RACK RAID
The Rack Raid was first organised in 1993 to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Fairwater Runners and as an alternative event for those who were unable to gain entry to the larger Castles Relay event. This event, in comparison, is low key but has always experienced a fantastic atmosphere. It has now become one of the highlights of the Caerleon Running Club calendar and competition for a place on the team(s) is fiercer than ever.
The Rack Raid is an all-day event consisting of 13 stages, covering approximately 100 miles, travelling around the picturesque countryside of the former county of Gwent. Starting at 7.30am in Grosmont, the Rack Raid winds through Skenfrith, White Castle, Abergavenny, Moat, Monmouth, Raglan, Usk, Tintern, Chepstow, Caldicot, Penhow and Caerleon, before the close at the Castell-y-Bwch pub in Henllys, Cwmbran - nearly 12 hours later. Each leg starts and ends with either a Ruin, Amphitheatre, Castle or Keep.
Caerleon Running Club has taken part in the Rack Raid since 2004 (except for 2006 when it was cancelled due to foot and mouth), and in recent years has fielded two teams. Several members of the club have completed over six rack raid legs over the years - Howard Mason, Peter Thomas, Justin Pocknell, Grahame Viner, Liz Richards, Helen Thomas and Karen Payne. Legend has it that club chairman Peter Rodger has run all 13 legs in some capacity since the advent of the Rack Raid in 1993. This hasn't been verified though, mainly because Peter cannot remember.
Here you will find the male and female record holders for each leg for Caerleon RC.
Llanthony to Grosmont
2018 Grahame Viner
1:29:49
NO FEMALE RECORD
Grosmont to Skenfrith
2016 Dan Arthur
32.44
2015 Liz Richards
36.44
Skenfrith to Whitecastle
2014 Dan Arthur
49.18
2016 Emma Williams
56.09
Whitecastle to Abergavenny
2015 Rhys Knight
48.31
2016 Jade Wakley
53.25
Abergavenny to Moat
2019 Matthew Mulcahy
46.22
2017 Liz Richards
54.48
Moat to Monmouth
2015 Jim King
52.21
2015 Emma Williams
58.51
Monmouth to Raglan
2015 Mike Harris
1:21:46
2012 Liz Richards
1:49:05
Raglan to Usk
2013 Ben Morse
37.35
2019 Tammy Fry
41.04
Usk to Tintern
2010 Jim King
1:25:06
2018 Liz Richards
2:03:34
Tintern to Chepstow
2013 Leighton Rawlinson
1:00:45
2015 Jade Wakley
1:19:24
Chepstow to Caldicot
2013 Justin Pocknell
39.59
2018 Megan Holmes
42.30
Caldicot to Penhow
2017 Matthew Mulcahy
59.03
2018 Jade Wakley
1.02.20
Penhow to Caerleon
2010 Richard Hughes
42.21
2012 Jade Wakley
48.57
Caerleon to Castell-y-Bwch
2015 Richard Little
36.47
2019 Jade Wakley
40.55
You will also find a section called My Own Rack Raid. We have painstakingly compiled the names of all the CRC runners who have ever run a leg of the Rack Raid. Some members are coming close to having completed their own Rack Raid, with only a few legs left to do.
Where are you on the list?