FIFTY teams took part in a 33-mile endurance ‘Canalathon’ challenge yesterday [Sunday, September 14], following the route of the Brecon and Monmouthshire canal starting from the Pontymoile Basin.
The challenge started with five miles of canoeing to Goytre Wharf in Llanover, a 17 mile cycle ride to Llangynidr and then an 11 mile run, walk or hike to Brecon.
It is the first year South Wales has seen a canalathon, which was fully booked up three months prior to the event.
All 200 entrants, who have to complete the challenge in 12 hours or fewer, were awarded medals after the challenge.
Many teams started training for the event weeks in advance, despite organisers urging participants to treat it more as a day out than a competitive race.
Canalathons are popular elsewhere in the UK, including one spanning across Lancashire and Yorkshire with 50km, 75km and 100km options.
Gwent’s canalathon was supported by organisations including the Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canals Trust, Glandwr Cymru and the Canal and River Trust in Wales.
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