Family affair for ‘chocoholics’

Brother and sister Luke and Heidi Davies were the toast of Mid Wales as they each won their second successive Good Friday Chocoholics 5k organised by Maldwyn Harriers.

The Llandrindod teenage siblings, members of the Brecon club, both improved on their times from last year.

In dry conditions, if not as warm and sunny as in previous years, Luke was overall race winner in a time of 16:42 over the twisting and undulating out-and-back course, ahead of Maldwyn's international pair Tim Davies (16:54) and Joseph Crutchley (17:04).

Heidi, who placed fifth overall, won the women's event in 17:47 ahead of fellow Llandrindod woman Ffion Price (Cardiff) in 18:50 and Birchfield Harrier Amanda Weight-Smith (19:01).

To cap a hugely successful day for the Davies family, dad Andi was the first man over 45 to finish while mum Nicola achieved the same distinction in the women's over 45 category. Both parents represent Bristol club Thornbury.

For the local club Martin Copus recorded a time of 17:53 to claim his second PB inside a month and won the Men's Senior category, while Haydn Jones (M50); Ed Davies (M55); Shannon Walker (FU20); Jacqui Loxam (F35) and Rachel Butler (F50) were all age group winners.

The race formed part of Maldwyn Harriers' 2015 Club Championships. All prize winners were awarded Easter eggs and all finishers in both races received chocolate.

Earlier in the fun run, in which the young competitors negotiated up to four laps of the Maldwyn track, Connor Owen and Harvey Gill ensured a Maldwyn one-two in the boys' race while Brecon's Alex Griffiths prevailed over Nia Rowlands to finish as the first girl.

“We were thrilled to have had 110 athletes compete in the main race and 35 youngsters (and a few adults) take part in the fun run,” said a club spokesman: "The standard of running in both races was excellent. Maldwyn Harriers would like to thank not just the athletes, supporters, race organisers and officials but also Garth Owen Fish Bar, Newtown, who were kind enough to sponsor the event this year.”

Maldwyn Harriers' next summer race series fixture will be the Newtown 10k on May 3, starting from Latham Park.

Full results can be found here: http://www.maldwynharriers.org.uk/results/2015/choc2015.pdf

PICTURE (by Ian Fraser): Chocoholics 5k winners Heidi and Luke Davies outside event sponsors Garth Owen Fish Bar