Records were smashed at the biggest ever ABP Newport Marathon Festival on Sunday.
New women’s course records were set across the marathon, half marathon and 10K, with a new best time also set in the men’s half.
It was the event’s largest yet with 10,000 runners signed up across all three distances including the junior races.
Wales’ Beth Kidger, who is the fifth fastest Welsh Athlete of all-time for the 10K, took this year’s title and set a new course record with a time of 32:54.
Ronnie Richmond also came back to defend his title in the men’s half marathon, beating his time for last year to set a new course record for 2025.
MARATHON
The marathon race is renowned for its flat and fast nature and saw Ealing Eagles’ Melissah Gibson take the women’s crown and set a new course record with a time of 02:38:31 – smashing the previous record set by Rebecca Gallop by over 5 minutes.
She said: “Today’s been amazing. I got injured over March so I wasn’t too sure what to expect and even if I’d make it today, so just to line up was awesome.
“It’s been amazing day with great crowds. I really love it here – it’s my third time running in Newport and it was really nice to be running with the half marathon runners too. This is one of my favourites so I’ll definitely be back.
“It’s incredible to have set the new course record. Rebecca’s my friend and we had a great battle a few years ago. I’m now getting ready for Manchester in two weeks and Leeds in four.”
Kelly Barnett (Daventry AAC) came in second (02:56:52) and Naomi Flanagan (Torbay Triathlon Club) took third place with a time of 02:59:44.
In the men’s race it was Shrewsbury AC’s Daniel Husbands who took the top spot. It was the third time he took on the marathon distance and he secured a PB with a time of 02:27:57.
He said: “I can’t believe it, it’s just amazing. There were a lot of country lanes, and it was nice and flat. I’ve done a lot of training on the hills but because the course was so flat it was easy to get the consistency in. The last couple of weeks of my training were a little difficult as I’ve got a bit of plantar fasciitis, I felt it about halfway but managed to keep going.”
Sam Humphrey (Penarth & Dinas Runners) took second (02:32:17) and Charlie Cook (Runhead AC) came in third (02:32:34).
HALF MARATHON
It was the second year of the half marathon distance and after racing through a new city centre loop taking in sights including Newport Market and the historic castle and heading out onto the track at Newport’s International Sport Village, the route took runners through the Gwent Levels before a sprint to the finish line on Usk Way.
It was a fast day for the half marathon runners with new course records set in both the women’s and men’s races.
Herne Hill Harriers’ Grace Leyland took the crown from Lizzie Dimond setting a new course record in 01:17:53. She was followed by Kendall AC’s Rebecca Robinson (01:19:53) and Kate Roberts (01:21:27) from Swansea Harriers.
Grace said: “It was a hard race but really fun. I wasn’t expecting to come in first, I’ve been trying to get in under 01:18:00 for my last four attempts in the distance, but I wasn’t expecting to come anywhere near that today and to set the new course record is really exciting, I’ve never done anything like that before. I was running on my own for quite a lot of the race but as I was coming back into the city centre there was a lot of atmosphere, it was really good.”
Ronnie Richmond from Bideford AC once again took the title in the men’s half. He set the course record last year with a time of 01:07:15 but smashed it this year coming in at 01:06:54.
He said: “It’s really enjoyable coming to Newport and racing. I’ve done the 10K and obviously the half before. The conditions were really good and there was great support out there as always, it was really enjoyable. It’s a great privilege to win again this year. To come back to any race and defend your title is an honour, so I’m really happy about that. I’m really happy with my time and how I ran it.”
Tom Morton from Newquay & Par (01:08:16) took second and Cornwall AC’s Samuel Goodchild came in third (01:08:33).
10K
The 10K race kickstarted the Run 4 Wales 10K Series which also includes the Barry Island 10K in June, Brecon Carreg Porthcawl 10K in July and the Brecon Carreg CDF 10K in September.
Wales’ Beth Kidger, who is the fifth fastest Welsh Athlete of all-time for the 10K, took this year’s title and set a new course record with a time of 32:54.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games competitor said: “It was good. It was harder than I thought it would be but it’s a good course. The atmosphere was really good and there was a lot of people cheering along the way which was good. I was hoping to go a little bit faster but I got a little separated from the rest of the group, so I feel like it was a good run out.”
In the men’s race Bournemouth AC’s Abdinasir Elmi took the crown with a time of 31:17. Previous Run 4 Wales 10K serial winner, Omar Ahmed (Birchfield Harriers), who still holds the course record for this event (28:35) took second place for 2025 with a time of 31:24.
RESULTS
Men’s Marathon
1. Daniel Husbands (02:27:57)
2. Sam Humphrey (02:32:17)
3. Charlie Cook (02:32:34)
4. James Elgar (02:32:58)
5. Grant Metcaf (02:34:06)
Women’s Marathon
1. Melissah Gibson (02:38:31)
2. Kelly Barnett (02:56:52)
3. Naomi Flanagan (02:59:44)
4. Karla Borland (03:00:37)
5. Bronwen Hinton (03:06:39)
Wheelchair Marathon
1. Ron Price (02:49:21)
Men’s Half Marathon
1. Ronnie Richmond (01:06:54)
2. Tom Morton (01:08:16)
3. Samuel Goodchild (01:08:33)
4. Malachi Cashmore (01:10:06)
5. Daniel Costello (01:13:06)
Women’s Half Marathon
1. Grace Leyland (01:17:53)
2. Rebecca Robinson (01:19:53)
3. Kate Roberts (01:21:27)
4. Liz Dimond (01:22:41)
5. Kayleigh Parker (01:26:59)
Men’s 10K
1. Abdinasir Elmi (31:17)
2. Omar Ahmed (31:24)
3. Liam White (31:43)
4. Phil Matthews (31:48)
5. Sam Griffiths (32:00)
Women’s 10K
1. Beth Kidger (32:54)
2. Deborah Bruce (35:30)
3. Samantha Antell (35:38)
4. Kayley Price (35:39)
5. Lauren Cooper (36:17)
Wheelchair 10K
1. Owain Terrell (32:53)
2. Gareth Picken (44:26)