What could only be described as a traditional farmland course was no place for the faint hearted as Brecon AC travelled to Taunton's Hestercombe Gardens for round 3 of the Gwent Cross Country League. On the bus down there was discussion about why the courses were unusually short but it soon became apparent. Hilly, soggy or tufty underfoot and windy this new course required both physical and mental strength. First away unusually were the senior women and club secretary Satu Haikala had a solid race, improving to 25th and consolidating her league position in the F40 section. U23 Leigh Barker was struggling with a hacking cough but showed great courage to complete and her 73rd place was out of at least 120 finishers. With just the two competitors though Brecon AC's senior ladies are in grave danger of relegation from Division 1 where they have been for some years.

In the U17/20 mens race Ollie Cayliss had a strong race over his shorter than usual course of approximately 5400m and came in 18th while both of the U11 competitors also ran strongly with Megan Tucker placing 12th in the girls race and Louie Norton 15th in the boys race. The senior mens team challenge will have fizzled out after a depleted team turnout but Austin Davies moved to the top of the league after another improved performance as he came home in 3rd. Runaway winner Ben Tickner is a current GB international and probably 20 years younger than Austin and then it was former Brecon AC junior Rhodri Buffett, unfortunately currently running for his university, before Austin who had himself opened up a large gap on the chasing pack. Harry Matthews had another strong run in 30th place which will move him further up the league rankings while further back Pete Sowerby (120th) and Derek Osborne (192nd) did their best to contribute points to the cause by finishing as high up in the race of approximately 250 starters as possible. To finish off the day the small team turned out to support the Price twins in the U17/20 age group and both girls did not disappoint, current league leader Ffion coming in 3rd (despite losing a shoe with half a mile to go) and Rhian 10th.