Brecon Multisport

The WAAT 4 Challenge was described as a 40k navigation course through a series of checkpoints around the Brecon Beacons National Park, all proceeds going to the Wales Air Ambulance. The inaugural event which was held on the 20th June attracted 54 teams.

The start was staggered with two teams starting every two minutes, tackling the looped course in opposite directions. Following the team draw on Friday evening at Brecon Castle Hotel we would be starting at 06:14, racing in an anti-clockwise direction.

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Race Report by Liam Hayward

Almost a year had passed and once again I found myself driving with ‘Team Hayward’ to Llandovery to take part in the annual Sprint Triathlon which marked the start of the town’s week long carnival. This time round, due to injury, Lynda was relegated to team photographer (her efforts are liberally scattered throughout this report and you are requested to judge for yourself whether this should be a permanent position!) Actual competitors from the Hayward clan were Chris, keen to gain a benchmark against his winter base training efforts, yours truly, hoping to come through unscathed and injury free and my eldest son, Simon, who had been roped in as well for his first ever Tri!

Team Hayward pose after racking their bikes (L to R) Simon, Chris and Liam. Now the wait starts before entering the water…

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Race Report by Steve E

The iROC is a brand new adventure racing weekend with a unique format. It consists of 6 individual races over 2 days involving fell-running, mountain biking and navigating and is sponsored by Inov-8

Matt Morris, Barry French and I entered as a team, racing as Likeys.com amongst 22 other teams and many solos and pairs, with the 3 of us racing all 6 events. Team health looked like it was going to be an issue with Matt and I with foot injuries and Barry with more of a cough than should be raced with!

The venue was a strange but practical disused cement works. This meant that marquees and parking were all on hard ground and the camping was close by on a perfectly flat, soft and well drained field. Combined with a beautiful weekend of weather it made for a great environment, but it would have coped well with an OMM style storm! The surrounding terrain was rolling green hills, disused quarries and some old quarry tracks plus a piece of dense forestry with some man-made single track.

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Cape Cornwall Golf Course at St Just was the dramatic base for Round 6 of the Coastal Trailquest Series. In a commanding position above the cliffs, there was a lot of sea in view - head west from here and the next time hit land you’re on a different continent. The morning broke (yet again) with brilliant sunshine, though a cool breeze was a gentle reminder that this was early spring, not early summer. The sense of drama within the landscape was fantastic, and has been a feature of all the events of the series. I’ve discovered new areas that have offered much more riding potential than I expected, and one was no exception. (continue reading…)

Martin, Beacons Ultra

The lighter evenings are here and the race season is gathering pace. There were reports of club members out competing, in not one but two events last weekend (4th & 5th April), can this be right?

Indeed it is, Matt Morris and Martin Buck were leading the charge in the infamous Llanbedr to Blaenafon fell race, featuring 15 miles and 4,500ft of ascent. Matt spoke highly of the event and both members did the club proud with very respectable finishes. Full results can be viewed here

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