The annual Welsh Castles Relay, one of the UK’s most spectacular and iconic running events, once again delivered an unforgettable experience, and Winchester Running Club (WRC) was at the heart of the action! This gruelling 209-mile, 20-stage race, held over two days, traces a breathtaking route from Caernarfon Castle in the north to Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens in the south. Showcasing the very best of Welsh scenery—from towering mountain passes and lush green valleys to dramatic coastal roads—the event saw 62 of the country’s top clubs battling it out in fierce but friendly competition.
This year, Winchester Running Club proudly fielded two full teams of 20 athletes, competing in both the Open and Veterans categories, as well as the “race within a race” against Welsh club Liswerry for the coveted Dragon Trophy. They certainly delivered in style!
Day 1: Setting the Pace with Record-Breaking Performances
The weekend kicked off in sensational fashion with Alex Lane on the 9.1-mile first stage. She didn’t just win the stage; she stormed to victory, claiming the event’s first coveted yellow winner’s t-shirt! Her blistering run saw her finish an incredible 9th overall and smash the women’s stage record by more than two minutes—a truly standout performance that set an electrifying tone for the entire weekend. John Mills provided excellent back-up, ensuring he used his sprint finish to move ahead of both Liswerry rivals.
The momentum continued on Stage 2, with Caroline Carr, our Head of Catering, and Andy Costello, Head of Marigolds, both running strongly and finishing ahead of Liswerry. The strong performances didn’t stop there. On the tough 12.1-mile mountain stage (Stage 3), Adrian Fautly dug deep to secure an impressive 4th place, while Karla Borland impressed with a 2nd place finish in the female veteran category.
Celebrations continued on Stage 4, where Sarah Shedden—making her Castles debut and running on her birthday—led from the front to secure another superb win over 9.5 miles, following home Stan Parkinson who delivered a solid 7th overall. Sarah Witt and Leanne Smith continued the charge, heading up and out of Harlech to finish by the sea in Barmouth, with Sarah picking up 3rd place in the female veteran category. Shortly after, newcomer Matt Port capped off an excellent first day with a commanding victory on Stage 6, finishing more than a minute clear of his nearest rival. Lorraine Hedworth, another first-timer at Castles, maintained her recent fine form to finish in a very respectable 71:59.
Stage 7, the second of the mountain stages, was bravely tackled by co-team manager and CEO of Excitement Kate Belfield and Paul “I’m good at downhill” Horler. Neither disappointed, giving their all on a tough up-and-down course. Stage 8, with its significant climb, was tackled by Becky Hutton, a 3rd place female finisher and another first-timer, and Dean Rawlins, completing the course in a very respectable 73:39. Sue True teamed up with late substitute Stephen Clow to run the penultimate stage from Foel to Llanfair Caerinion – the shortest stage of the day but a challenging final vertical ascent over 100m. Day 1 culminated in both a mountain and the race’s longest stage, 13.1 miles. Who better to take it on than our very own red-headed man from the Land of Fjords, Bracken Dawson, and the slightly grey-headed Andy Parkinson! The volume of support received at the finish in Newtown truly surpassed the pain of the preceding miles!
An overnight stop near Newtown in mid-Wales allowed the squad to refuel and recover—with superb team hospitality provided by head chef Caroline Carr, fresh from her own effort on Stage 2, and logistics mastermind Colin McManus, who kept the whole operation running smoothly.
Day 2: Relentless Effort and Inspiring Milestones
Day two picked up exactly where day one left off. James Moore and Nick Davies were first out of bed, tackling the opening mountain stage before Cos had donned his marigolds! Erin Wilmer’s fine form continued with another spectacular run, racing over 11.2 undulating miles on Stage 12 to take 1st place in the women’s category, finishing 9th overall, and set a new stage record—despite a mid-race shoelace stop! Pete Sansome, a Castles veteran, put in his usual gutsy performance as he continues his return from injury. Cathy Kinnear and another Castles first-timer, Jack Halybone, served up a delightful appetiser on stage 13 for the infamous ‘Drovers’. King of the ultra-trail, Dave Gaskell, was duped into running the leg on his Castles debut alongside Ellie Swire, who entered into the challenge in full knowledge of the pain ahead. Neither disappointed, putting in stellar performances on the stage. Yet another first-timer in Brian Klass, paired alongside another veteran in Pete Curtis, tackled ‘Malcolm’s’ stage to enter Brecon. George Belfield, team vice-supremo, was next up on the final mountain stage with Steve Oliver, another mainstay of Winchester’s involvement in this annual extravagance.
The race was now on to Cardiff! Sophie Black and Carrie Oliver led the charge down to Merthyr, with Si Gillet and Steve Goodwin carrying on to Abercynon. A special mention should be made of the fact that Steve Goodwin was completing his 20th Castles Relay—his first was done before the team’s youngest member was even born! John Reed saw a welcome return to form with a gritty 4th place finish on the penultimate Stage 19, with Sam Parkinson finishing strongly to be 2nd placed vet home. The honour of the final stage was given to Lloyd Dickson and Tim Anderson. A welcome return to racing for Lloyd after injury, and a welcome run for Tim, who had patiently sat through 200 miles, 19 stages, 3 minibus changes, two evening meals, 17 coffee stops, and 356 toilet stops (not just for him!) to get him there (and another first-timer, too!).
More Than Just a Race: The Spirit of WRC
While stage wins and podium finishes are always cause for celebration, the Welsh Castles Relay is truly about more than just competition—it’s a celebration of running itself. Few clubs embody that spirit more than Winchester. With runners ranging in age from 17 to over 70, the club exemplifies inclusivity, energy, and community.
When not racing, team members could be found at roadside cheering posts, supporting not just their own teammates, but every runner that passed. The camaraderie, passion, and sheer joy were evident throughout the entire weekend.
Team managers George and Kate Belfield summed it up perfectly: “Every runner gave it their all and contributed to a fine 23rd place overall for the Open team and an impressive 4th place for the Vets. Their performances truly capture what Winchester Running Club is all about—grit, teamwork, community, passion, and fun by the bucket load.”
And we beat Liswerry 130/86….the dragon stays in England
Look out for next year’s event—could we be fielding three teams?!
