Village revives event that won a tinplate worker wide reknown
Nino Williams tells of the champion athlete who competed in a sport which was hugely popular 100 years ago, capturing the imagination of the public
HE WAS the Colin Jackson of his day – and was similarly in great demand across the region.
But Jack Jenkins’ prowess was not in the already established sports of rugby or football, but in another popular sporting pursuit, that one hundred years ago had captured the imagination of the Welsh public.
The tinplate worker from Cwmafan was a competitor at sack racing, a sport in which competitions were held throughout the country at the start of the 20th century.
It was said to be one of the biggest, if not the biggest, athletic event in Wales.
And Jack’s dominance was such that he proved unbeatable, leading him to be crowned the Champion Sack Runner of Wales.
With his success came demands on his time, with him regularly being asked to carry out sack racing and jumping exhibitions both locally and nationally.
One such event was held in Aberavon in September 1916, in which Jack’s exhibition was reported in The Herald of Wales.
The report also described the winner of the ‘50 yards wounded soldier’s race’, by Private Charlie Jones, who happened to be a close friend of Jack’s.
Jack’s achievements were celebrated again this past summer, when organisers of the Cwmafan Festival, staged in Jack’s home village, decided to resurrect a sack-racing competition in his name.
A music festival began there eight years ago, when it welcomed just 250 visitors.
This year, 2,000 people attended the event, which featured the musical talents of Trampolene, Sian Evans from Kosheen, and The Blockheads.
This year, for the first time, people were invited to compete for the inaugural Jack Jenkins Cup, which was presented to the winner by Ray Stephens, the grandson of Jack Jenkins’ brother Benjamin.
Ray said: “We come from quite a competitive family.
“My grandfather was into dogs and greyhounds, and he would coach my uncle.
“I have always known about Jack. He used to train on what is known in Cwmafan as the racing tip, which is all overgrown now, but was overlooking Cwmclais farm.
“The organisers of the festival asked me if I would present the cup, so I said a few words.
“There were a lot of people from Cwmafan, and a few knew about Jack and the sack racing but I explained a little about him and my grandfather.
“Jack went all over the country doing demonstrations, and sometimes went to England. I don’t think he was ever beaten”.
Ray’s connection with his famous relative, and the revival of the sack race, was the result of a discovery by festival organiser Phil Samuel who, like Ray, is a member of Bois Afan Male Voice Choir.
Phil said: “Someone had discovered Jack Jenkins’ photo in an attic, and I took it to choir rehearsals and asked if anyone had heard of him. Ray put his hand up.
“Another choir member, Tim Rees, then did some research, and we thought it would be fun to try and bring back a bit of the past.
“We had to adjust the rules a little, as we didn’t want anyone getting injured, with any pushing and falling over – we think it used to be a bit of a free-for-all.
“We couldn’t find the original cup, so we had our own one made, with Jack Jenkins’ name on it.”
The Jack Jenkins Cwmafan Fest Cup was won by local boy Lewis Buckley, whose name has been inscribed on the trophy. It now resides in Cwmafan hostelry, The Brit.
Anyone wishing to compete for the title will have the opportunity to do so at next year’s Cwmafan Fest.