June is a great opportunity for some other sports to get a look in for those not interested in which direction England is batting. Gareth Mitchell has the month’s sports roundup.
Man v Horse
Llanwrtyd Wells, Sat 8 June
Like so many good ideas, the Man v Horse marathon was concocted over a pint. Green Events’ marathon, originally taking place in 1980, is a race between man and horse amongst the hilly terrain of Llanwrtyd Wells. And to the neighsayers (excuse me) who may think a man could never beat a horse, more fool you, the feat has been achieved twice over the history of the festival: once in 2004 and again, three years later, in 2007. Oh, and there’s a prize for any runner that can beat their four-legged competitors, increasing by £500 every year that a horse wins; the jackpot currently stands at £3,000.
Info: www.green-events.co.uk
WAAT4
Ruby Fields, Parc de Pugh, Brecon, Sat 15 June
WAAT4, based in the Brecon Beacons, is a navigation event that’s open to all sorts of explorers, regardless of ability – whether you’ve trundled around all manner of mountains or just rambled up a hill once. Sporting two routes, one 40k and a 20k, competitors will navigate the wild terrain whilst taking in all the beautiful ecology that the Beacons have to offer. Whilst teams are limited to a minimum of two people or a maximum of six, there are four categories that make up the competitive element of the event. They are the Competitors Cup, Emergency Services Cup, Young Competitors (14-18 Years) Cup and the Forces Cup. So, why not take a punt and explore the scenery of the Brecon Beacons whilst trying to prove yourself as navigation master?
Registration: £35 with a team pledge of fundraising £50 for a nominated charity. Info: 07841 471018 / www.waat4.co.uk
Cardiff Triathlon
Cardiff Bay, Sun 23 June
The Cardiff Triathlon returns, sporting Olympic (51.5km), Sprint (27.5km) and Super Sprint (12.9km) distances over the Sunday. Competitors will be plunging into the Bay, burning their legs off as they cycle through Cardiff streets and traversing across the Cardiff Bay barrage, whilst spectators will be cheering them on, and perhaps feeling grateful that they’re only spectating.
Entry: from £59.99. Info: 01248 723553 / www.alwaysaimhighevents.com
The OVO Energy Women’s Tour
Llandrindod Wells to Builth Wells, Fri 14 June; Carmarthen to Pembrey County Park, Sat 15 June
The OVO Energy Women’s Cycling Tour, now celebrating its fifth year, is coming to both Llandrindod Wells and Carmarthen as stages five and six of the competition. Wending its way through various picturesque crannies of southern England – Beccles in Suffolk followed by Stowmarket, Gravesend, Henley-On-Thames, Blenheim, Warwick and Burton Dassett, a village with the sort of name Americans think everywhere in Britain has – the Welsh segment of the event will see competitors cycle from Princes Avenue, Llandrindod Wells to the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells on Sat 15. The Carmarthen Velodrome, a host venue for the first time in 2019, is Sun 16’s starting point; Pembrey Country Park the destination. Cycling has long been a male-dominated sport (there isn’t even a women’s Tour de France), so this is as fine a chance as any to shift the balance by coming out in support as a spectator.
Admission: free. Info: www.womenstour.co.uk
Dragon Ride
Margam Park, nr Port Talbot, Sun 9 June
Returning to Margam Park in 2019, with a two-day tour sister event due to arrive in Newport, the Vitus Dragon Ride sports four distances: the Macmillan 100k, the Medio Fondo at 153km, the Gran Fondo at 223km and the Dragon Devil at 300km. Some of the inclines may be steep, with the hardest ride including some 4300m of ascent, but with each scale-up of distance competitors head further and further into the natural beauty of the Brecon Beacons national park, with its plush natural scenery.
Entry: from £55.50. Info: www.dragonride.co.uk