Ras Glyndwr 2013 starts now
Planning has started for a long-distance relay race to celebrate and raise money for the Welsh language.
The
intention of the organisers is to hold a non-competitive relay race from
Glyndŵr’s parliament in Machynlleth
to Cardigan on Saturday 15th of
September 2013. Clubs,
societies, families, schools and individuals will pay to buy one kilometre of the
journey, passing a baton from each kilometre to the next.
September was chosen
to hold the race as it won't coincide with other important events in the
Welsh calendar like the Urdd Eisteddfod, the Royal Welsh Show and the National
Eisteddfod. The 16th of September is also Glyndŵr Day as this is the date that
he was crowned Prince of Wales in 1400.
Gwenno Hywel of Cered,
Ceredigion’s Welsh language initiative, who is co-ordinating the event, says,
“It’s
time to celebrate the Welsh language and bring people together from every background
with an interest in supporting the language – Welsh speakers, learners and
non-Welsh speakers. It will cost £50 to nominate a kilometre but more than one
person can run each kilometre in the name of their local football club, branch
of Merched y Wawr, local pub or school. We will be commissioning local
craftsmen to create a special baton and we intend to hold different events
along the route. The profit made from the race will be distributed in grants to
promote the Welsh language.’
Ras Glyndŵr is based on similar very
successful races in
Ireland, Brittany and the Basque Country.
The first race of its type, the Korrika, in the Basque Country, was held in 1980. Today the
Basques run non-stop, 24 a day for ten days, raising hundreds of thousands of
pounds towards teaching Basque to adults. The idea was adopted by the Bretons
and in 2012 their race, the Redadeg, travelled non-stop, day and night, over
1,400km across Brittany. This year the An Rith was also held in Ireland,
running 1000km through towns and countryside including Derry, Belfast and
Dublin.
"It’s time for us to celebrate the
Welsh language", said Siôn Jobbins who has run the Korrika, Redadeg and the
Rith and has written a report about them. "It’s time for the friends of the
Welsh language to come together, and show a bit more oomph and fun for the
language instead of expecting others to work on their behalf. Ras Glyndŵr will
be a great way to bring people together, raise money and awareness about the
language and celebrate that we are still here!"
A meeting to establish
Ras Glyndŵr will take place at 2pm on Thursday the 15th of November in Theatr Felin-fach, near
Aberaeron.
Further details
Gwenno Hywel: gwenno.hywel@ceredigion.gov.uk
Siôn Jobbins: sion.jobbins@gmail.com
A Welsh
language video about the race, filmed on location at the Korrika in the Basque country, can be seen here. The photo shows the Redadeg this year in Brittany, with the front runner holding a specially carved relay baton (source http://www.ar-redadeg.org/?lang=br)
