It’s been a fantastically busy and successful week for Brecon Athletic Club with four different major events spanning the range of ages and event disciplines covered by the club.

Last Tuesday saw the conclusion of the ever-popular Llanfrynach 3,4,5 mile road series. First run in 2004 the numbers are now consistently high which allows a generous prize list. The highest turnout was 172 for the 3-mile race with the inevitable slight drop off as the races get longer. On Tuesday there was another clear race win for Eric Apperley in 27.13 followed by a competitive scramble of five athletes, Brychan Price-Davies, Dominic Davies, Michael Holloway, Ed Gwynne-Harris and Chris Williams all within 11 seconds of each other. Donna Morris was the first lady finisher just seconds ahead of Llanfrynach’s own Katie Ironside.

When the overall series prizes were announced by race organiser Peter Sowerby the medals and vouchers and various other goodies were widely spread around many local clubs. First open male was unbeaten Eric Apperley followed by Ed Gwynne Harris and then James Jones.

First M35 was Michael Holloway ahead of Jon Evans and Izaak Duffy. Manny Trailor took the M40 title ahead of Nathan Williams and Bleddyn Williams. M45 Chris Williams from Aberdare was a clear winner of his own age group after mixing it with the youngsters each time. Kris Walters and Mark Williams took 2nd and 3rd. James Arnold from Pont-y-Pwl was the leading M50 with Richard Simpson and Jon Heissig taking the silver and bronze positions. Simon Cawthorn from Lliswerry was the over 55 champion with Geraint Evans 2nd and John Williams.

Michael Evans of Aberdare was a clear winner of the M60’s followed by Derek Osborne and Kevin Dunster. Brecon AC’s treasurer Mark Roberts won the M65 section ahead of Gron ‘the milk’ Davies while Welsh endurance running legend Ken Davies was the sole M70 to complete the series.

For the ladies, the U23 category was won by Glesni Powell (BAC) ahead of Freya Walters of ATG Tri Club. The 23-35 ‘open’ winner was Sian Jones of Parc Bryn Bach ahead of Marie Davies and Ellie Duffy while the F35 title went to Katie Ironside with Carys Thomas and Mel Sadie taking 2nd and 3rd. Donna Morris was a clear winner of the F40 section with Samantha Sinclair and Emma McWilliams taking the other medals. Regular supporter Wendy Price from Amman Valley won the F45 title ahead of Kelly Thomas and Libby Hyde. In the race to the F50 title it was Naomi Law who won from Kate Lancaster and then Rachel Griffiths. The F55 section was a close run race but Emma Bagshaw (BAD) won through from Lesley Johnston (Aberdare) and Claire Carro. BAC’s Denise Batsford was the F60 champion with Cilla Withers 2nd and Paula Price 3rd. Elizabeth Tindle of Hay took the F65 title from Sian Williams and Jane McLennan while another long time supporter Rose Thomas from Rhayader took the F70 award.

The mixed (2+2) team prizes went to Builth, Brecon and Aberdare and then the overall series cash prizes of £50, £30 and £20 were awarded to Eric Apperley, Chris Williams and Michael Holloway for the men and Donna Morris, Katie Ironside and Wendy Price for the ladies.

Brecon AC would like to thank all of the runners who supported the series but also, most importantly the multitude of helpers who make it possible by volunteering for the many background roles. A special mention also to the new management team of Elin Wozencraft and Amy McMillan who organised the junior 1.5 mile fun run on each occasion which saw record entries this year.

On Saturday morning Brecon’s Y Promenad parkrun celebrated its first birthday with a livelier than usual event featuring music, balloons and banners. This is a joint venture between Brecon AC and other local committed volunteers. Saturday’s event attracted 162 participants, many of whom are from ‘away’ and boost the local economy each weekend. This week saw three South Africans, two from New Zealand and a host of people from across England and Wales. Current statistics show that from the 52 events there have been 8009 finishes from 5539 finishers with an average finish time of 30.55 mins. 385 different people have volunteered with many different roles available and a core group of about 30 turning out very regularly. A great many participants acknowledge the fantastic support of the volunteers, not just in getting the event on every week but for their levels of vocal encouragement for those taking part. Although it took almost a year of planning before launching in June 2024 this has proved to be well worth the wait with a huge amount of positivity surrounding it. After Saturday’s event 22 of the regular volunteers celebrated with breakfast in The Clarence. If anyone else would like to get involved, please contact via the website or FB group page or turn up at 8.30am on a Saturday and make contact.

