Brecon Fans Races Blog

Pen y Fan prize giving 2014

crispin.flower@live.co.uk (Crispin) — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 07:00:00 GMT

A few snaps from the prize-giving earlier today; runners all full of cake and beer, and the rain holding off…

Testing the Gold Beacons ale

crispin.flower@live.co.uk (Crispin) — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 18:36:27 GMT

Thanks to Brecon Brewing we have a bottle of Gold Beacons ale for all runners (except the juniors!). They say it is a

deep golden ale brewed with Progress and Pioneer hops for a soft yet well defined bitterness, which balances the blend of malts.Ingredients: Brecon water, Maris Otter Pale Ale malt, Crystal malt, Caragold malt, Malted Oats; Progress and Pioneer hops; yeast

But before handing this out, we do have to follow our strict quality control procedures, so I’m checking it out now. Here’s a sample, with Pen y Fan in the background, and Naomi picking peas for tea…

You know what, it seems just fine! But I’d better try another to be sure…

Crispin ...

Much beer

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:39:00 GMT

Just back from a work trip to Chester, and finding the house full of boxes of Breconshire Brewery ale. I think I'd better check it's all OK, perhaps one bottle from each box. Also I bought the wine for prizes on the way home, 24 bottles of nice, and Naomi picked up the prizes from Cotswold Outdoors in Brecon. And as well as the main prizes, every runner at each race will get a 15% off voucher valid in any Cotswold store, which is most welcome and very generous I reckon.

On Wednesday evening I made massive amounts of flapjacks, I think about 70, so perhaps one more batch needed. Good Housekeeping recipe, augmented with lemon juice + zest + raisins for extra yumminess.

A couple more entries in (after the closing date but no problem) plus several people contacting us through the site asking what kit required etc.

Great to hear that Mark Palmer is racing. He won the race 3 years in a row 2006-8, then took a couple of years off, so it will be interesting to see whether he can reclaim the crown. Certainly Mark's tumultuous descending will make it hard for Stewart Bellamy to retain his position as fastest from summit to finish. We'll try to give a prize for this, and fastest to the summit too, if we can work out the stats in time.

Unfortunately we have heard that last year's winner Martin Shaw cannot race this year: he said:

I just had a month off running after a very nasty fall (I know, hard to believe) in which I broke several ribs. Think I'm about better now and was thinking of trying a run this evening to get going again - the Fans Race flier has motivated me! Wish I could be there at the w/e and of course I'd love to be running - really enjoyed last years races. I rate them both very highly! I'm sure you'll have a great turn out and I'll be looking out for the results. Look forward to being back on the race scene again in the future.

Now I must get on with printing out entry forms, race maps, etc etc etc

Crispin ...

Tying red tape

Sat, 18 Jun 2011 08:30:00 GMT

We've left it a bit late this year, but we've finally sent off the insurance permit forms to the WFRA (Welsh Fell Runners Association), and letters to the National Trust and landowner. Later this weekend we'll do an email blast to previous competitors and running clubs, with the race poster.

Naomi has secured sponsorship from Cotswold in Brecon which is great news.

Still on the "to do" list for June:

Putting posters up around town, and at Dering Lines barracks
Arrangements with St Mary's Bakery and Breconshire Brewery
Recruiting marshals and photographers
Write to the Brecon Mountain Rescue

And probably loads of other things I've forgotten!

Crispin ...