Nos Galan road race
Encyclopedia
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
road race
Road running
Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road . These events would be classified as long distance according to athletics terminology, with distances typically ranging from 5 kilometers to 42.2 kilometers in the marathon. They may involve large numbers of runners...
, run on New Years Eve in Mountain Ash, in the Cynon Valley
Cynon Valley
The Cynon Valley , is a famous former coal mining valley within the South Wales Valleys of Wales. The Cynon Valley lies between the other mining Valley of Rhondda and the iron industrial Valley of the Merthyr Valley. Its main towns are Aberdare located North of the Valley and Mountain Ash located...
of South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
.
History
Nos Galan celebrates the life and achievements of Welsh runner Guto Nyth BrânGuto Nyth Brân
Griffith Morgan , who was known better by his Welsh name, Guto Nyth Brân was an athlete. Many of Guto's running feats have since become merged with legend, and were disseminated by poets and authors such as I.D...
. Founded in 1958 by local runner Bernard Baldwin, it is run over the 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) route of Bran's first competitive race.
At its height covered by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
nationally as part of its New Years Eve celebrations, the races were halted in 1973 due to concerns expressed by the Glamorgan Police regarding the undue delay to traffic. Nos Galan was resurrected in 1984, when a reduced field of 14 runners ran a 1 miles (1.6 km) race. The race also broke with tradition, with three mystery runners, representing the present, past and future of athletics, carried the Nos Galan Torch.
Nos Galan still attracts runners from all over Great Britain. The 2009 race attracted over 800 runners, and 10,000 people into Mountain Ash for the associated entertainment.
Route and traditions
The main race starts with a church service at LlanwynnoLlanwynno
Llanwynno is a hamlet high up in the mountains between the historic mining valleys of the Rhondda and Cynon Valleys in Rhondda Cynon Taf deep in the heart of the South Wales Valleys ....
, and then a wreath
Wreath
A wreath is an assortment of flowers, leaves, fruits, twigs and/or various materials that is constructed to resemble a ring. They are used typically as Christmas decorations to symbolize the coming of Christ, also known as the Advent season in Christianity. They are also used as festive headdresses...
is laid on the grave of Guto Nyth Bran in Llanwynno graveyard. After lighting a torch
Torch
A torch is a fire source, usually a rod-shaped piece of wood with a rag soaked in pitch and/or some other flammable material wrapped around one end. Torches were often supported in sconces by brackets high up on walls, to throw light over corridors in stone structures such as castles or crypts...
, it is carried to the nearby town of Mountain Ash, where the main race takes place. The race consists of a double-circuit of the town centre, starting in Henry Street and ending in Oxford Street, by the commemorative statue of Guto.
Traditionally, the race was timed to end at midnight
Midnight
Midnight is the transition time period from one day to the next: the moment when the date changes. In the Roman time system, midnight was halfway between sunset and sunrise, varying according to the seasons....
. But in recent times it was rescheduled for the convenience of family entertainment, now concluding at around 21:00.
Rescheduling has resulted in a regrowth in size and scale, and now starts with an afternoon of street entertainment, and fun run
Fun run
A fun run is a friendly race that involves either road running or cross country running with participants taking part for their own enjoyment rather than competition. A fun run will usually be held to raise funds for a charity, with sponsors providing the revenue to cover organisational costs...
races for children, concluding with the church service, elite runners race and presentations.
Mystery runner
The race is started and run by a mystery runner, normally a running or local sporting celebrity. The mystery runner lays the wreath:- 1958 - Tom Richards
- 1959 - Ken Norris
- 1960 - Derek IbbotsonDerek IbbotsonGeorge Derek Ibbotson MBE was an English runner who excelled in athletics in the 1950s. His most famous achievement was setting a new world record in the mile in 1957....
- 1961 - John Merriman
- 1962 - Martin Hyman
- 1963 - Bruce TullohBruce TullohMichael Swinton Tulloh is a retired long-distance runner from England, who won the European title in the men's 5,000 metres at the 1962 European Championships in Belgrade, Yugoslavia...
- 1964 - Stan Eldon
- 1965 - Ann Parker
- 1966 - Mary RandMary RandMary Denise Rand, MBE, is a former English track-and-field athlete. She won the gold medal in the long jump at the 1964 Summer Olympics by breaking the world record, becoming the first-ever British female to win an Olympic gold medal in a track and field event.-Early life:She is the daughter of...
