Ynysybwl Regeneration Partnership
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Nos Galon Races
Many of our community have taken part in the Nos Galon races over many a new year. So now would seem a good time to profile the athlete the races commemorate, Griffith Morgan.
Griffith Morgan was born in 1700 and lived in Nyth Bran Farm which sits on the hillside above Porth. in his short, 37 years of life Guto Nyth Bran (as he is better known) become a prolific long-distance runner.
Many of our community have taken part in the Nos Galon races over many a new year. So now would seem a good time to profile the athlete the races commemorate, Griffith Morgan.
Griffith Morgan was born in 1700 and lived in Nyth Bran Farm which sits on the hillside above Porth. in his short, 37 years of life Guto Nyth Bran (as he is better known) become a prolific long-distance runner.
Over the Centuries many stories regarding Guto have grown, many of them emanating from the history published by Glanfrwydd. i believe that many of the tales have been embellished an embroidered upon over the years but that Guto was a talented and dominant long-distance runner that actually existed is beyond dispute.
Here are some of the stories surrounding the athlete, you can decide which are true and which maybe are exaggerated:-
Whilst living on the farm he was used by his father to round the sheep up more efficiently than any sheppdog. He is reputed to have run to Pontypridd (3 miles) and back to fetch milk and made it before the kettle boiled for the brew. To have run an errand for his mother to aberdare and arrived back before she finished gossiping to a neighbour. often after runs it is said that he lay in a fresh manure heap to warm and relax his leg muscles.
He was often seen running against horses and following the hunt. One story tells that he became so engrossed in following the hunt that before he know it he'd run to the edge of Cardigan County. A Friend of his was Sian O'r Siop (there's no evidence that she was a girlfriend or wife) who became quite wealthy betting on his running career and ultimately was the cause of his downfall.
now we come to the finale of Guto's story . in 1737 he was challenged to a long distance race by an English runner called Prince, from Saint Woolos Church in Newport to Bedwas Church, a distance of 12, 10 0r 9 miles depending on which route and the runners started at such a pace that the riders were hard pushed to keep up. Guto being a social animal stopped evry so often to pass the time of day with friends en route. Guto raced to the finish line where he meet by his friend sian who slaped him on his back he then
collapesd dead on the spot.
Written by Glyn Hicks
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