PHOTOS:
Gareth running in the London Marathon
Gareth as an assistant referee alongside Phil Gale and Charles Davies

 

 
Gareth Elliott is best known to the Pembrokeshire sporting fraternity as a football referee but he is also a more than useful runner who competes regularly for the Pembrokeshire Harriers - and had as his major challenge this year the London Marathon.
 
He has been working very hard because he is aiming for a challenging finish time of three hours ten minutes, which would be a new personal best for a distance which he has already covered eight times, seven in the Dublin Marathon and one in Cardiff. It might have been one more but when Gareth took part in the same event in Llanelli he was going really well until the 19-mile mark and he suffered a calf muscle injury which he tried to battle but eventually had to retire.
 
So he knows the value of pacing himself and has trained well for several months. He has been working at 'tempo' runs every Thursday evening at the Harriers' track, which involves three sets of12 laps and allows him to build a rhythm and increase his speed. He also trained at the Harriers on Monday evening and on Wednesday went on his long run, building up from ten miles to a longest of 21 miles before the big day.
 

London here we come

 
Then it was off to London on the train with his father Bob, another experienced marathon runner, and an overnight stop at the Holiday Inn Express at Heathrow. It was followed by a trek across London on the special bus provided so that he could be at the start line by 8.30am on the Sunday morning. There was also the chance to bump into old friends from St Clears Trots and Sarn Helen Runners, as well as seven other runners from the Harriers that included Dave O'Neill, Tara Worrall and John Gardener.
 
Gareth's previous PB is three hours, 17 minutes, 30 seconds in Dublin last year and he has also done well in local road races over 5 and 10ks at venues like Fishguard, Haverfordwest, Cardigan and St Davids alongside winning an 8k run in Crymych.
"It was a very hilly course, which suited my stamina," admitted Gareth, "and what was doubly nice was that I made lots of new friends at the finish, which always happens."
 

Great coaching at the Harriers

 
"I have also run for the Harriers and in last year's West Wales Championships I achieved personal bests in both the 3,000 and 5,000 metres, so I was really chuffed with that.
"I was also lucky to have great coaches in Lawrence Worth and Charles Wood, who always really encouraged me; and my pals at the Harriers are also brilliant in training at STP School track.”
He also had total support from his family because as well as his dad going along with him he receives encouragement from mum Anne and brother Tim, who is the Army but plays football for Prendergast Villa when he's home from his base in Abingdon.
 

Taking up the whistle with Pembrokeshire Referees

 
Gareth also played football for the Villa and Haverfordwest County but it was Steve John, then coaching the Bluebirds' Pembrokeshire League side, who suggested he might enjoy refereeing - and Gareth took the refs' course, held by Pedr McMullen, alongside Sean O'Connor (Goodwick), Gary Davies and Tony Davey (Herbrandston), Stuart and Daniel McNiffe (Hundleton).
 
"I started out as a Grade Eight and my first match was between Letterston 2nds and Neyland 2nds. I was a bit nervous but it went OK and I still enjoy being part of the game. I've been reffing for eight years now and so far I've had the under 12 and under 14 finals - and been on the line for Dai Badger in the Third Division Final between Goodwick 2nds and Haverfordwest Cricket Club.
 
"I was also assistant to Dai, with Tom Bevan, for the McWhirter Cup Final between Ely Rangers and West End at Afan Lido - and a couple of weeks ago I was with Charles Davies and Phil Gale for this season's McWhirter Cup semi-final between Haverfordwest County and Cambrian & Clydach.”
 

Gaining in experience

 
Gareth has also been refereeing first division matches, the latest between West Dragons and St Clears, and as well as being on the line for Welsh League games took charge of the Division Two match between Garden Village and West End.
"I was also fast tracked with Tom Bevan and had top ref Mark Whitby as my mentor - and he was terrific in helping me to learn more about being in the middle. My running helped with the fitness tests and I have been assessed this season, by Dai Rees (Haverfordwest) and Gary Hughes (Swansea), and been pleased with my marks.
"All I want to do is just keep improving and enjoying being involved in football as a referee, where I have so many friends who I have made through the game.”
 

Back on the running front

 
Back on the running front, Gareth has been involved for a long time since he set off with the Pembrokeshire Harriers when he was eight years old and always did well at cross-country running at Barn Street School. From there he competed in the county cross country for STP School and has been involved with the Harriers ever since, other than for a few short breaks.
He has always been willing to help the Harriers and is full of praise for all that they do for him.
"I have been very lucky to have had so much fun out of my running and will keep on going for as long as I can. I'm 31 now so I have plenty of marathons left in me if I can stay fit.”
 
**Stop press: Gareth completed the London Marathon in 3 hours, 17 minutes and 4 seconds, shaving 26 seconds off his previous best time. He had a great time and during the run he passed former England footballer Michael Owen, paralympian Danny Crates and ex-Emmerdale actor Tony Wilkenshaw, so well done Gareth Elliott!