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Castles Photos, Part 1 »
Castles Open Thread
June 13, 2004
Talk amongst yourselves.
This was Jerry Cleal-Harding's idea.
Results will follow ASAP.
Update: Photos, mostly of Serpies, are here and here (links now fixed). I took a fair number of snaps myself, but most of mine are totally hopeless, but a happy few may be up before I have to go to a meeting this afternoon.
Posted by Dave at June 13, 2004 06:15 PM
As a regular participant/spectator over the years I would just like to express my thanks to all those involved with this very special event.As I watched the football on Sunday night I reflected on the differances between the overblown professional game and the Castles relay.For commitment,unselfishness,humour,cameradrie,endeavour,organisation,cost and sheer enjoyment the Castles wins hands down.Thank you Les Croupiers.
Malcolm Roberts ( Clevedon AC )
Hi everyone,
l know you all had a FANTASTIC weekend of Castles running but we on the other side of the globe want RESULTS!!! as soon as you can get them up.
Thanks in anticipation.
PS oh yeah did the greatest castles runner "of all times" win his stage?
Nope, but he came pretty damn close! Mick was 2nd on stage 1 and won the first Veterans award. Mick's was just one out of the 20 superb efforts from our team. Each runner gave everything they had. I'm sure results will be up very soon (it's a big task for our diligent webmaster), but as far as Croups are concerned, we achieved 2nd place in each category.
I'd like to take this opportunity to extend my congratulations to Thames Hare and Hounds for their twin successes in the Open Category and The Kings of the Mountains. We ran them close for half the race, but their strength won through in the latter stages. Very well done. I look forward to battling against them next year!
As a "castle virgin" I would like to say a huge thank you to all the volunteers and officials who made this a fantastic weekend, thanks should also go to all other competitors and supporters for their unyielding support and supply of water and sponges to all runners. Thanks again and roll on next year! Craig Fowler, Pontypridd Roadents.
Just wanted to say thanks for putting on such a truly special event. Can't wait til next year -- in the meantime, I'll probably be back in Wales getting a longer and closer look at the spectacular scenery and lovely towns. --Nadya Labib, Serpentine
A big thank you to all the organisers, all the teams who travel from far and wide to make the event such a success, and for all the support along the course - Personally I thought Sospan were amazing in their shouting and screaming - without the help I think I would have hidden under a shaded tree, as it was (as usual!) so incredibly warm in that spectacular Welsh countryside. Well done to everyone of the 1000 or so runners - all heroes! See you next year, or hopefully before if Nadya's comments above are echoed by others!
I myself would like to add my own thanks to the organisers and those who took part in this years event, without you the event obviously would not exist. The event like wise every other year continues to become more popular and I guess the reason for this is because it's such an awesome event. Once again a fantastic weekend for which I enjoyed very much.
I would also like to say a special thanks to Simon for his organisation and cordination of the mens senior team, a job well done as always.
Many Thanks,
Dave.
I think this is just about as good as it gets. I felt an enormous pride in simply being one small cog in an incredibly effective Croupiers organisation.That's not to say things were perfect, there's always room for improvement, and I'm sure things will come to light which we would wish to revise. But nothing major. No marshalling errors that resulted in disappointment in the competitors, as far as I know.
But thanks too to all 54 teams, their runners, supporters, administrators etc. Woody used to say that this relay runs itself. I'd rather say that there were over 1000 reasons why this race went so well.Well done - everyone! Here's to next year!
I feel I must join the growing list and record my thanks for the stunning support offered by all the roadside crowds over the weekend. Crawling up the hill between Dinas Mawddwy and Foel certainly wouldn't have been the same without the cowbells, endless water supply and encouragement. Driving home towards Aberystwyth on Saturday evening, covering the stage in reverse, you wouldn't have known a major sports event had just passed through. No trash, no bottles, no cups - nothing! A sign that would be hugely appreciated by the locals. And, I venture to say, a sign of oustanding organisation and consideration by those who participated. Diolch yn fawr iawn. Dave Thomas (Les Croupiers: Ceredigion Branch)
May I also add my praise to the club. There are only a few things in my life that I am proud of, one: my wife ,two: being a Dylan fan and seeing a good concert by him,and three:being a member of LES CROUPIERS and picked at the unfit age of nearly 53 to plod a section and therefore take part in the Castles Relay. These may not be in the correct order!! Many thanks to all yet again
Here is something for you to get your head around 54teams 210 miles =11340, 600 support people,from drivers marshals time keepers theres another 210 each=126000. plus we had to get there theres another 210x137340= 274680. What did we get men 2nd vets 2nd women 2nd = LE CROUPS FIRST & the BEST
Well what can one say about this prestige event in the welsh athletic callender? It has to be the event of the year as it takes alot of organization and a lot of support to get 55 or so teams from one end of walas to the other. I would like to thank all of you for this great event as you all made it very special to those who took part.I myself would like to thank our captain for having the nerve to let me run in A Team,as i was an honour to run and not let the team down. Well done to everyone who took part and made it a veryy special weekend it was FANTASTIC and second to none, roll on next year.