Later on Saturday a team of 19 Brecon AC juniors along with parents, coaches and team managers contested the 2nd West Wales Junior Athletics League fixture at Swansea. Although this was a much smaller turnout than for the home fixture the performances were very impressive leading to multiple mentions of Brecon AC by the commentator. With a bigger team for the final fixture the club can still finish highly placed in the nine-team league.

On the day there were wins for Martha Carter in the U15G discus (and 2nd in shot), Lola-Rose Russell in the U13G Javelin, Will Clarke in the U13B javelin and Alex Burgess in the U11B LJ (and 2nd 800m, 3rd Shot). Newcomer Rhys Williams claimed 2nd places in the U13B 800m and Long jump as well as 3rd in the 100m. Regan Christie-Rees bagged a pair of seconds in the U11B 75m and 150m. Alfie Mills was 3rd in the U13B 800m and Oliver Jones was 3rd at U13B javelin. Casidy Jones was 3rd in the U13G javelin. Anna Beharrell took 2nd place in the 800m and 300m both with personal bests while Belle Arthur also scored a personal best when finishing third in the 300m. Finally the U13B relay team secured 2nd place.

Very importantly, the youngsters who maybe didn’t get a top 3 placing but still contributed hugely to the team score were U11G Olivia Pietrus, Evie McMillan, Lili-Mai Phillips, Chloe Marlow-Jones, Eirwen Jones, Megan Williams, Michelle Wanga and U15B Will Davies who recorded a massive 800m pb. The next fixture is at Carmarthen on August 2nd.

Finally, possibly the biggest event of the weekend was the fantastic Castles Relay that took place early on Saturday morning until late on Sunday afternoon. A 20-stage event with stages from 7.7 miles to over 13 miles and 62 teams contesting it. Brecon AC’s lead organiser Michael Holloway and his support team did an excellent job to assemble a squad of 25 from which 20 runners were selected and a huge logistical challenge very capably sorted out. Some of our team stayed in North Wales on Friday night for their Saturday legs while others joined the fray as the race wove its way down through Wales. A great group of volunteers drawn from all areas of the club put on two watering stations at Cradoc and Pencelli which was over and above what was required. We also supplied the obligatory marshals to ensure runner safety.

First out for Brecon with an early morning 9.1-mile leg from Caernarfon to Penygroes was newcomer Dean Richards. Despite only having been running a year Dean finished in a very creditable 1.13.15 and 47thposition. A great start. Next up was a 10.1-mile stage from Penygroes to Criccieth and it was the turn of Cara Perfrement who recorded a great time of 1.25.53. For any athlete who doesn’t get to the end of the stage in under 9 and a half minute miling there is a dreaded time penalty… no danger of one of those for Cara or Dean though.

Leg 3 is the first of the mountain stages…these are highly contested with separate individual and cumulative awards. Team Captain Mike Holloway ran a great leg here with a 24th placing in a time of 1.14.36 which was remarkable given that it was 12.3 miles from Criccieth to Maentwrog. It was then the turn of club chair Annabel Harford to move the ‘baton’ on to Harlech and once again it was a great performance to cover 9.5 miles in 1.11.27. The next castle to be visited was Barmouth 9.6 miles away. Paul Evans was a late call up to the team, but he didn’t let the side down covering his distance in a very good 1.18.31 for 53rd place.

While all of this action was happening there was massive social media interaction with updates and pictures from the support team and a great deal of excitement generated.

