A cloudy, still and dry evening greeted the runners for the inaugural Mynydd Pen y Fal fell race, so named as to avoid yet another Sugarloaf race in the calendar. The race forms part of the WFRA South Wales Summer Evening Series. A very encouraging turnout of 47 runners (with one DNS) set off on a course that proved surprisingly difficult to navigate, in spite of the conditions. Although the start section through the warren of trods was marked, and a map had been available for online and on race day, the lead pack took a wrong turn after the stream crossing. My apologies to anyone who felt they had been robbed of a place (although everyone seemed to return roughly in the expected order) but that's fell running - as the British Champs race results from Black Combe this year show, nav is as important as fitness! I will be more explicit about EXACTLY where to go in the pre-race briefing next year. Anyway, everyone returned safe and sound for a somewhat hectic prize giving….

First man, in spite of his claimed 3/4 mile extra, was the in-form Iwan Morton of MMRT, winning the second race up the Sugarloaf in as many months after previous success in the April Sugarloaf race laid on by local club Mynydd Du. Iwan was chased closely to the line by Ian Macklin of MDC and Mynydd Du's Oscar Partridge. Emma Bayliss's local knowledge and recce saved a few off-course runners and earnt her first woman, with Mynydd Du club mates Rona Davies and Lou Summers in hot pursuit and clear winners of the women's team prize. Ian Macklin, Matt Stott and 0/60 winner John Aggleton brought home the men's team prize for the mighty MDC (yes, I am biased!).

Many, many thanks to the marshals Jake, Amie and Lucy - without them it would have been even more chaotic! They did a sterling job, Amie in particular proving a great help with the entries and timings in spite of my inexperience as RO.

I was especially pleased to have two novice fell runners complete their first race, here's hoping they return. Seeing them run in with a smile made the day for me so well done. It was also heartening to have a decent number of runners from Forest of Dean AC and Bridgend AC so thanks for making the trip. I hope to see an even better turnout next year.         Ed Dickson