The largest national running event ever attended by Ellesmere Port
Running club, The Welsh Castles Relay,
was the 28th running of the race and was held over the
weekend of the 12th and 13th of June 2010. 58 Teams attempted to
complete 20 relay stages over the 211 miles of Wales finest, and
hilliest, terrain that separates Caernarfon and Cardiff Castle. In
stunning weather conditions over the two days, EPRC proved what a
fantastic club camaraderie and team they are, producing some
stunning performances for their first time in the competition. The
total accumulated time for all 20 runners gives the final over all
time and position in the competition, with special awards going to
stage winners, and mountain stages.
Some of the scenery over the first 6 stages going down the west
coast of Wales was simply breathtaking making for an inspiring race
for all involved. Six of the 20 stages are mountain stages with
incredible ascents that only the truly insane or talented EPRC
runners would take on... for the club, it was mostly the insane.
With some late injuries less than 48 hours before the race was due
to commence; Mark Dodd breaking his toe, Matt Whitfield pulling his
back out and Mike Burns with a re-occurring groin strain team morale
was the only thing left to pull them through and boy did they pull
through in style. Or, were all these ailments the usual suspects
simply playing tactics so they could get more claim to fame when
they ran their leg? Who knows, however Pasha was simply walking like
John Wayne, Mike Burns was grabbing his crotch and Mark Dodd was
limping looking for none existent sympathy.
Congratulations to Serpentine
(Open and Ladies), Clevedon (Veterans) and Tata Steel (Business
House) in the main competition and Serpentine (Kings and Queens) and
Clevedon (Monarchs) in the Mountain Stages.
It looks as if the standard of
running was very high, with 6 new stage records being set again;
Stages 1, 6 and 7 on Saturday and Stages 18, 19 (by 1 second) and 20
on Sunday. Indeed running throughout the field was of higher
quality according to the back up teams and they should know.
Although the castles team
received a small number of reports of runners being fed from moving
vehicles or running on the wrong side of the road (or down the
middle even!), which we must stop, the vast majority of the
participants seem to have followed the rules and crossed the finish
line safely. Fortunately, the Red Cross teams had a quiet weekend,
which is what we all want.
Please do not arrange any
weddings, christenings, or accept any invitations on 11th
and 12th June 2011, for you will probably miss the
‘Castles’ weekend.
With provisional results out,
looking like EPRC have secured 32nd place overall and 24th
in the Mountain Stages in their first attempt, this is a special
time in the clubs history and hopefully a start of a new yearly
attraction for the club.
Stunning event, stunning scenery
and stunning weather. This is without doubt one of the greatest
events on the running calendar and everyone involved seemed to have
a fantastic time. A special thank you to all those who helped
co-ordinate all aspects from rota's to dropping/picking runners up
and everything else that only by taking part in an event like this
people can appreciate the hard work that goes into it.
Tiring? yes! Tough? yes? Awesome
Team Building? YES YES YES!
Cheers Mark Dodd & Simon Jeffs-
Castles Team & Vice Captain
