Introduction - Nos Galan

The famous Nos Galan Races commemorate the Welsh runner Guto Nyth Bran and his legendary athletic prowess. Stories of Guto include how he could catch a bird in flight, and how on one occasion he ran to Pontypridd and back, some seven miles, before the kettle boiled. Throughout his life he contested many races and took on many challenges, but, owing to his continued successes, his challengers became fewer and fewer. When he was 37, a challenge came from the ‘Prince’ of Bedwas to run the 12 miles from Newport in Monmouthshire to Bedwas Church near Caerphilly. Guto easily won the race, but the celebratory ‘slaps’ on the back proved too much for him and he died in the arms of his sweetheart Sian o’r Siop. His body was taken to its final resting-place in the graveyard of Llanwynno Church near Mountain Ash.