The BEAST has been TAMED!

Well, it’s all over!!!! Hooray!!

Mid- Beast 2013! First overal lady home leading this group up to the first top, Foel Eryr.

What a day it was for the first ever race.  A few runners were quite taken back by just how hard the route and terrain was over the big one, and they were very relieved to cross the finishing line. Well it wouldn’t be called the Preseli Beast for any reason would it!! Haha.The same could be said for some tackling the smaller Beast Bach!!!! I guess only a handfull of runners had run on this course before so most were new to it and were going into it at the deep end not knowing what to expect. The Preselis themselves do seem very tame, but the route is devious and has some nice hidden climbs and descents which are seldomly visited by the usual runner.

  It was a bright but breezy day that greeted the 47 runners who faced the wrath of the inaugural 23mile Preseli Beast, who were challenged to ‘Tame the Beast’.  58 runners thought they’d take on the ‘easier’ 10 mile option of the Beast Bach only to find it not so. The Preselis themselves aren’t mountainous by any standards, but the runners were amazed at just how challenging the routes were, with many saying that it was the hardest thing they’d ever done!!  Conditions were ideal for runners new to this area and it gave them a chance to enjoy their new surroundings.

The first half of the Preseli Beast race saw the lead change several times with Sam Hawkings leading the charge downhill, only to relinquish his lead on the ups to Mike Evans who’d run in London the week before. Sam’s lack of long distance training gave way to a strong finishing Stewart Bellamy, who,  if the race had gone further, would have claimed the overall stained glass panel trophy over Mike! The ladies race saw Katie Beecher win by a comfortable margin over her nearest rival Sarah Tagg who was new to this sort of thing.

All the runners commented on the many cheerful marshals who’d come out in their droves with hooters, whistles, vuvuzelas and even a cow bell sounded out over some of the hills!I was really happy with so many comments on how the day went and these are just a few : “Never seen the like of it before at a fell race” was one from a seasoned fellrunner”. And another who’d ran in over 20 races last year: “Caz, that was awesome! It was a fantastic event and probably the best organised event I’ve ever been too!”         “Good fun yesterday doing the preseli beast. Toughest race I have done, the support from the marshalls was brilliant, done many crazy races over the years and this has got to be the best”. 

One of the runners, Tori James, was even compelled to get her phone out to record a small video of the view overlooking Newport bay: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151646496848689&set=vb.514973688&type=2&theater

All the runners received a welcoming bowl of Cawl (welsh broth), cheese and a roll, T-shirt, slate coaster, goody bag, tea/coffee and many variations of homemade cake which took a lot of deciding over for some!!!

So congratulations to you all, the results are on the Previous Beastings/Results page, and also on the results page which was expertly done by Roland and Pat Sherwood. http://www.onlineraceresults.org.uk/preseli beast 2013 preseli beast 2013 

ALSO – Here is a link to some of the photos taken by Stephen Roberts of the days event  http://www.stephenrobertsphotography.co.uk/Gallery.html , and I’ll probably post some more  photos of around the course which were taken by some of the fabulous marshalls who made for an excellent day.

I myself am happy with how the day went, although there were a few minor hiccups which need changing for next years race. All in all it went very well indeed and some are already keen to enter for next years race, “Return of the Beast”! So watch out! I shall keep you posted on next years’ date………..

What is it?

 The Preseli Beast is a new and exciting 23.5 mile(36km) circular marked off-road/fell hilly running race on Saturday 27th April 2013 in the stunning North Pembrokeshire. It’s a mixture of trail, fell, wooded paths, the odd boggy bit(!!!),mud(dependant on weather!), and some steep climbs!!!

                                      .

Right:Part of the route that’s named ‘Bridge over the river Gwaun’  

Below is a picture I took of the view towards Dinas Head, which is on the descent down to Newport, Pembs, which is nearing the halfway point.

The main race has approx 4,700ft (1420m) of uphill in total, with several cheerfull marshalls along the way, and watering stations approx every 5miles. If that sounds a bit too much for you, then there’s the smaller 10 mile(16km)Beast Bach with approx 1,700ft (540m) of uphill. Registration, and finish will be in Maenclochog community hall, Maenclochog. SA66 7LA. The main race starts at 10-30am, whereas the Beast Bach race starts an hour later at 11-30am. Did I mention ’the Beasts lair’, the ‘Beasts back’, the ‘Beasts watering hole’, and the ‘beasts fangs!’ These are just some names I’ve already given to parts of the route.  And thrown in for free, is some stunning scenery of the Preseli hills, as you wouldn’t normally see them, and views out over the stunning Newport bay. What more do you want? Tea and cake? Well, yes, there’s more than just tea and cake too! There’s lots of different types of cake! T-shirts did you say? Yes, a specially designed T-shirt if you enter early enough? Click on either the Preseli Beast, or Beast Bach link above for more details. Finally just click onto the registration link to print off your entry form. What are you waiting for! It’s going to be a beauty!

