Runners get wet and muddy for trail run
MORE than 300 runners took part in the first ever Merthyr Mawr Trail Running Festival held around the grounds of the Merthyr Mawr Estate.
While other parts of the UK were basking in sunshine, the runners at Merthyr Mawr were greeted with mist and drizzle – perfect trail running conditions.
The festival was organised by Bridgend AC with the kind support of estate owner Rory McLaggan, who opened up private parts of the estate for the runners to enjoy, helped set up the course and was the official starter of each race.
“It was lovely to see so many smiling faces, young and old, running around the Merthyr Mawr Estate despite the challenging conditions and I look forward to welcoming everyone back next year,” said Rory.
There were distances to suit everyone, from the toddler dash, two kilo-metre Bunny Run and the four kilometre River Run for the younger runners, to the seven mile Rabbit Run and the longest event, the 18-mile Witches Run.
The Rabbit and Witches runners had to negotiate plenty of mud, sand, hills and a river crossing on their way to completing the respective courses.
The Witches Run was won by Bridgend AC’s Cowbridge-based Andrew Tuckey, with Neil Jones, from Cwm Ogwr Runners, in second and Pete Williams, from Bridgend AC, in third.
Australian ultra-runner Andrew, who has recently completed the Comrades 56-mile ultra race in South Africa and the 100 mile Western States Ultra in America, said the race “had everything you want from a trail race and is fantastic location to run around”.
The first lady home in the Witches Run was local runner Jess Hegarty, from Cornelly Striders, followed by Fiona Davies in second place, with Sarah Adams taking third spot.
The Rabbit Run was won by Cardiff’s AAC’s Bridgend-based runner James Hunt followed by Mathew Powell and James’ father Rob Hunt, from Bridgend AC, in third.
Pencoed Triathlon Club’s Ruth Davies was the first lady home followed by Alne Kenny in second and Becca Jones in third.
The event has received lots of positive comments from the runners and the organisers are keen to build on the success of the inaugural event to de- liver an improved event in 2017.
Race director Steve Brace said: “We would like to thank Rory McLaggan from the Merthyr Mawr Estate and all the volunteers and the marshals that worked behind the scenes to put the event on.
“We have received lots of feedback from the runners that we will go through to ensure the 2017 edition of the Merthyr Mawr Trail Running Festival is bigger and better.”
To view the event results and more pictures from the day, visit the event website www.mmtrf.co.uk