Quemerford set the regional standard as Britain’s clubs book their national places

Fifteen regional championships, 52 events in each programme and one clear objective: secure a place at the national finals.

Across Britain and Northern Ireland, established clubs defended their territory, emerging teams measured themselves against stronger opposition and several qualifying battles remained alive until the last points were added. The performances had not been presented in finishing order, but once every event was examined and the regional totals were assembled, the shape of the championships became clear.

Quemerford Harriers produced the highest club total of the entire regional round, scoring 46,065 points to win the South West of England. Weymouth Bay Sharks followed with 44,272, while Bumble Bees AC dominated North Wales with 42,968.

The automatic qualifiers were joined by four clubs who secured their places through the best-20-points route: Heworth Harriers, Filham Excelsior, Risca Harriers AAC and Brc.

South West: Quemerford survive a fierce Sharks challenge

No regional contest produced a higher-scoring winner than the battle in the South West of England.

Quemerford Harriers emerged on top with 46,065 points, but Weymouth Bay Sharks pushed them throughout and finished only 1,793 points behind on 44,272. Both clubs qualified automatically, while Filham Excelsior’s 34,437 earned a best-20-points place. Isca Harriers finished fourth with 18,786.

Quemerford and Weymouth divided the individual events almost evenly. The Sharks claimed 27 regional victories, with Quemerford taking 24 and Filham Excelsior one.

Logan McPherson gave Quemerford one of their strongest performances with 50:18.82 in the men’s 10-kilometre walk, while Mia McLeish completed the women’s 5,000 metres in 16:52.09. Their combined-event strength was equally important: Ryan Redmond accumulated 4,492 points in the men’s pentathlon and Libby Maxwell scored 3,989 in the women’s event.

Weymouth answered through speed and endurance. Bastien Gabriel ran 1:00.93 in the men’s 400 metres hurdles, Renato Campos clocked 23.24 over 200 metres and Alex Cramb amassed 7,734 points in the decathlon. Mônica Silveira’s 5,585-point heptathlon also played a major part in keeping the Sharks within reach of the title.

Quemerford ultimately prevailed, but the South West produced two of the strongest teams in the country and a third national qualifier in Filham Excelsior.

North Wales: Bumble Bees complete a clean sweep

Bumble Bees AC left no doubt about the balance of power in North Wales.

Their 42,968-point total carried them comfortably into the national finals, ahead of Rhyl Runners on 18,613. More strikingly, Bumble Bees recorded the leading regional performance in all 52 events.

Cerys Boyack ran 58.07 in the women’s 400 metres, while Spencer Easton completed the men’s 1,500 metres in 4:05.20. Tilly McWilliam added a strong endurance contribution with 1:54:21.53 in the women’s 20-kilometre walk.

The club’s combined-event athletes strengthened an already decisive advantage. Craig Rougvie scored 7,669 points in the decathlon, Layla McIlvenny totalled 5,047 in the heptathlon, Ellie Menzies scored 3,765 in the women’s pentathlon and Marc Leslie accumulated 3,600 in the men’s event.

Rhyl’s first regional campaign brought valuable experience, but Bumble Bees controlled the championship from one end of the programme to the other.

South East: Reading lead three clubs into the finals

The South East of England produced both depth and variety, with three clubs claiming automatic qualification.

Reading Palm Faces won with 40,937 points, ahead of Wacky Racers on 35,726 and Budd Park Darts on 31,672. Reading led 35 of the 52 events, with Wacky Racers claiming nine regional victories and Budd Park eight.

Janelle Sng’s 12.57 in the women’s 100 metres was among Reading’s sharpest track performances. Sebastian Dickson delivered 8,081 points in the decathlon and Hollie Ancell added 5,256 in the heptathlon, giving the champions a formidable base in the combined events.

Wacky Racers found their strongest moments through Daniil Yurievskij’s 2:06.54 in the men’s 800 metres and Darren Bone’s 53:45.85 in the 10-kilometre walk.

Budd Park Darts secured their own qualifying place with important wins led by Shaun Peters, who ran 1:03.53 in the men’s 400 metres hurdles, and Franco Branatelli, whose men’s pentathlon total reached 3,868 points.

Reading took the regional crown, but the South East will arrive at the national competition with three distinct challengers.

East Scotland: Iron Road edge Caledonian

The East Scotland championship delivered one of the closest team contests of the regional round.

Iron Road Runners won their home region with 40,697 points, only 1,004 clear of Caledonian’s 39,693. Both qualified automatically.

Iron Road won 28 regional events to Caledonian’s 24, reflecting how evenly the programme was divided.

The champions drew heavily on their walkers and combined-event athletes. Madeleine Davidson completed the women’s 20-kilometre walk in 1:51:37.10, while Jamie McGeechan covered the men’s 50 kilometres in 4:10:02.68. Kai McAuliffe’s 8,374-point decathlon was one of the finest combined-event totals of the entire regional programme, and Dylan Suter contributed 3,976 in the men’s pentathlon.

Caledonian’s response came through athletes such as Noah Roddie, who ran 1:02.36 in the men’s 400 metres hurdles. Ellie McColl’s 5,968-point heptathlon and Caitlin Roberts’ 3,661 in the women’s pentathlon ensured Iron Road could never relax.

The regional title went to Iron Road, but Caledonian remained close enough to make the rematch at national level especially intriguing.

South Wales: Pineapple take control, Risca qualify

Pineapple AC won South Wales with 40,829 points, finishing ahead of Risca Harriers AAC on 34,313 and Carmarthen Harriers on 26,091.

Pineapple won 44 of the 52 regional events. Risca claimed the remaining eight and, crucially, accumulated enough points to qualify through the best-20 route.