Category: Uncategorized

Hi.

Due to an unforeseen accident, I’ve had to cancel the Cwmcerwyn race which was due to be held on Sunday 28th July. Sorry for the inconvienience.

Caz

Well, what can I say. I half expected no runners to turn up today given the weather! It was very wet, and very claggy when we turned up at 10.30 to get things ready. There was already one runner there who’d camped there the night before in her van. “Is the race going to go ahead?” She asked. “Of course…..if somebody else turns up!”  All of a sudden cars turned up left, right and centre. We had 5 kiddlies run in the 0.6mile race, which was ran in slighty wet conditions. Nowt like hardening these youngsters up! Some speedy runners to watch out for in the future I think! Maya WELTON(U10) won overall in 2:49, Jacob TEBBITT(U8) 2:53; Hari-Jac WATKINS(U8) 3:31; Isobel TEBBITT(U5) 3:40; Deian WATKINS(U5) 4:02. They all enjoyed their well deserved Jelly babies and certificates, Thanks.

In the main race we ended up having 28 turn out at the start line! Incredible really, and Thank you. Most were worried about getting lost and how well the course was marked. Thankfully the markers were still there from last night, and no one got lost! David WARREN stormed it round and was well clear of second. Amazing when you think he’s a M50!!! Tasha SEXTON was also storming and was 3rd overall! She’s having a good season after winning overall female in the 24 mile Beast, and she’s a F40!!! She’s also blitzed the female record(set by her in 2016) by some 5minutes to take it to 1hr 00mins 40seconds! Oof!

Sorry to the two that turned up late. One was late due to the tractor run(400 tractors!!!0 was going on locally, the second one was late to seeing the wrong start time somewhere and thought it was a 14.00hrs start. Sorry. Hope you still got a run in.

Huge THANKS must go to the hill marshals Sanna and Martin(CP1), Mike the Machine who’d just run the St Clears 10miler an hour before!(CP2), Shan on the saddle(CP3); and finally Carol and Rhyds on the last summit(CP4), Carn Sian.  Eirlyn on cake and tea duties. Rachel for helping out this morning, registration, results, and putting up with me. Carolyn on timing duties. Thank you all. These races wouldn’t happen if it weren’t for these lovely helpers. Thanks too for those who helped clear stuff away.

The results. – Ras y Cerrig Glas results 2019 

Huge Big Thanks to Domi KIMBER, aka Mantle brewery for kindly donating the winners prizes of ‘proper ale’. Thank you.

The runners enjoyed their rewards of tea/coffee, cake and biscuits. Thanks too for some of your comments. ‘Amazingly lovely and tough course, brilliant marshals, and even the weather turned out!’

Next race(of mine) is the 3.3mile Carn Ingli Killer, Newport(Pembs) on Tues 23rd July at 19.00hrs. Registration near Long street car park.

Then it’s the 4.5mile Ras Cwmcerwyn on Sunday 28th at 2pm/14.00hrs. Registration in playground car park behind the Old Post office bistro/ behind Tafarn Sinc(not Tafarn sinc car park!).

See ya soon, Caz the Hat.

As if I haven’t enough going on! Next Sunday June 2nd sees the next local Preselis fell race fixture which is also in the South Wales fell running champs series. It’s a 7 mile marked race starting at 12pm from the side of the unclassified road between Rosebush and Mynachlog-ddu. Grid ref- SN127 307. There will also be some short friendly(1/2mile and 1 mile) kiddies races from approx 11am. Entries will be £5 on the day, which includes tea/coffee and cake. Beers as category prizes(sweets for the kids!).  Please share amongst others or within your clubs. If you don’t fancy running, but fancy marshalling, then please get in touch. Cheers, and hopefully see you there. 😉

