All five days on film
Just as quick as we can upload them onto the website we will have all five of the Dragon's Back Race films available online here.
The race comes to a close
The second Dragon’s Back Race drew to a close at about 11pm on Friday night in the dark courtyard of Carreg Cennen Castle. The speeches had already been made and the prizes given out.but there was still one more trophy to be given, and that was to the last runner on the course, Wendy Dodds.
Wendy was the oldest competitor in the race (61) and one of 4 runners taking part who had also completed the first race 20 years ago. She was accompanied by some race staff over the later part of the course and the crowd who had walked up to the castle to see her finish began cheering when their headlights came into view in the woods on the final climb. Going at a good pace she passed through the crowd and began the final climb into the castle. With the finish line in sight she put on such a spurt up the hillside the supporting crowd couldn’t keep up with her!
King and queen of the castle
Just for today Carreg Cennen castle has an extra tourist attraction to go with the ancient ruins and panoramic views for which it is famous. The Dragon’s Back race has moved in for the afternoon and among the earliest runners to arrive were the race winners Steve Birkinshaw and Helene Whitaker.
Day 5 - The Black Mountain
It is the final day of The Dragon’s Back Race, and the runners are now making their way across The Black Mountain towards Carreg Cennen Castle, renowned as one of the most impressive castle ruins in Wales (and of course as the finish of the Dragons Back Race).
Day 5 - Route information & map
Planners Optimum Route: 64km with 2,092m of ascent
Gellifechan Campsite > Hill > Hill > Track / Road Junction > Usk Reservoir Dam > Allt Fach > Fan Brycheiniog > Carreg Yr Ogof > Garreg Lwyd Summit > Carn Pen-y-clogau > Tair Carn Isaf > Carreg Cennen Castle
A shortened day 4
Morning in camp was the usual hustle and bustle in the chilly morning air but there were no views out onto the hills until the early morning mist had burnt off. The camp at the sheep barn had a good spirit overnight, and later arrivals were cheered in, wrapped up and found tent spaces by their fellow competitors. After his emergency run to get more supplies the race medic said he’d had a quiet night.
Day 4 - Route information & map
Planner’s Optimum Route: 66km with 2,453m of ascent
Eisteddfa Gurig Farm > Ford > Esgair Wen > Cefn Bach > Esgair Penygarreg Summit > Elan Village > Gorllwyn Summit > Drygarn Fawr Summit > Gellifechan Campsite
A long way to nowhere
It was another long day on the Dragon’s Back Race and at the end of it racers arrived at a sheep barn high on the mid-Wales hills to find their tents set up inside. As Helene Whitaker put it, “I’ve never been so happy to see a tent set up in sheep shit before!” (To be fair there was some hay too.)
The Dragon’s breath
It’s hot. It’s very, very hot. Day 3 is the hottest so far, and the heat is making life even more uncomfortable for the runners who are suffering dehydration and blisters. They had the opposite problem during the night as under the clear skies it was cold, not the night for a lightweight sleeping bag, especially when you are already exhausted.