The Chepstow Harriers 'Joc Dodd Fell Series' is a series of races in the calendar year that club members are encouraged to take part in. These races are chosen at the start of the year by the Fell Series Co-ordinator. Points are awarded in each race and an overall table of positions showing accumulated points is produced.
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Chepstow Harriers 2026 Fell Series
There are 8 races in the series and your best 4 will score. Everyone doing 4 or more races will get a mountain-themed memento. The top 3 men and women will also receive a hand-crafted trophy.
These are the races for 2026:
Cwmyoy Fell race - Saturday 25 April 2026, 11am. 5.6 miles. 1257ft ascent
The Cwmyoy Horseshoe Fell Race - Saturday April 25th 2026 at 11 am - Element Active
Route: A traditional fell race. Glorious scenery into both England and Wales and taking in a short section of the Offa’s Dyke footpath.
The route starts by winding up through Cwmyoy village and passes the famous ‘wonky’ church. There’s then a steep climb up onto the Hatterall Hill ridge followed by some stunning ridge running. A little bit of route choice down to the final checkpoint – I’ve deliberately staged this race before the bracken is up – and then it’s flagged back to the Village Hall.
Please familiarise yourself with the nature of the fell race route. It is not a navigationally complex race in good visibility, but you should be aware of the route and where the checkpoints are.
The route will be flagged outward until you meet the open fell and on the return from the ridge and after Checkpoint 2 through farmland.
Mynydd Troed Fell Race – Tuesday 26 May, evening race
A brand new route, organised by our very own Andy Creber. It will be around 3-4 miles and with route choices for the descent. More info to follow.
Magic Roundabout – Sunday 14 June, 11am
Hay Hotfooters - Magic Roundabout
The famous Hay Hotfooters 10k race in the Begwyn hills, a National Trust site above Llowes, near Hay-on-Wye.
A hilly race for trail runners with fantastic views of the Brecon Beacons & Black Mountains (if the weather is kind). Fully marked and marshalled – suitable for beginners.
Sugarloaf evening race – Tuesday 23 June, 7pm. 5.5 miles, 1100ft ascent
Ideal beginners race – the route will be marked.
The terrain underfoot is mostly close cropped grass so it'll be fast. The route does not actually go to the summit trig point and so avoids any rocky and eroded sections.
The route is very nearly a reversal of old the Mynydd Pen Y Fal route (Ed Dickson). It starts from the car park and soon starts to ascend the Mynydd Llanwenarth ridge. We turn right (east) under the loaf and contour to the start of the Rholben Ridge. A sharp turn left (north) and now starts the main ascent, all run-able by most. We eventually pass the summit to the north and join the Mynyydd Pen Y Fal ridge. Then follows a fast grassy descent down the ridge. When we hit the track a sharp turn left leads to the small stream crossing of Cwm Gwenffrwd. Up the bank opposite along the tree line and then back to the car park.
Pen y Fan – Saturday 11 July, noon. 3.5 miles, 1930ft ascent
Pen y Fan Race - Brecon Fans Races
Not suitable for beginners as it’s not marked. Experience required; local knowledge advantageous; navigational skills required. There is a cut-off time of 60 minutes at the summit of Pen y Fan - competitors not making this cut-off will be retired from the race. Full windproof body cover (i.e. jacket and trousers), map, compass & whistle. Requirements may be relaxed on the day depending on weather conditions. Please make sure you have all items with you, or prepare to be disqualified
Enter online via Fabian 4 opening 1st May 2026. Entry closes when full or 12:00 noon the day before the race.
Entries limited to 300. No entry on the day at the venue.
Machen hill race Monday 31 August, 3pm, 4.3 miles, 1200ft ascent
Marked and marshalled hill race, which is suitable for beginners, on August bank holiday.
Entry on the day only.
Fan Fawr Saturday 03 October, 2 miles, 1000ft ascent
Fast and furious straight out & back course covering 2miles and 1000ft of ascent. Terrain is exclusively fast, grassy and steep. Sound navigational skills are required in the event of bad weather and full kit & map maybe requested dependant on forecasted weather conditions. Race route is unmarked with one marshal at the summit/turning point.
Twmbarlwm Terror – date TBA, 7 miles, 1000ft ascent
Fully marked and marshalled trail race, suitable for beginners, organised by local club Fairwater Runners.
Fell Races are all categorised in terms of length and difficulty:
Length - S (short), M (medium), L (long).
Difficulty A, B, C.
These are combined to denote the severity of the race. Eg: Pen Tir Drop BS (moderate difficulty and short)
Myth busting
Any club member can do a fell race. Many people assume that fell racers are slightly mad and hard as nails. Well, some are, but like all running genres, the races contain runners with a wide range of speed, age, experience and skills.
Anyone can do fell races - running in the hills can be a truly amazing experience and some might say almost spiritual.
You do not need to be a brilliant navigator as some races are well marked or follow easy paths or ridges.
You do not need to run up the hills - there is often a fair bit of walking to be done.
See www.fellrace.com for some general guidance.
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