Fan y Big Race
If you would like to enter or watch the race, this should tell you everything you need to know. If you have any more questions, please contact us.
Date & Time
No race in 2025... please consider entering the Fan y Big y Pen y Fan y Big Race instead, or come back in 2026!
Sunday 7th July 2024.
Start 12:00 noon.
Location
Llanfrynach, near Brecon. Location in Bing Maps.
Race start and finish are in the same place, and parking is along the North side of the same field.
Parking
In the race field. To maintain our good relationship with the local community, please do not park in the village.
Charges (designed to encourage car sharing, and passed on to the farmer):
£0 per car with 3 or more runners.
£1 per car with 2 runners.
£2 per car with only one runner.
CASH ONLY!
Registration
Registration is NOT in the Village Hall this year, but is in the race field instead.
Pre-entered runners collect wristband 10:30-11:45.
Entry fee
£10 online in advance.
£15 cash only on the day, up to 11:30. Sorry no entry on the day.
Junior races
Possibly! find out more
How to enter
Enter online via Fabian 4 - you will be able to select whether you want to enter Pen y Fan, Fan y Big, or both. Entry closes 8am Saturday 6th July.
At Fan y Big we are also able to accept entries on the day, in Llanfrynach Village Hall, £15 cash, up to 11:30, subject to there being places still available.
Entries limited to 150.
In line with WFRA Safety Guidelines, we will refuse entry at any time (before or after registration) to any competitors who, in our opinion, do not have the appropriate kit/ equipment, experience or navigational skills required to complete the race safely and in a reasonable time.
Distance
16.5 kilometres or 10.3 miles
Ascent
670 metres or 2,200 feet
WFRA classification
"BM". Experience required; local knowledge advantageous; navigational skills required. Note there is a cut-off time summit checkpoint - see below.
Championship Status
Not this year.
Kit requirement
Full windproof body cover, map, compass & whistle. Please make sure you have all items with you or prepare to be disqualified and embarrassed! Please read our safety guidelines.
No dogs.
The use of music/sound equipment that restricts hearing, and the playing of music audible to others, is prohibited.
Code of conduct
Competitors are required to abide by the WFRA Code of Conduct https://sites.google.com/site/welshfra/policies/code-of-conduct
Age limit
Over 18 on race day
Records
Clockwise (new in 2024)
M: new course
F: new course
Anti-clockwise (traditional direction)
M: 1:11:41 Pete Ryder 2010. (Note: the record for the alternative course used from 2017 to 2022 was 01:11:45 Luke Fisher 2021.)
F: 01:23:14 Kate Hulls 2014. (Note: the record for the alternative course used from 2017 to 2022 was 01:31:01 Hannah Jarvis 2018.)
Prize categories
M: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 1st V40, 1st V50, 1st V60, 1st V70
F: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 1st V40, 1st V50, 1st V60, 1st V70
Special prizes
1st Male over both Brecon Fans races (decided on position, then fastest time of positions are equal)
1st Female over both Brecon Fans races (decided on position, then fastest time of positions are equal)
1st Male club team (3 runners)
1st Female club team (3 runners)
1st Local (strict rules apply, but we are not sure what they are - please be prepared to shout loudly about your proximal habitation)
Organizers
Crispin Flower & Naomi Law
Race route
Please note: in 2024 the race will be in the opposite direction from previous years, i.e. clockwise instead of anti-clockwise.
There is one checkpoint on the route, the location depending on the direction of the route. On the traditional anti-clockwise route, the checkpoint is at the summit of Fan y Big (noting that this is far from the highest point on the route); on the clockwise route, the check point is at the highest point of the course, Bwlch y Ddwyallt.
Route map 1 (0.5MB JPEG) (new window)
Route map 2 (0.3MB JPEG) (new window)
Complete route map (0.3MB JPEG) (new window)
Route description (clockwise and anti-clockwise routes)
GPX (anti-clockwise): Fan_y_Big_Race_Anti-Clockwise.gpx
GPX (clockwise): Fan_y_Big_Race_Clockwise.gpx
See interactive map below.
Cut-off times
Anti-clockwise route: there is a cut-off time of 75 minutes at the summit of Fan y Big - competitors not making this cut-off will be retired from the race and will return to the start by the same route.
Clockwise route: there is a cut-off time of 75 minutes at the summit checkpoint at SO 0546 2036 - competitors not making this cut-off will be retired from the race and will return to the start by the same route.
Both directions: we will close the finish timing after 160 minutes (2 hours 40 minutes), i.e. at 2:40pm.
Recce
12.00 Sunday 16th June from the Village Hall, Llanfrynach. Bring suitable outdoor gear and refreshments for 3-4 hours in the hills.
Route in Google Maps
The two checkpoint locations shown are for the clockwise and anti-clockwise routes.
Route profile
Clockwise route
Imagine the mirror image of the anti-clockwise route!
Anti-clockwise route