So, where do I start? Do I start by saying thanks to the amazing army of volunteers; the runners and running clubs; the cake bakers; the local trophy and goody bag sponsors; family and friends; the village hall committee and kitchen staff; Sarah from Shop Sarah for her Beastly buggy escort, support and goody bag items; the drummers and the top of town band; the amazing  Maenclochog community; Wynnie Cliff for not only being a rock, but also for the 2no 17″ pizzas the night before as well as the other feasts(I didn’t eat them both!); Mr and Mrs Roberts from the North who are just amazing;  the fancy dressed; the violinist in the gwaun(whom I didn’t know anything about); the land owners; the weather gods; Caffi’r Sgwar; Safe 2 storage; The Aelwyd and Adran youth groups for decorating the green; the Globe; Cotswolds outdoors Carmarthen; Princess Gate water; Aldi’s; Morrisons; Co-op; helpers and friends who were fetching pre-race ‘stuff’; Mr G (Huw George)the finish line compare who has been suffering with pneumonia(!); Roland and Pat for even contemplating coming to do the race results when Roland has literally come out of hospital after a major hip operation(thanks for lending us the PA system btw); Etts electrical; and the local constabulary for nearly giving me a heart attack when we’d heard that they’d closed off Rosebush quarries to the public literally as the runners started running off up through the village!!! Oh how we laughed too! The people I bundled into the car and dragged up there must have thought what on earth was going on!??? To name them in order would pay disrespect to others.

 

Like the amazing Little Dave said in his fb post, there isn’t any one thing that makes this event different or special, It’s the whole lot put together that makes runners and volunteers come back for more each year. Yes, it’s a long way to come for some, but is it worth it? Well most of you seem to think so and, and that must say something in its self. I’ve been very, very lucky to have such positive feedback either on social media or by messages, and I’ve still yet to read through it all. To be honest I scared to look! Diolch yn fawr/Thank you very much. It seems as if most of everything has been cleared away quicker than most years, although the Beast room does look very full. Which leaves me wondering why it’s taken me a while to write this post. To be honest, it generally does. It’s probably because my head’s been full of ‘stuff’, pre race and on the day. Is everything in place? Have I left someone’s name of the list because they messaged me and not entered online? Have I got enough of everything? Are all the volunteers happy? Do they know what they’re doing, and where they need to be? And so on, and so on.

I say at my marshals briefing the night before that they the marshals, and not the runners, are my main priorty. Ourea events made me realise this even more. Without happy marshals the race would not be the same. Happy marshals equals happier runners. The marshals are out standing on some remote locations and they need to stay warm, happy, and safe. Runners can keep warm by running(unless that is they injure themselves!) Some time( as a runner), it might be worth volunteering for a race to make you appreciate what it’s like standing there for a few hours. I love marshalling myself, and although it can be cold, very cold, it’s very rewarding. Making someone smile is priceless, and keeping them motivated and to encourage them to keep going is a great feeling.

 

On a sadder note, I write this on a day that our Northern friend Andy is being buried after losing his battle to cancer recently.  One of the first times I met Andy was on the side of the road at Ogwen, North Wales at 5.30am. He and his wife Pam were in their campervan making bacon butties for me and the support team of runners and supporters during my first Big challenge, the Paddy Buckley round in 2010. Last year he and Pam(as well as a few from the North) travelled the many hours to come down just to marshal on the Preseli Beast as they do for many. Thanks Andy.

 

Now none of this would even get off the ground if it were not for some even more closer to home help. Mrs P- for putting up with my madness, for her artistic and IT skills, for managing the results for the first time and even getting them onto the website that evening, and for your muchios support. Also to our daughter Carolyn, aka Carz the plait race helper, for her admin support in doing the entries and answering emails, fetching ‘stuff’ and generally keeping things in order………including me!

 

I can’t believe that some of you have already asked what the date will be in 2020!!! I can’t even work out what I’m doing in a month, let alone next year! Some have already worked it out to be the 9^th May! So, I guess that’s the date then! Same time, same place, same cake?

 

Now, apparently there’s a Welsh Dragon that needs taming??? Grrrr! The Beast v Dragon revenge match!

 

Hugs, The Hat.

Wow, what a day.

It’s barely finished, but here, red hot from the Beastly team, are all the results…..dig in!

Beast Bach RESULTS 2019

Preseli Beast RESULTS 2019

UltrabeasT RESULTS 2019

Online Entries are now closed!

****Online entries will close at 9pm tonight. ****
There may be a few places available on the Ultra and Preseli Beast on the day if you want to chance it but after 9pm tonight you will have to enter on the day. The Beast Bach is now FULL. Thanks to all who have entered!! We look forward to seeing you all on Saturday.

So, it ain’t long now before the 7th running of the Preseli Beast event. 11th May to be precise! So which one are you running? The 32, 24, or the 11miler? Whatever it’ll be, there’ll be hills,  there’ll be mud, there’ll will be cheery marshals and drummers, there’ll be a welcome from the villagers, you’ll get a bespoke slate coaster in your goody bag, there’ll be cawl, and there’ll be tea and cake!

