Sports students’ medal win
Coleg Sir Gâr students have achieved success in CollegesWales’ first ever multisport festival which was organised for UK further education colleges.
Building on the success and popularity of Welsh world-class cyclist Geraint Thomas, the event is aimed at competitive athletes as well as beginners looking to try multisport for the first time.
Forming a new regional partnership, the event was organised by Coleg Sir Gâr, Carmarthenshire County Council, Welsh Triathlon, Welsh Cycling and AoC Sport.
Students and staff at the college also played a significant part in supporting the event.
Following GO-TRI training by Welsh Triathlon, 22 Coleg Sir Gâr students were armed with new skills to manage 140 students taking part from across the UK in an official sporting event.
Held at Pembrey Country Park, students could choose from a race of 5km with a 20km bike ride followed by a 2.5km run, or a competitive 10km time-trial cycling race and beginners were encouraged with a race of 1km, a 4km bike ride and another 1km run.
Winning first place in the women’s duathlon was Coleg Sir Gâr sports performance and excellence student Lara Griffiths who completed the challenge in just over one hour and 20 minutes.
Taking the top spot in the men’s competition was Coleg Sir Gâr sports and exercise science student James Oulsnam who took a few seconds over one hour and five minutes.
Students Matthew Lloyd took fourth place, Coleg Sir Gâr William Davies took sixth and Luke Dunning took seventh place.
Rob Kirk, learning area programme leader for sports and exercise science at Coleg Sir Gâr said: “We were thrilled to support this event that was made possible by the innovative creation by Carmarthenshire County Council of our unique Closed Cycle Circuit at Pembrey.
“Conditions were challenging for the multisport activitiy that followed the official Sprint Duathlon format.
“We’re really proud of the achievements of our students and everyone who took part.
“It’s a great collaborative event aimed at increasing physical activity amongst 16 to 24 year-olds and we were thrilled to meet up with British athlete Liam Lloyd who studied sports and exercise science with us.”
Also supporting the event was British Army, Ramps Skate park, Bikeability and GBM Photography.