EXCITING NEWS!!

I have just created a new page with a MAP of the two Routes: Preseli Beast and Beast Bach, and photos of various parts of both. So for those HUNGRY to see what they’re in for, this is for you!!

I’ve just checked the viewings on the website, and it’s reached a staggering……. 8,300 views, and counting…… since October!! What an audience! As a certain Victor Meldrew once said, “I don’t believe it”!! And now as the site is having global worldwide views, then perhaps yourself/company would like to sponsor the Preseli Beast in some form or another, and have your name on the website for the world to see!! If so, then please contact me on my email address at the bottom of this page. I’m still currently looking for someone to sponsor any spot prizes if anyone would be interested?? Plus you can get your name onto the ‘goody bag’ sponsor list at the bottom of this page by donating just £10!!

The Preseli Beast has now attracted the attention of some of the UK’s most famous athletes? Tori James, first welsh woman to conquer Everest!! And Mr Rob Woodall, peak bagger extraodanaire who has climbed many, many mountains all over the world, and still very light on his feet for an over 50 yr old!! Can it get better than this? 

And even more news- The slate coasters have been designed!! What do you think?

 

 ENTRY DEADLINE: WEDNESDAY 17TH APRIL *** If not before!!! Go on. Be the first to, ‘Tame the Preseli Beast’. You may enter on the day, but we doubt that we’ll have a T-shirt, or slate coaster for you as these are being ordered specially.

I’ve had to lessen the prize list for the Female category in the O35, O45,O55 due to the entrants, as there were more prizes than runners!!!!!!!! 

And if that’s not all, there’s now an After Race Party in the evening at 7pm with live music, hot food buffet, and a cheap licensed bar!!! Some of those who have entered are staying(roughing it basically!) in one of the three spare rooms in the hall so that they can have an enjoyable night!!! I would need to know if you’re staying for the evenings entertainment so that we have an idea on how many to cater for. Should be a good one!! 

“All Hail the hat”.

Caz the hat.

Contact details, sponsors, prizes, and what you get for your money!

Entry fee is £15 for the main ‘Preseli Beast’ race, and £12 for the ‘Beast Bach’ race. For that you get a ‘Preseli Beast’ or ‘Beast Bach’ T-shirt, Preseli Beast slate coaster, car sticker, goodie bag, soup, cake, tea/coffee, a chance at winning a spot prize, or one of 46, yes 46, main prizes if you’re fast enough in one of the many age categories which are listed below! Yes, all that!!!! Most of all though, a chance to run on unfamiliar ground over an amazing route with some fabulous views. Monies raised this year go towards Maenclochog Community Hall. You may enter on the day, but we doubt that we’ll have a T-shirt, or slate coaster for you, as these are being ordered specially.

Now for the supporters that make this event possible!

Some amazing news, in that we have sponsorship from Valero to help fund T-shirts, and other items to help with the organisation for the day. This is what they had to say;  

“Valero is delighted to sponsor the inaugural ‘Preseli Beast’ running event.  Valero is committed to both our local communities and promoting sport, and ‘Preseli Beast’ is a fulfilment of both those aims. Not only does it promise to provide a tremendous sporting challenge to those taking part, but it also offers a real reward for community life in the north of our county. Valero wishes the best of luck to all those involved.”

The post race menu of soup, cake, tea and coffee is kindly prepared and supplied by the excellent-  Ian Eynon & team @ Tegfan Caterers, Maenclochog.

Princes Gate water,-  http://www.princesgate.com/ are also contributing to the event by supplying us with water, free of charge, for all the thirsty participants!!

On the day race timings are expertly monitored, and controlled, by the amazing, and ever reliant, Roland and Pat Sherwood at  http://www.onlineraceresults.org.uk  So there’ll be no mistaking your times!! Please have a look at the website as it has details of the local race calendar, and what Roland gets up to!! He’s amazing!!!!

Cotswolds (Carmarthen branch) are kindly supplying us with Spot Prizes which allows everyone who completes any of the routes the chance of getting a prize, and the plastic carrier bags to put your goodies into! http://community.cotswoldoutdoor.com/stores/carmarthen/ 

Fossa sports-  for the T-shirts and signs-  http://fossasports.co.uk/

Here is a category list of the many prizes, and it’s sponsors.