- 1967 - Ron JonesRon Jones (athlete)Ronald Jones is a retired Welsh track and field athlete.- 3 Time Olympian :Ron Jones represented Great Britain at three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1960 ....
- 1968 - Lyn DaviesLyn DaviesDavid Lyn Davies is a Welsh former professional footballer and Wales under-23 international.-Career:Davies began his career at Cardiff City, signing a professional deal in October 1965...
- 1969 - Lillian BoardLillian BoardLillian Barbara Board, MBE was an athlete from Great Britain, who won the silver medal in the 400 metres at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, and two gold medals at the 1969 European Championships in Athletics in Athens, Greece...
- 1970 - John WhettonJohn WhettonJohn Whetton is a retired British athlete. He is best noted for winning gold in the 1500 metres at the 1969 European Athletics Championships and reaching the 1500 metre final in both the 1964 and 1968 Summer Olympics.-Athletics career:Whetton ran amateur athletics for local club Sutton-in-Ashfield...
- 1971 - David BedfordDavid Bedford (athlete)David Colin Bedford is an English former long distance runner, a colourful character whose career spanned the early 1970s. He is now race director of the London Marathon, and a representative for UK Athletics on the IAAF Road Running Committee.Bedford held the world record at 10,000m, improving it...
- 1972 - David HemeryDavid HemeryDavid Peter Hemery, CBE, is a British former athlete, winner of the 400m hurdles at the 1968 Summer Olympics.He was born in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, but his father's work took the family to the United States, where he attended school and graduated from Boston University.Hemery's first...
- 1973 - Berwyn PriceBerwyn PriceBerwyn Price is a former Welsh international athlete. Price was born in Tredegar, Monmouthshire, and studied at Lewis School, Pengam and the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth....
- 1984 - Steve JonesSteve Jones (athlete)Steve Jones is a Welsh athlete and former world marathon record holder.Steve Jones was born in St James' Hospital Tredegar and grew up in the neighbouring town of Ebbw Vale, Wales, Jones began his career as an aircraft technician in the Royal Air Force...
, David BedfordDavid Bedford (athlete)David Colin Bedford is an English former long distance runner, a colourful character whose career spanned the early 1970s. He is now race director of the London Marathon, and a representative for UK Athletics on the IAAF Road Running Committee.Bedford held the world record at 10,000m, improving it...
, Lisa HopkinsLisa HopkinsLisa Hopkins Seegmiller , usually credited as Lisa Hopkins, is an American classical singer and actress from Simi Valley, California. She holds a B.A. in Theater Studies and Acting from Yale University and a M.M... - 1985 - Unknown
- 1986 - Kirsty WadeKirsty WadeKirsty Wade is a former middle distance runner, who was born as Kirsty McDermott.Wade competed for Wales in two Commonwealth Games winning a gold medal in the 800 metres at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia and gold medals in both the 800 and 1500 metres at the 1986 Commonwealth...
- 1987 - Tony Simmons
- 1988 - Tim HutchingsTim HutchingsTimothy Hilton Hutchings is a former middle- and long-distance runner who represented England and Great Britain internationally.-Athletics career:...
- 1989 - Bernard Plain
- 1990 - Phillip Snoddy
- 1991 - Dennis Fowles
- 1992 - Guto Eames, Tremayne Rutherford
- 1993 - Simon Mugglestone
- 1994 - Steve Robinson
- 1995 - Neil JenkinsNeil JenkinsNeil Jenkins MBE is a former rugby union football player and current coach. He played fly-half, centre, or full back for Pontypridd, Cardiff, Celtic Warriors, Wales and the British and Irish Lions. Jenkins is Wales' highest ever points-scorer and is the third highest on the List of leading Rugby...
- 1996 - Robbie ReganRobbie ReganRobbie Regan Robbie Regan Robbie Regan (born 30 August 1968 in Caerphilly, Wales is a Welsh former professional boxer.-Pro career:Regan is a former WBO World Bantamweight champion and former interim IBF World Flyweight champion. In 1995 he captured the interim IBF flyweight title with a KO win...
- 1997 - Iwan ThomasIwan ThomasIwan Gwyn Thomas MBE is a sprinter who represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the Olympic Games in the 400 m, and Wales at the Commonwealth Games. Thomas is the current UK record holder at 400 m with a time of 44.36 seconds and is a former European and Commonwealth games champion...
