The race is well established in the Welsh Fell Running calendar and entails running to seven mandatory checkpoints (including Tor y foel, Corn Ddu, Pen y Fan and Cribyn) from the dam at Talybont Reservoir. The race is approximate;y 30.6km long with 1372m ascent and qualifies as a long race. The Brecon Beacons were blessed with sunshine and a welcome cool refreshing breeze and greeted 56 runners to the fourth round in the 2012 Inov-8/WFRA Open Welsh Championships. The dry and pleasant 18-22 deg C conditions were a welcome change to the wet and windy weather encountered in the previous two years.
Hugh Aggleton (MDC) took an early lead in the race and distanced himself by a approximately a minute from a chasing pack which included Andrew Davies (Mercia), Mark Palmer (Mynydd Du) and Peter Ryder (Clwb Rhedwyr Brycheiniog). He managed to increase the gap on the majority of the pack but Andrew Davies gradually narrowed the margin to seven seconds by the fourth checkpoint at Corn Ddu which was full of walkers on the glorious day. Hugh managed to retain the lead to all the remaining manned checkpoints but Andrew overtook him on the descent from Carn Pica to the finish. Andrew finished in a time of 2hr 49m 18s. Hugh finished just over a minute and a half later with Mark Palmer filling the third male podium place with a time seven and a half minutes behind Andrew. The young Jon Barnes (MU23 Mynydd Du) impressed with a fourth place in his first outing and his first race over a half marathon distance. Definitely one to watch for the future.
Emma Bayliss (Mynydd Du) comfortably won the ladies race in a time of 3hr 36m 12s which was over 35 minutes ahead of her club mate Samantha Louise Toop. The male over 50 veterans put in a very strong performance with four athletes placed ahead of the majority of the male over 40 veterans. Those that impressed included Michael Belshaw (Eryri) and Glen Davies (Mercia). Gary Gunner (Croft Ambrey) continues to put in strong performances and finished with a win in the MO60 category.
The podium finishers and the winners in each age category were awarded with a souvenir photo mug and a selection of wines and ales which were provided by The Celt Experience, a Caerphilly based fine brewery.
The race organisers, Gary and Dawn Davies would like to thank each of the ten volunteers. Without them, the race would fail to exist.