History of the Race
Arfon Jones, Ffrith Galed, always enjoyed taking part in the two
mile fun race at the annual Llanddoged village sports, but in his
mid-fifties his running became more serious; he entered the 1988
Ras Hwyl Y Ford Gron in Llanrwst. He met runners from the
different running clubs, enjoyed their company, and eventually
joined the Llandudno based North Wales Road Runners Club.
Such was his enthusiasm that he was elected onto the club committee
and the weekly Tuesday night training run, followed by the
committee meeting, became the highlight of Arfon’s week. He
was running almost every week-end at places all over the country
and made a host of friends at the different venues. He rarely
gained an award but valued the many finishers medals presented to
him, among them the New York City Marathon, the Edinburgh Marathon,
the London Marathon and the Great North
Run.
Arfon’s enthusiasm became infectious and a group of his friends
joined him in organising a road race to celebrate the
Millennium. On Monday morning, 31st July, 2000, a meeting was
held in Garej Groesffordd and an organising committee formally
elected. With Arfon’s experience a course was planned and
Elizabeth M. Clarke a qualified Wales Athletic Association course
measurer certified the course to be exactly 12.5k. The race
starts at the church and finishes at Cae Cetyn, the village playing
field.
The local community supported the venture in many ways; 30 marshals
manned the course and water stations, the businessmen and Community
Council provided finance to purchase the necessary equipment,
medals and prizes. The village Sports and Social Committee
agreed to provide refreshments at the end of the race and the
Headmaster and School Governors agreed to the school being the race
headquarters.
Arfon distributed entry forms far and wide; the first Ras Fawr
Llanddoged took place at 11-30 on Sunday, 1st October, 2000, with
42 runners completing the challenging course. The Race
Committee members were delighted with the success of the event and
resolved to organise an annual race every September. The
support of the local community continues and the runners have
increased in number. The tenth annual Ras Fawr Llanddoged,
using the same format, was held on Sunday, 13th September, 2009, at
11-30.
Arfon Jones took part in Ras Fawr Llanddoged, 2002, on the 29th
September; he completed the course but it proved to be his very
last race. Arfon passed away during the summer of 2005. His
legacy, RAS FAWR LLANDDOGED.As a tribute to the inspiration behind
the race, the committee resolved to make an annual award. The first
member of the North Wales Road Runners Club to cross the finishing
line is presented with Cwpan Coffa Arfon Ffrith Galed and a
memento.
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Arfon Ffrith Galed |