Much well-deserved praise has already been expressed but as well as echoing that I would like to add a special note of thanks for the little reflective markers that were dotted along the night-time part of the route - many thanks to the unknown person or people who spent time putting them in place: they were a great help and were much appreciated.

I have completed several 50s, 100ks and four Hundreds and timed out at 88 miles on the infamous Valleys 100, and perhaps times dims the memory but the Taith Torfaen was the toughest of them all. I have never been as exhausted as I was for a period between the last checkpoint and the finish. But the rewards were a fantastic route with awesome views, good checkpoints with very welcoming and friendly marshals, good food, especially the Gluten free cakes and sandwiches at checkpoint two which was much appreciated.

A big thank you to Dave and all the volunteers, not forgetting Cornwall and Devon for all their hard work, time and support to enable us to take part and complete such a great event.

Body and will tested to near destruction - just what you need as training for the 100 - After this Dorset can hold no fear !!
Well done Dave and the South Wales team. Also a big well done to Sandy and Steph neither whom had walked this distance before and who finished looking as if they'd just done a photo shoot for Vanity Fayre

I echo all the below.
Another smashing event, ran well and CP marshals couldn't do more.
Well done Dave and the team at Sth Wales

The weeks chanting to the Norse weather gods paid off lovely too, smashing to see the views that we missed on the Valleys 100.
Well worth the long drive.
Aaron

As both a walker (Les) and a marshal (Annette) we would both like to thank Dave Morgan and the South Wales team for a great event. All the information we needed for marshalling was spot on the sandwiches we were provided with at CP2 were really varied and the comments we had from the walkers were all posititve. The walk itself was tough but Les echos Mike's post that the views were spectacular - both night and day. He particularly enjoyed the settling frost crisping up the ground overnight. Not something you get to experience that often.

Well done to South Wales LDWA for an excellent weekend. I found the challenge tough but made easier with the hospitality and food at the checkpoints. Luckily we had good weather which allowed us to enjoy the breathtaking views en route. Mention should be made of the marshals for giving their time in making this challenge walk a success. Well Done.

A wonderful event and a big thanks to Dave Morgan and the team from the South Wales Group who put so much hard work into getting it all together. Well done! A really tough and memorable 50 with the very warm welcome back at the finish. Route Descriptions and CP food all spot on...and even the weather!!

What a great event. This is how challenge walks should be, very well run, great route and views, lots of lovely food, splendid hosts and the weather was kind. Well done to everyone who was involved with the organisation and to all those who participated.
A special well done to Danny from Exeter who had never gone further than 26 miles before.

Event results are available here https://www.ldwa.org.uk/results/full_results.php?event_id=11

My thanks to all the team from South Wales LDWA, who worked so hard to make this event such a success. Even the weather was kind to us, and the views from the tops were fantastic, even at night. It was a really tough challenge walk and one that will not be forgotten.

And, as a bonus point, I understand that all those who intended to use the Taith Torfaen as a "qualifier" for the Dorset 100 completed and can now secure their entry.

Caroline Wood has now sold her available hotel rooms in Pontypool. No further contact is required in relation to this matter.

The Taith Torfaen will be trialling the new LDWA Event Management System software. Consequently, the results will be produced in 'live time'. Entrants' families and friends will be able to follow progress around the route.

In due course, once the NEC has full confidence that the system is working 'glitch free', then it will be provided free of charge to all local LDWA groups to use in the future.

The link to follow is:

https://www.ldwa.org.uk/results/full_results.php?event_id=11

Regards,


David Morgan

Caroline Wood who has entered the Taith Torfaen challenge walk is unlikely to be able to attend the event. She has booked a Premier Inn for the Friday and Saturday night in Pontypool and has asked that we advertise that she is making the rooms available to any interested entrant.

If any person is interested in taking the rooms from her, then she asks that you contact her via her email address:

c.wood52@btinternet.com

The Taith Torfaen on-line shop is now open.

http://valleys100.southwalesldwa.org/shop/index.php

The Taith Torfaen will in fact qualify for the South West Triple Challenge not the Southern.

One year to go and already 40 entrants.

See April 2015 Strider for general description of the route.

The Taith Torfaen is a new 52 mile challenge walk that is being organised by the South Wales LDWA. The walk is a challenging mountain walk with climbing of approximately 9700 feet. The route is a figure of eight route that is centred on the town of Pontypool in Torfaen. It is guesting as one of the three events that form the Southern Triple Challenge as the Dorset Giant cannot be held due to commitments with the organisation of the Dorset 100.

The northern loop will be followed first and will leave Pontypool to climb to the summit of Mynydd Garn Wen. The route stays high as it follows the crest of the ridge all the way to Blorenge summit before descending to Govilon. A disused railway line is followed through a forgotten industrial landscape before climbing and descending to the historic Whistle Inn near Blaenavon, a World Heritage Site. A climb to Coity Mountain follows and the ridge that provides extensive views of South Wales is then followed south to return to Pontypool. The second loop heads south and Mynydd Maen is climbed and Mynydd Henllys followed south to reach Twmbarlwm, a hill that provides extensive views of the Bristol Channel and Exmoor. Mynydd Machen is visited on route to Ynysddu and Mynydd Islwyn. Abercarn sits at the base of the final climb of the walk and Mynydd Llwyd is visited before the final descent to the finish at Pontypool and a warm welcome from the South Wales group.

Entries are now open and can be accessed at https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?event_id=1995

The event has a maximum of 300 places.