- 1998 - Jamie BaulchJamie BaulchJames Steven Baulch , but raised by foster parents in Risca, near Newport, is a British sprint athlete and television presenter. He won the 400 metres gold medal at the 1999 World Indoor Championships. As a member of British 4 x 400 metres relay teams, he won a gold medal at the 1997 World...
, Ron JonesRon Jones (athlete)Ronald Jones is a retired Welsh track and field athlete.- 3 Time Olympian :Ron Jones represented Great Britain at three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1960 .... - 1999 - Garin JenkinsGarin JenkinsGarin Jenkins is a former Wales international rugby union player. He is the most capped Welsh hooker having attained 58 caps. Jenkins played in the Rugby Union World Cup three times : 1991, 1995 and 1999 and at the time played for Swansea RFC, a club he captained.Jenkins currently works as a...
, Dai YoungDai YoungDavid "Dai" Young is a Welsh former rugby union and rugby league player, presently Director of Rugby at London Wasps.Born in Aberdare in 1967, Young lived in Penywaun for many years, and was regularly seen training with his father on the local sports field, now occupied by the Welsh-language... - 2000 - Christian MalcolmChristian MalcolmChristian Sean Malcolm is a Welsh athlete, specialising in the 200m.Malcolm was born in Cardiff and resides in Newport, Wales. He won the title of World Junior Athlete of the Year in 1998 and in the 1998 World Junior Championships, he won the 200m in 20.44 seconds...
- 2001 - Darren CampbellDarren CampbellDarren Andrew Campbell MBE is a former English sprint athlete. He competed in the 100 metres and 200 metres, as well as the 4 × 100 metres relay...
- 2002 - Matt Elias
- 2003 - Stephen JonesStephen Jones (rugby player)Stephen Michael Jones is a Welsh international rugby union player who plays primarily at fly-half for Wales, the British and Irish Lions and Scarlets....
- 2004 - Nicole CookeNicole CookeNicole Denise Cooke, MBE is a Welsh professional road bicycle racer for the Mario Cipollini - Giordana Team team, and is the current Olympic road race champion.-Early life:...
- 2005 - Gethin JenkinsGethin JenkinsGethin Jenkins is a Wales and British Lions international rugby union player, currently playing for Cardiff Blues. He is the most capped prop-forward for Wales.-Early career:...
, Martyn WilliamsMartyn WilliamsMartyn Elwyn Williams is a Welsh international rugby union player. A flanker, he plays for Cardiff Blues and the Wales national rugby union team as an open-side flanker...
, T. Rhys ThomasT. Rhys ThomasFor other people with this name see Rhys ThomasThomas Rhys Thomas is a Welsh International rugby player, currently with Cardiff Blues. His usual position is at hooker. Thomas made a try-scoring debut for the Cardiff Blues against Celtic Warriors on December 27, 2003... - 2006 - Rhys WilliamsRhys Williams (rugby player)Gethin Rhys Williams is a Welsh rugby union player who played for Cardiff Blues and won 44 caps for the Wales national rugby union team as a full-back and winger...
- 2007 - Kevin Morgan
- 2008 - Linford ChristieLinford ChristieLinford Cicero Christie OBE is a former sprinter from the United Kingdom. He is the only British man to have won gold medals in the 100 metres at all four major competitions open to British athletes: the Olympic Games, the World Championships, the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games...
- 2009 - James HookJames Hook (rugby player)James William Hook is a Welsh rugby union player for USA Perpignan. Hook is widely regarded as one of the most talented players in world rugby....
, Jamie RobertsJamie RobertsJamie Roberts is a Welsh international rugby union footballer currently playing for Cardiff Blues in the RaboDirect Pro12. He also plays for the Wales and the British and Irish lions.Roberts' position of choice is as a centre.... - 2010 - John HartsonJohn HartsonJohn Hartson is a former Welsh international footballer who played as a striker, best known for his spells with West Ham and Celtic. Hartson also featured prominently for Wales, earning 51 caps until his international retirement in 2006...
, Mark TaylorMark Taylor (rugby player)Mark Taylor is a former Wales international rugby union player who played at centre. He is a former captain of Wales and was the first person to score a try at the newly built Millennium Stadium against South Africa in 1999. He signed for Sale Sharks from Llanelli Scarlets in April 2005 and in...