Time Running Out To Enter Races

Time is running out to take part in the 2016 Nos Galan Road Races on New Year’s Eve, with registration likely to close within the next few days. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Due to unprecedented demand this year year, entry to the Elite Race is already closed, with limited places only available in the Adult 5K Fun Run. There are still spaces available in all childrens’ race categories. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This year marks the 58th anniversary of the Nos Galan Road Races, held in Mountain Ash on December 31, in memory of legendary Welsh runner Guto Nyth Bran. It attracts 1,500 athletes of all ages and abilities from around the globe – and thousands more spectators. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The annual event is organised by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and the Nos Galan Committee. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Ann Crimmings, Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure and Culture, and also Chair of the Nos Galan Committee, said: “Each year demand for places is great, but this year is the fastest that race categories have filled up in the history of the event. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This year we are experiencing unprecedented demand for places and we are likely to be full to capacity very soon – three months before the event on New Year’s Eve. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As a committee, we have been fortunate to attract the support of new sponsors and have worked to draw in grant funding, helping us to develop the event with the Local Authority. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“In 2015, to ensure the safety of the race, numbers were capped at 1,500, leaving almost 200 disappointed runners who left it too late to apply ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Race numbers will again be capped at 1,500 for 2016 Nos Galan Road Races, therefore we are encouraging people to enter early to secure a place. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The current route for the 5K Adult races is likely to be changed next year as the Council plans to start work on the Cross Valley Link Bridge. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This planned work will see the one-way section, which currently restricts numbers, removed from the race route in 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The proposed works on the Cross Valley Link Bridge will see the widening of the one-way section to two lanes, providing the opportunity for the Nos Galan Committee and Rhondda Cynon Taf Council to review race numbers for 2018. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Nos Galan Committee works closely with the Local Authority and South Wales Police, and the increased popularity of the event – with numbers increasing from 300 runners in 2003 to 1,500 in 2015 – is testament to partnership working. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“If you have not already done so, please register soon to avoid disappointment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We hope, with the continued support of the community, we can, from 2018, look to expand the event.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The fun starts in the town centre at 4pm with the first of the children’s races. There will also be an elite race and the adult 5k fun run. Other attractions will include a spectacular fireworks display. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There will be no race registration on the night. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To be a part of the 2016 Nos Galan Road Races, register online at http://www.nosgalan.co.uk/ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There is no charge for using a Debit Card, but a Bank charge of 2% will be added to all Credit Card transactions. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​