The South Wales Winter League made its regular sortie over the border into Herefordshire for another running of Hanneke van der Werf’s Longtown race. The midpoint of the race is right on the Anglo-Cymru border on the Offa’s Dyke path atop the crest of the easternmost ridge of the Black Mountains.
A small bunch contested the first mile of hilly road to the wooden staircase leading to the open mountain. From the top of the staircase Hugh Aggleton slipped the bunch’s bonds and led the charge thereafter. There was serious mud most of the way, and although the route had been copiously flagged, there were quite a few diversions off the straight and narrow on the descent, presumably caused by eyes cast down and concentrating on safe footfall.
Series leader Matt Collins tried vainly to recover Hugh’s lead, but he and third-placer Sean Taylor could make no impression. With two wins apiece in the first four races of the series, Sally Wilder and Emma Hitchens continued their rivalry. Emma led the way to the summit, but had to yield to Sally’s sharper descending skills. Vanessa Lawson eventually separated them further down the descent. “Sally usually outruns me coming down,” explained Emma, “and I didn’t help myself by missing a flag and putting in some more distance before the finish.”

DAY ON THE BARE MOUNTAIN
Talybont resident Les Williams chose a sharp, bright day to introduce his new South Wales Winter League race. Starting and finishing on Talybont dam wall, Tor y Foel offers plenty of flat running along the ancient dram road as well as the steep climb and descent to and from the bare mountain’s summit.
Gareth Hurst took out the early running along the dram road and through the foothills with Ben Moon and Ian Cait in his wake. Ben nosed in front at the start of the steep bit and stayed there despite a tumble on the iciest and boggiest stretch of the descent. “My first ever win” reported Ben over hot tea and biscuits back at HQ. “I’ve been in Norfolk the last three months, so haven’t done much mountain training lately!”
Emma Hitchens is racing sparingly so far this season, but followed up her decisive Sugar Loaf win with another good performance, and according to eye witnesses was the only combatant to run the steeper slopes. Ever reliable Vanessa Lawson took second with another reliable Alice Bedwell right on her tail.
Dick Finch 16-01-12

Two South Wales running clubs swarmed all over the Kymin Winter Race and supplied almost two thirds of the 110 starters. Les Croupiers and Chepstow Harriers came up to Monmouth eager for points in their club championships. But ironically unattached runners nabbed the first two places, though Chepstow did supply the women’s winner and three of the age category leaders.
At the front Sean Taylor had a good tussle with Huw Evans and finally passed him as they emerged from the woods a few hundred yards from the finish.
Chepstow women took the first four places: Niki Morgan pipping Jane Horler by just 11 seconds.
The men’s team prize also went to Chepstow , with age cat. trophies claimed by the club’s Steve Caldwell, Laurie Carter and Neil Grant.

On a blustery but warm day, in complete contrast to the icy cold of the last two years, a record 52 runners galloped down the slopes of Moel Famau from the Jubilee Tower. Reputations count for nothing in an event like this and various downhill fliers revealed impressive descending speed and technique as big guns fell by the wayside. Despite the double handicap of being dressed as Father Christmas and running into a gale force headwind, Adam Peers knocked over a minute off the men's record to descend to the Goldie in an astonishing time of 10.24. And despite me telling her at the prizegiving that she was just outside the ladies' record, Amy Jones was in fact inside it with a very strong new ladies' best time of 13.55. Batman and Robin (aka Rob Butler and Maxine Brockley) declined using their superpowers to any significant effect and were happy to amble down comfortably, taking in the applause of the surprising numbers of spectators en route. An assortment of Clwydian Range Runners demonstrated their local knowledge to good effect and there was quite a Merseyside feel this year with great support from Pensby Runners and Liverpool Harriers.
Martin Cortvriend

A glorious, crisp and snowy sunday saw 57 runners glide around the 3 peaks course. The honours took by Tim Davies and Andrea Roberts respectively on the day, and a very jolly time was had by all. I may decide to keep the race on this weekend again next year.It was certainly bitterly cold ontop of Corndon, but it was snug and amiable in the Miners Arms for afters. All my thanks go to runners and helpers on a smashing day out. Regards Paul B.

First Lady ...Helen Bennett

Matt Collins’ annus mirabilis continued with this third consecutive win in the South Wales Winter League, though Chepstow’s Paul Murrin was neck-and-neck with him at the summit. After a fourth and two seconds in the last three years on the Blorenge, Paul is hoping that his continuing improvement will see him crossing the line at Llanfoist parish church as winner in 2012.
Perhaps Helen Bennett’s persistence will be Mr M’s inspiration. After eight years of trying, she finally came good and won the women’s race by 33 seconds from Sally Wilder, with first 40 year-old Anne-Marie Harris a further minute and a half back.
First male 40 y-o was Gareth Hurst, and other age category chocolate Santa winners included come-back girl Sharon Woods, Richard Everson, Les Williams and Rob West.
The post race refreshments get better every year, and organiser Jess Taylor is promising hot food next year!
Dick Finch 28/11/11

A beautiful autumn day in the Ceiriog valley brought a record number of entrants, from all over the country, to the 3rd ‘Ceiriog Canter’ fell run on 15th October 2011. Having over come initial organisational difficulties that had hampered previous years, the 2011 event ran very smoothly indeed, with everyone running the same route! Nigel and Andrea Rowlands of the Clwydian Range Runners and Eryri Harriers described the route as, “a tough and challenging course with plenty of marshals to keep us all on track!”

A new course record was set by Jon Bowie of Trefonen, Oswestry, and a member of the Trismart club. He completed the run in a very impressive 46.44m! This was approximately 2.30m ahead of second place runner Sam Roberts, who was the category winner for the under 23 males. Andrea Rowlands also established a new course record for the women, completing the course in a challenging 52.47m. For a full list of results and photographs for the 2011 ‘Ceiriog Canter’ go to www.canolfanceiriog.org

The scenic 10.7 km fell run started at the Canolfan Ceiriog Centre which is in Glyn Ceiriog, near Llangollen. The route climbed up from the village onto the moors, taking in spectacular views from the top of Y Foel (358 meters, over 1100 feet above the village). Due to a dry summer the majority of the fell was hard under foot which made for excellent running conditions. The course returned to the village, via a steep forest track, where a warm welcome awaited each runner as they triumphantly crossed the line. Other than a few reports of gorse prickles, there was only one individual injured, Naithan Keeping from Birmingham, and even he managed to walk gallantly back to the finish! Beverages and homemade cake were on sale at the centre to replace spent energy!

The event was wholly reliant upon the generosity and hard work of the sponsors and marshals respectively, to whom we owe a great deal of thanks. We worked together as an excellent team to develop an event that was both slick and enjoyable! As a result, we are looking forward to next years ‘Ceiriog Canter’, when we also hope to run a juniors event, making it a great family day out in a stunning valley, so look out for next years date for your diary!

It was a glorious sunny day for the race this year. However, the good visibility did not stop a number of runners going astray! Perhaps, they need to sign up for the WFRA Navigation Course on 20th November.