Race Director started the Craig yr Allt Winter Fell Race in January 2014 which has been a great success each year that it's been run. However he approached the same landowners and other adjacent landowners to create a new race route to bolster the South Wales WFRA Mid Week Summer Series developed for 2016.

59 competitors started the 6.2km long race at the foot of the Rockwood Riding Centre access road on the warm humid Tuesday evening awaiting the Race Director's briefing. He did warm them that the route would be a lot more varied than the Winter Route and be narrow in places. The route climbed to the top of Craig yr Allt on its eastern flanks before descending down an indistinct trod to the north. The participants then contoured the northern hillside before ascending a re-entrant, running along the ridge and down to the Taff Trail through trails, paths, fields and woodland. Following a short section on the Taff Trail, the participants crossed a stream, ascended a very steep field used by 4x4s and then descended into the Nant y Brynau valley. The next kilometre ascended the valley floor through woodland before climbing the steep northern valley side and finish in the Mountain View Ranch.

Peter Ryder (Brycheiniog) outclassed the rest of the field and finished the race 1 minute ahead of second place Iwan Morton (MMRT) in a time of 29 minutes 50s. Matt Stott (MDC) finished third 7 seconds behind Iwan.

Clare Dallimore (MDC) continued her strong running and cycling season with a win in the Ladies category, with Niki Morgan (Chepstow Harriers) in second and Lou Summers (Mynydd Du) in third.

Age category winners:

MU23 - Neema Mal 42:29
M40 - Sam Ryall (Pontypridd Roadents) 32:04
M50 - Craig Fowler (Bridgend) 37:45
M60 - John Aggleton (MDC) 36:33

F40 - Niki Morgan (Chepstow Harriers) 39:08
F50 - Alice Bedwell (MDC) 41:56
F60 - Caroline Dallimore (MDC) 47:34

MDC won both the Male and Female Team Prizes.

The Race Director would also like to the landowners for enabling the use of their land - both public footpaths and private sections. A big thanks to the marshalls, helpers, sweeper and photographers too: Dawn Davies, Gill Stott, Martin & Kay Lucas, Andy Creber, Alan Stone, Jane Aggleton, Mark Buxton, Pete Morfey, Keri & Pauline James and Nick Dallimore.

Please check out the Hyperlapse video created by participant Stewart Harding!

Photos available here: Photos     Video available here: Video
Regards      Gary