Black Mountains Fell Race
Mynyddoedd Du
AL 27.4k/1586m (17 miles/5200ft)
LK/NS/SER
This race has cut-off times. See notes.
Sunday 15th September 2024
12 noon. Start early option - 11am (not eligible for prizes).
Entry fee: £10.
Enter on-line at Fabian4
EOD - £20.
NOTE - any refunds will be on the basis of entry fee minus any processing fee by the online provider (Fabian4)
Start outside Llanbedr Village Hall (GR SN849173). NP8 1SR
Finish by church gate.
W3W ///slurred.thatched.songbird
Course records:
Keith Anderson 2:16:01 (1993)
Menna Angharad 2:40:10 (1996)
Over 18. Full kit (dependent on weather) and navigational skills required
2024 Results (Racetek)
2024 Report
2023 Results (Racetek)
2022 Results
Results Archive
Organiser: Joe Rumer
jwrumer@gmail.com
General
Each checkpoint must be visited in the correct order. There will be no course markings.
You will need to make sure each checkpoint marshal records your race number, so make sure your number is visible at each - call out your number to make sure it's recorded.
There is a cut off at Pen Y Gadair Fawr of 2 1/2 hours and then at the final road crossing before the pull up through the forest to Crug Mawr, of 4 hours. If you think you can't make this cut-off and still want to take part it will be possible for you to start 60 mins earlier than the mass start. You do need to contact me before hand to take opportunity of this - it's no good turning up on the day expecting it.
This is an AL category fell race. It is not suitable for beginners. There are no course markings. Good navigational skills are required and a recce or two recommended. Black and White maps will be available on race day but it is strongly recommended that you source your own colour version of a suitable scale.
There is no parking in the village. Please do not jeopardize the event by annoying the locals and parking adhoc within the village. Park in the designated car park - this will be signed on entry to the village.
There are campsites nearby including one in in Crickhowell and Cwmdu; and plenty of B&B etc.
The forest sections from Ball Bach to the road and back again up to Crug Mawr are notorious nav traps - people go wrong here every year and lose substantial amounts of time or simply retire. The maps below show one way to navigate these sections. If you've never been in this area and have not carried out a recce then you will need to be VERY good with a map and compass.
Use of GPS enabled watches and phones: WFRA policy states that these devices are banned for fell races. However, if you want to upload a .gpx route onto a device and have it as a backup in case of emergency then that's your choice - but you must declare if you end up using for navigation back at HQ, so that you can be classed as 'non-competitive' in the results. You will not be disqualified, merely exempt from winning a prize in any category. If you end up not using it (but like having it there just in case) then all is good, no need to tell the RO.