarlets and Carmarthenshire County Council to take its big events to the next level. The move also has the full support of Welsh Athletics. The half marathon ... the first HBA event to move to the stadium, is already the third largest running event in Wales, with only the Cardiff Half Marathon and the Swansea Bay 10k having greater numbers of participants.

With the help of the Scarlets, HBA wants this Llanelli and community event to become bigger and better, with a far higher level of quality for the participant to experience. There will be a new and exciting course layout, that will showcase the best of Llanelli and especially it’s Waterside. Llanelli's rapidly growing leisure and tourism industry and other local trade, already gets a significant financial boost from those travelling to the region, from across the UK and Europe to take part in HBA events. Basing them at the stadium will greatly enhance this economic benefit.

9 am 6th MARCH 2011

Another perfect event in Llanelli  ...

On a cool Sunday morning, the 6th Llanelli Waterside Half Marathon was a huge success, with thousands of runners and supporters from across the UK visiting Llanelli to take part in and support one of the best events in Wales. The event again saw support from Carmarthenshire County Council, the Llanelli Star, Welsh Athletics, Tri-Exercise and the Millennium Coastal Park Management.

The half marathon was organised and hosted by Human Being Active and is part of a highly popular series of sporting events. Through the events, HBA and their participants are able to raise thousands of pounds each year for national and local charities and other worthy causes in Carmarthenshire. Additionally, this and other HBA events continue to provide a huge boost to the local economy. 

The event caters for all standards of runner and power walker and is set in the majestic beauty of the Millennium Coastal Park; there is no other place that can match what Llanelli has to offer.

Rosie Swale Pope MBE the world famous adventurer started the event and then joined the masses to take part herself. One of Wales’s top runners and regular HBA participants,  Richie Gardiner of Aberdare Athletic again proved too strong for the competition and finished first in a fantastic time of 1 hour 9 minutes and 12 seconds. David Coales of Bath AC followed Richie home in a time of 1 hour 11 minutes and 28 seconds and in third place with a time of 1 hour 12 minutes and 2 seconds was Steve Davies of Swansea Harriers.  

The first female to cross the finish line at a blistering pace was Ann Thomas of TROTS in a time of 1 hour 22 minutes and 58 seconds. Gemma Sharp of Arena 80 followed in a time of 1 hour 24 minutes and 19 seconds and in third place was Michelle Cole of local running club 3M’s Gorseinon Road Runners in a time of 1 hour 26 minutes and 42 seconds.

The success was also about the masses and their supporters who were cheering their loved ones all along the route. The runners set themselves personal goals and for many it was all about raising as much funds as possible for the charities they support. Many participants commented on the superb organisation and beautiful scenery and are looking forward to the many other HBA events on the calendar.

Tim Gasser – Director of Human Being Active ...

HBA wishes to thank all the help the event has received from the Llanelli Star, Carmarthenshire County Council, Welsh Athletics, the Millennium Coastal Park Management and Tri Exercise.

Also a huge thanks goes to the small army of volunteers that helped make the day happen to include teams from – St John Ambulance, the United Families Support Group,  Llangennech Scouts, Pontyberem Junior RFC, 3M’s Gorseinon Road Runners and the Sanshirokwai Judo Club.

Without this valuable support these kinds of events would not be possible”.