The Preseli Beast race!

Overall winner- Male and Female; A unique ‘Preseli Beast’ stained glass panel, made by - Rachel Phillips Glass- http://rachelphillipsglass.com/

Male 18-39yrs- 1^st 2^nd & 3^rd  -            Ivor Rees & Sons ltd electrical contractors-http://www.electricianspembrokeshire.co.uk/

Male 40-49yrs- 1^st 2^nd & 3^rd  -          J.Harries Refrigeration-  http://jharries.co.uk/

Male 50-59yrs-1^st&2^nd -                   ETTS Electrical Services- http://www.etts.co.uk/

Male 60 yrs+  – 1^st & 2^nd -                 Peris & Ann Phillips

Female 18-34yrs – 1^st 2^nd  & 3^rd -     Ivor Rees & Sons ltd electrical contractors- .http://www.electricianspembrokeshire.co.uk/

I’ve had to lessen the prize list for the Female O35, O45, & O55 category due to the lack of entrants, as there were more prizes than runners!!!!!!!!   

Female 35-44yrs- 1^st & 2^nd-        ETTS Electrical Services- http://www.etts.co.uk/

Female 45-54yrs – 1^st  -         Shop Sarah- The smallest, and biggest, shop you’ll ever find.

Female 55yrs+  – 1^st -                     Maenclochog Hardware.

 Local Male* – 1st, 2nd and 3rd -    Tegfan Caterers, Maenclochog. 

Local Female* – 1st, 2nd and 3rd -.  Tegfan Caterers, Maenclochog.

(Local* = competitors living within a 10mile radius of the start. If not enough entrants in this category then it’ll go up in 10mile increments until trophies have gone!!)  

Team category – Once you have entered into the Preseli Beast as an individual, you can register on the day as a team of three for free using a registration form which will be avaliable on the day,  (these will be in the village hall). Teams can be Male, or Female (the Preseli Beast race only). Prizes will be awarded to the quickest accumalitve times of the three from each team. To make up a team you don’t necessarily need to be from a particular club, or even know each other before the day, but it is obligatory to give yourselves a humourous team name!!

1st Male Team of three(a prize each)- Celtic Podiatry   http://www.celticpodiatry.co.uk/

1st Female team of three(a prize each) -Dogs Galore-   www.dogsgalore.org.uk

The Beast Bach race!

The Beast Bach is a shorter race so the list of prizes is as follows;.

Male 18-39yrs – 1^st &2^nd   ; Male 40yrs+ -1^st &2^nd   - F.I.R(Friends In Retirement) Club

Female 18-34yrs -  1^st & 2^nd    ;  Female 35yrs+   - F.I.R(Friends In Retirement) Club

Female O45- 1st      Male O50 – 1st      – Jim and Penny Ashe, Maenclochog

Local* Male – 1st and 2nd,- Cor Harmo-ni, Maenclochog 

Local* Female – 1st and 2nd. - Cor Harmo-ni, Maenclochog 

(Local* = competitors living within a 10mile radius of the start.)

Goody bag sponsors -                                                                                     Maenclochog Community council.                                                                               Preseli Edge Angus.                                                                                                     Seren Brewing Co- http://serenbrewing.co.uk/                                                         Arbel Electronics ltd- http://www.arbelelectronics.co.uk/                                       Gernant Garage, Maenclochog.                                                                              Mr&Mrs Glyn & Rose Eynon, Maenclochog.                                                                John & Morwen Williams, Arfryn, Maenclochog                                                             Jim & Penny Ashe, Maenclochog                                                                               Brynhaul B&B – http://brynhaul-pembrokeshire.co.uk/                                                     The Globe Inn, Maenclochog

New in! – If you’d like to have you’re name above here, then I’ve just announced that by sponsoring just £10 you could help fund items for the goody bags! You’re details will then be added to the Goody bag sponsors list above!

If you’d like to have your name on here as a sponsor then please get in touch via my contact details below. We’ve now had over 9000 views to-date worldwide since Oct 2012! What an audience!!

A massive ‘Thank you’ to all the sponsors, and all who are helping out with the general organising, and marshalling of the event. This event would not be possible without your input.  If you’d like to help out on the day by marshalling, then please get in touch. Diolch.

Here is my email address ( carwynfarwyn@hotmail.co.uk ), or my home telephone number is 01437 532 401, for those who want to get in touch, or if you have any problems printing off your entry form!

 You can also join the newly formed Preseli Beast facebook page too.  http://www.facebook.com/#!/ThePreseliBeast

Thanks for looking.

Caz the hat.