CYMDEITHAS WELSH 2013 AWST RHEDWYR FELL CYLCHGRAWN MYNYDD RUNNERS NEWSLETTER CYMRU www. wfra.org.uk ASSOCIATION AUGUST 2013 WFRA Hon. Secretary’s Notes: WFRA Hon. Chairman comments on Fell Safety Requirements the proposed Fell Safety Requirements . I hope you are all enjoying earlier this year, I would po - the Summer weather – cer - litely remind Race Organisers A couple of years ago I vantage with proper water - tainly down here in South to ensure that all competitors would not have been support- proofs that is potentially a life Wales I don’t think the hills fully complete the race entry ive of the idea of proper wa - saver. (I shall now get the have ever looked so beautiful. form and, for those races des - terproofs for races in the trousers to go with the jacket.) A couple of matters which I ignated, ‘Experience Re - category AL/AM/BL. How - Yes there will be race organ - would like to draw to your at - quired/ ER’, suitable enquiries ever several things have hap- isers who think this is OTT but tention:- are made of competitors to pened since then which make they/us have a duty to protect assess the competitor’s level me much more inclined to runners. Once carrying water - You may already be aware of agree with your suggestion: the FRA consultation on pro - of fell running experience. proof kit at AL/AM/BL be - posed revisions to the fell rac - Race entry should be withheld 1. The Lake District incident comes standard practice I feel ing safety requirements in if the Race Organiser feels from early 2012 where a run- sure that the vast majority will England, see: http://fellrun - that the prospective competi - ner died in very poor condi - be accepting of the rule. Of ner.org.uk/pdf/committee/13 tor lacks the experience or tions - as you know the course there will be gripes /13_draft_safety.pdf. Concur - skills to complete the course inquest is yet to be held and from those who only compete rently we in the WFRA have safely. there is quite likely to be fall- once or twice a year and who been refreshing our safety pol - out from that which will affect turn up without the right gear, icy and have considered the * * * race organisation in the UK. but these are the most vulner - extent to which we should in - 2. An incident at Mynydd able due to lack of experience I note Ross Powell’s continu - or the likelihood that they'll be corporate the FRA’s proposals ing health issues after collaps - Troed May 2012 - John M was into our policy. wearing windproofs which did at the back of the field, out the ing at the Moel Siabod Race longest, lost, etc. Whilst the WFRA Commit - and, along with many others, not stop him getting hypother- tee has yet to conclude its de - wish him a full and speedy re - mia. Martin Cortvriend liberations, I would encourage covery. 3. Since Mynydd Troed and all WFRA members – espe - in the light of that (I too was cially Race Organisers to re - * * * wearing windproofs only) I view the FRA’s proposals purchased a properly water- Wanted A number of long standing proof/breathable jacket (wa - carefully. Speaking from a Committee members are, for a personal perspective, I am terproof to a minimum of Do you have any variety of reasons, looking to 10,000mm hydrostatic head) Photographs that we very supportive of the move step down/ reduce their in - to making ‘full waterproof and ran wearing it all the way could use on the cover of volvement with the Commit - round in fairly appalling con - 2014 Race Calendar? or body cover’ (not windproofs) tee. As a consequence we – as the minimum standard ditions at the `long Mynd Val- to use inside if required have asked for volunteers, see leys in February (only an for all Category A medium/ http://www.wfra.me.uk/inde Please email: long and Category B long dis - AM!), I'm now absolutely con- [email protected] x.htm. I note that some kind vinced that there is a huge ad- tance races, ( with ‘water - (foolish?) people have heeded proof’ meaning a garment the call, but we would wel - marketed as ‘waterproof’ with come some additional assis - taped seams and of breath - tance. able fabric; the waterproof jacket to include an attached WFRA ChAmpionships hood and the trousers to reach * * * And to the ankles). Consequently, As mentioned previously, I will be recommending to the money continues to be tight, seRies pResentAtions Committee that we adopt this and if there is any generous minimum standard, alongside benefactor out there who is will take place after some other changes, from 1 able to sponsor one of the LLyn y FAn RACe January 2014. WFRA Race Series, then on I anticipate that the revised please let me know. 