Plaid Cymru’s Dafydd Trystan Davies will be commemorating a legendary Welsh figure on New Year’s Eve by taking part in an historic run.
The candidate for the Cynon Valley at next year’s Assembly elections will be among the thousand or so people running the Nos Galan which takes in a scenic 5km route around the town of Mountain Ash.
The run pays tribute to Guto Nyth Bran who, legend has it, was so fast he could catch a bird in flight and once ran to Pontypridd and back – about seven miles – before the kettle boiled.
He is believed to have died at just 37 after triumphing in a challenge to beat a horse over a 12-mile route between Newport and Bedwas in the Rhymney valley. The celebratory slaps on Guto’s back at the finishing line were apparently too much for him and he collapsed.
He was subsequently buried in the graveyard of Llanwynno Church near Ynysybwl.
Dr Davies said: “Nos Galan is a fantastic way to work off some of the excesses of the Christmas period and mark the legend of Guto Nyth Bran.
“The run has an electric atmosphere and is a great boost for Mountain Ash since it draws plenty of visitors to the town.
“The famous mystery runner is also a pull for crowds of spectators as we have seen Linford Christie and rugby internationals James Hook and Jamie Roberts take part in previous years.”
He added: “This is an event that is going from strength to strength and I wish the organisers every success with this year’s event. I am hoping that the snow and ice covering our roads and pavements at the moment will have gone by New Year’s Eve to ensure the safety of competitors.”
Postal applications have now closed for the run but it is still possible to enter online. For more information on how to participate, visit the Nos Galan website: http://www.nosgalan.co.uk/home.aspx.