Like last year there will be the chance to buy a bespoke Beastly buff., but in addition to this you’ll also have the chance to buy ‘The Beast of a MUG!’ Beast Mug Front. Great to display on your coaster! Both of these will be available for £3 each! Any money raised goes to various local and national charities.

Please don’t delay in entering. I run out of time doing other things closer to the date!

Here’s the newer updated list as of 30/04/19………. so you can see who you’re up against!

Beast Bach 2019 without details.

 Preseli Beast 2019 without details

 UltrabeasT 2019 without details

If there’s anything wrong on the list, then please email me quoting which race you’re doing and the current race number.

So come on, go Tame some Beast!

So, it’s all go here at Beast HQ.

Thanks to lots of entries this year and a few deferred from last year the Beast Bach entries (the short one!)  are now CLOSED and no entries on the day into that race…..please see below for  updated entry lists compiled up until yesterday so you can check your details, as well as see who you’re up against!   If you’ve entered since yesterday your details will appear in the next update nearer the race date.

If there’s anything you want changing, then PLEASE let me know the current race number as on the list as well as which race you’re doing! Email – [email protected]

 

Beast Bach 2019 without details.

Preseli Beast 2019 without details

UltrabeasT 2019 without details

If you intend on staying for food in the hall later in the evening at approx. 7.30pm, can you also email me.

Slate coaster designs have been done. 🙂 Huge thanks to Mrs P, aka Rachel Phillips @rachelphillipsglass for doing these with the help of the Watkins family for bashing our heads together on what to say on them. 😉 This year sees three different ones for each race. 😋 Hope you like them.

Sponsorship letters have gone out(mostly by email!), and I’ve been overwhelmed again by the kind generosity of local businesses and people! You’re amazing. 😉 👍❤️  I’m sure there will be more than this, but so far we have Space 2 storage, Etts electrical, Phoenix ECS Ltd, Running Free, Wallace Direct Ltd, The Globe Inn, Caffi’r Sgwar, Thomas and Thomas ethical investments, Rhwbeth Melys, Young Bros, Testing Professionals.com, Preseli Edge Angus, Davies Roofing Ltd,  E.J Lewis, Dogs Galore, Cakes by Carolyn, FIR Club, Ivor Rees & Sons and Emma & Richard Danclawdd.

Thank you Princes Gate water for………………suppling the water!  😉 👍

Huge thanks to Sarah from the famous Shop Sarah in the village who has agreed to get some of the goodies for the well stocked goodie bags!!

Cotswold outdoors have agreed to supply the 1st male and 1st female in each race with vouchers. They’ve also agreed to give discount vouchers to all participants and supply the goodie bag bags! 😉 👍

Fingers crossed Rolland and Pat (online race results) will be well enough to assist with the timings on the day!!

Much later than usual, entries are now open. Yeah(or, ‘oh no’ if you’re me!)!

So, what’s new for 2019? Well, not a lot, but there are some.

Will there be cake? Absolutely.

Three distances? Yes. 11mile Beast Bach(BB); 24mile Preseli Beast(BB); and the 32 mile UltrabeasT(UB).

T-shirts? No, not this year sorry.

Coasters? Yes, three different types this year depending on which race you do.

Are there limited entries? Yes, BB-200; PB- 100; UB- 100.

How much does it cost to enter? Well, it’s going to be the same as when it started in 2013! BB-£10; PB-£13; UB-£16. A billy bargain.

Is there food/drink at the end? Yes, a bowl of lush cawl/soup bread and cheese, tea/coffee, and……CAKE!

Is the route marked? Sort of! BB will be in its entirety. PB and UB will have very limited marking, so get a map! There will be marshals at water/checkpoint stations.

Are there prizes/trophies? Yes, many various age category trophies.

Will it be tough? It ain’t called the Beast for no reason!

Will I get muddy? YES!

Do I need fell/off-road trainers? YES.

Will there be views? Yes, if it’s not foggy!

Will it rain? I haven’t got a clue! Bring kit!

Is there a party/beer to celebrate afterwards? Yes. The finish is outside the local pub! There will also be the aftermath party at approx. 7pm in the hall with food and beers, then to the pub afterwards!

Where/when do I get my race number? On the morning of the race.

Do I get a confirmation email? No, just check the entry list which will get updated on a fortnightly basis.

Are there any other questions????? Probably.

 

So, get your entries in and please feel free to share the Beastly news. Cool runnings peeps!