A thousand thanks to all who made the 2004 Castles another fantastic event. I ran for the South Wales police on leg 19 and I had the best welcome through the finish line that I can remember! I thought I'd won the stage! (In my dreams!!!) It just goes to show that even by leg 19, everyone was still so enthusiastic.
What weather! What support! What a race!
An official thank you from the South Wales Police running section who will try to actually get a runner on all of the stages next year!
My brother, Andy, ran for City of Bath on the Drovers leg, love him bless him! I think he was tucked up but I can tell you that he enjoyed every minute once it was finished!
Again a big thank you to all who made it possible and I promise to do my bit next year. See you Thursday.
A bit miffed I couldnt run this year but still had to travel up from Berks to watch. Once you get the bug about this event, its in your system for good.
I was the mad biker in Red white and black leathers with the Black Suzuki 1000,(Black beauty by name).
Last year I ran with Team royal mail, this year I coudlnt get the funding in time to enter a team, but I bloody will for next year, believe me :)
It was nice to meet some old faces there as well, and lots of new ones, and some lovely ladies as well :)
I guess everyone had a great time as did I and will see most of you again next year.
Just a quick note to record my thanks, as it is the second time I have taken part in this SPECTACULAR race and the support only gets better every year. WELL DONE LE CROUPS!
Ben Farag
Thanks, Croups for another superb weekend , also to all the other teams who make this event so enjoyable and worthwhile ! Hope us oldies (0ver50) did Jeff proud on the new gravel run to Dolgellau .We certainly gave Jeremy a go over the first few miles . It was excellent to see Salford turn out a team even without their top boys -it's all to easy to not bother after you've won and we appreciate their efforts.
We even arranged for Gareth and Darren not to win on thir stages so as not to upset the Goat after he only got 2nd !
Congrats to Thames H& H from a great consitent performance !
Next year's preparation starts now . We need to get the trophy back to Wales ;-)
Many many thanks to all of you who worked so hard to produce such a great weekend. Its the first time westbury harriers took part but it wont be the last. I was really proud to watch my daughter come in 2nd overall on stage 18.She also had a great weekend!!!!
Brilliant---BRILLIANT----Probably the best race in the world (gets our club motavated)the buzz will take us through the summer and beyond --see you on the road ----NEATH HARRIERS
As a person who ran and marshalled the race for two days. The running clubs marshals were superb as they were on time and in the right place for every stage I saw.Well done to the clubs.
Virgin Castles runner, and having not raced for 25 years more than a little nervous!! excellent event, brilliant organisation, and the best fun I've had for ages - sorry kids, don't take that too personally!! can't wait till next year.
Thank you to no. 10 male runner, on leg 17 from Beacons reservoir to Merthyr Tydfill - you kept me going all the way, couldn't live with your sprint to say Thank You!!
Well done again Les Croups on a brilliant weekend, don't know how you do it.
We're all very grateful at 3M's for letting us compete with two teams - which isn't bad for a club with approx. 70 members. Huge thanks to all the clubs who de-thirsted our runners where we couldn't get to them. Lastly, apologies for our makeshift musical band of runners & children, who bashed anything in sight to create a noise - next year we'll rehearse to get in tune.
Thanks from TH&H to Les Croupiers for organising yet another fantastic weekend. It's a logisitical battle getting teams together and to the start, let alone running the whole event safely, to time and with humour. We really appreciate your efforts and will be back to defend the title next year.
Just a quick note to thank everyone at Les Croupiers for a fantastic event last weekend. As some of you will know I've been around a long time and involved in event organisation and management in the past including many world and international events. Last weekend I witnessed as good as event as I've seen!!
The organisation, hospitality and sheer brilliance of the event was simply superb. With all of the negative aspects going on in the sport, it is a shame that AAW or BAF do not support "The Castles" and use it to promote the sport. After following and watching my team mate run the Drovers Arms leg, the Tour De France will never be the same!!
Looking at the turn out from Les Croupiers, there couldn't have been anyone at home in Cardiff!! Three teams, supporters all over the place, race organisers, as well as marshalls. Brilliant.
All I can say TO finish is:
LES CROUPIERS - SIMPLY THE BEST!