2014 WFRA Safety Policy will sundAy 10 th novembeR be communicated to all * * * WFRA members later in the I would be delighted to re - followed by the year, recognising that compli - ceive any comments or ance with the Safety Policy is thoughts on the above points, WFRA Annual General meeting both a condition of WFRA ([email protected]) or al - Items for inclusion on the agenda race insurance (for Race Or - ternatively talk to me, or any ganisers), and a condition of other Committee member. should reach the Secretary race entry (for competitors). Following a specific incident Andrew Blackmore by 20th October 2 CYMDEITHAS RHEDWYR MYNYDD CYMRU AWST 2013 AUGUST WELSH FELL RUNNERS ASSOCIATION Preseli Beast and Beast Bach BL/ 36.2km/1442m. 27.4.13 It was a bright but breezy day I was mad organising two races that greeted the 47 runners who on the same day, but I don’t do faced the wrath of the inaugural things by half as most of them 23mile Preseli Beast, who were know! I couldn’t have done it challenged to ‘Tame the Beast’. though without the support from Whilst 58 runners thought they’d everybody else and a massive take on the ‘easier’ 10 mile option thank you goes to those helpers. of the Beast Bach, only to find it The first half of the Preseli not so easy! The Preselis them - Beast race saw the lead change selves aren’t mountainous by any several times with Sam Hawking standards, but the runners were leading the charge downhill, only amazed at just how challenging to relinquish his lead on the ups Competitors both routes were, with many to Mike Evans who’d run in Lon - approaching commenting that it was the hard - don the week before in 2hr est thing they’d ever done!! 39mins. Sam’s lack of long dis - the summit Maybe I should have classed the tance training gave way to a of race as an AL after all, except that strong finishing Stewart Bellamy, Foel Feddau most of those comments came who, if the race had gone a little from those doing the Beast Bach! further, might have claimed the many of the earlier ‘keen young - the many cheerful marshals Conditions were ideal for runners overall ‘stained glass panel’ tro - sters’ dropping back down who’d come out in their droves new to this area and it gave them phy over Mike! The ladies race through field rapidly as the race with hooters, whistles, vuvuzelas a chance to enjoy their new sur - saw Katie Beecher, from Cardiff, went on. Guess we all learn this at and even a cow bell sounding out roundings. I’ve been itching to or - take the other stained glass panel some point or another! over some of the hills! “Never ganise a different kind of race on by a comfortable margin over her The Beast Bach race was won seen the like of it before at a fell the Preselis for a while, as one of nearest rival Sarah Tagg who was by Robert Dyde of Pem - race” was one comment from a this distance hasn’t been done new to this sort of thing, but was brokeshire Harriers. Whilst the seasoned fellrunner. Other com - here before. And although this enjoying herself immensely on ladies category was won comfort - ments were,”Good fun yesterday was my first attempt at organising this tough course. The tough ably by Shan Roberts, Trots who doing the Preseli Beast. Toughest any race, it seemed to go down a course meant that the wiser was 5th overall and was running race I have done, the support storm and I was happy with how heads faired better as they’d in her backyard from the marshals was brilliant, things turned out. Many thought paced themselves wisely with All the runners commented on I’ve done many crazy races over the years and this has got to be the best”. Andrew, Llanelli. Preseli Beast. “I may have come 40th in the time league, Moel Siabod but in the enjoyment stand - ings I was definitely top ten, if serious condition. My thanks Anwen Darlington from Sheffield not top five.” Neil, Frome. Pre - here to Ellie Salisbury who later AC, Anwen is an under 23 year seli Beast. old, an Orienteer and apparently clarified the full sequence of All the runners received a events up on the track, I will has a talent for descending over - welcoming bowl of Cawl keep these brief but put simply: taking at least six runners on her (welsh broth), cheese and a Thanks to Mark Wright way down from the summit. Other roll, T-shirt, slate coaster, (Clwydian Range Runner and a category winners were Martin goody bag, tea/coffee and Paramedic), Kate Worthington Cliffe of Eryri (last year’s winner) many variations of home - (Eryri Runner and a First Aider), Male O.40, Steve Toogood Male made cake which took a lot of Ellie Salisbury (Vet) and Maggie O.50, Martin Cortvriend Male O.