Newcomer Rhys Lloyd was recruited relatively recently from the ranks of local park runners, and this was his BAC debut. He absolutely smashed it with a 25th place in 58.45 for a 9-mile leg from Barmouth to Dolgellau. Stage 7 is the second of the mountain stages and so fell runner Andy May was deemed to be the man to conquer this one. He certainly did that…19th place and a time of 1.05.05 for a 10.1-mile leg to Dinas Mawddwy.

The 10.8-mile stage to Foel was taken on by another relative newcomer Nick Lyons who came into the club via the Happy Feet social group. Nick ran another excellent leg covering the distance in 1.18.30 and 43rd place. Fingers were still crossed but nobody was anywhere near a time penalty yet. Foel moves on to Llanfair Caereinion and for this leg it was Bridget Woodwards turn to run a great leg, placing 45th in 1.03.37 for the 8.5 miles.

Finally for day 1 it was the highly challenging/undulating 13.1 mile leg from Llanfair to Newtown…the third of the mountain stages. Making his team debut for BAC here was Ash Varley from our ever growing ultra section. A time of 1.19.14 gave Ash our best finish of the weekend at 15th and even more remarkably at 53 years old he would have been giving quite a few years to most of those in front of him.

Day one finished on a high and a lot of positivity towards the following day.

Stage 11, early on Sunday morning was a double wakeup call as it is another of the 6 mountain sections. Manny Trailor did the honours for BAC and opened with an impressive 25th place in 1.10.19 as he covered the 10.5 miles to Llanbadarn Fynydd to earn more plaudits from the media crew. Manny handed over to Laurie Stephens, another of our ultra crew, and she moved us on to Crossgates with a strong run covering the 11.2 miles in 1.25.56. Former club chair Peter Sowerby took over for the Crossgates to Builth 10.6-mile leg and ignoring any thoughts about unlucky 13 or even his age of 62 Peter blasted it and came home in 26th place in a time of 1.09.46.

Peter handed over to Charlie McMenemy for the very challenging 5th mountain stage from Builth up over the Eppynt to Drovers Arms. 10.8 miles of mainly climbing. Charlie showed that at least one of the British Army is in good shape as he covered the leg in 1.14.42 and 37th place. Cue even more excitement as Brecon was next on the agenda!

Charlie’s other half Jessie Davies enhanced the army fitness reputation as she literally drove down from Drovers arms passing our water station at Cradoc and powering on down into Brecon. 30th place, 4th female and the 12.8-mile stage covered in 1.26.18 meant that they were three quarters of the way there and doing very well!

Another relative newcomer…another ultra guy…welcome Ellis Davies to your team BAC debut… a fantastic 20th place in 1.20.13 for a 12.5-mile leg that initially is flat from Brecon to Talybont but then takes a massive change of terrain as it heads up to Torpantau in the hills. This was also the last of the mountain stages and the cumulative performance of the clubs 6 mountain sections gave the team 18th place out of 45 in the category.

Stage 17 was an 8.7 miler from Torpantau to Merthyr…welcome back to late replacement Gareth Lawrence…still returning to fitness but still good enough to come 51st in 1.09.42. He certainly looked like this will inspire him to get back to previous levels!

Merthyr to Quakers yard was one for relative youngster Evan Price-Davies who again is returning to former levels and his 1.10.38 clocking for the 9.1 miles will help both his fitness and motivation…well done Ev. The penultimate leg was ideal for local parkrun ED Naomi Law who has improved her speed considerably in the last few years. A 7.7 relatively flat stage allowed naomi to ‘go for it’ and she clocked 57.25 as she placed 4thfemale in overall 35th place…a very good showing.

The final leg from Caerphilly Castle to Cardiff Castle was taken up by our resident Cardiffian and former GB international cross country gold medallist Tom Marshall. While not quite in the same shape as 10 years ago Tom is ticking over and waiting for a second surge in his career. Despite little training he covered the 9.1-mile leg in 1.01.38 and 38th place. A great run and a more than welcome contribution.

Many tired bodies but jubilantly glazed eyes gathered in The Clarence on Sunday night to rehydrate. Thanks to Rog and Kate for hosting us twice in a weekend! A brilliant event and a great way to pull together clubmates. Roll on next year!