MTC Angelystor

What is the Mount to Coast End to End Challenge?

The MTC End to End Challenge consists of 6 epic End to End challenges:

Challenge 1

Take on the MTC CYMRUN - a six day end to end of Wales, covering 256 miles, averaging just over 42 miles per day.

The MTC CYMRUN also includes six unique ultras in their own right, one for each day, all with their own unique medals and trophies. These six ultra's form the Myths & Legends of Wales Series.

Day 1 - The MTC Angelystor
Day 2 - The MTC Cerridwen
Day 3 - The MTC Gelert
Day 4 - The MTC Pendragon
Day 5 - The MTC Afanc
Day 6 - The MTC Y Ddraig Goch

Challenge 2

Take on the MTC MizMal ®  - a thirteen day end to end of Ireland, covering 612 miles, averaging just over 47 miles per day. These thirteen ultra's form the Myths & Legends of Ireland Series.

Day 1 - The MTC Pooka
Day 2 - The MTC Leprechaun
Day 3 - The MTC Macha
Day 4 - The MTC Shamrock
Day 5 - The MTC Banshee
Day 6 - The MTC Dullahan
Day 7 - The MTC Enbarr
Day 8 - The MTC Oilliphéist
Day 9 - The MTC Gancanagh
Day 10 - The MTC Abhartach
Day 11 - The MTC Balor
Day 12 - The MTC Carman
Day 13 - The MTC Bodach

Challenge 3

Take on the MTC Scotia - a nine day end to end of Scotland, covering 366 miles, averaging just over 40 miles per day. These nine ultras form the Myths & Legends of Scotland Series.

Day 1 - The MTC Redcap
Day 2 - The MTC Glaistig
Day 3 - The MTC Nuckelavee
Day 4 - The MTC Grimalkin
Day 5 - The MTC Bertram de Shotts
Day 6 - The MTC Beithir
Day 7 - The MTC Morag
Day 8 - The MTC Selkie
Day 9 - The MTC Kelpie

Challenge 4

Take on the MTC Anglian - a thirteen day end to end of England, covering 486 miles, averaging just over 37 miles per day. These thirteen days form the Myths & Legends of England Series.

Day 1 - The MTC Boggart
Day 2 - The MTC Spring Heeled Jack
Day 3 - The MTC Black Anise
Day 4 - The MTC Blue Caps
Day 5 - The MTC Grindelo
Day 6 - The MTC Beowulf
Day 7 - The MTC Green Skin
Day 8 - The MTC Boggle
Day 9 - The MTC Vampire
Day 10 - The MTC Black Shuck
Day 11 - The MTC Hairy Hands
Day 12 - The MTC Will-o-the-Wisp
Day 13 - The MTC Merry Maidens

Challenge 5

Take on the ultimate - MTC JOGLE - a seventeen day end to end of Britain, covering 854 miles, averaging over 50 miles per day.

Challenge 6

Take on the ultimate - MTC LEJOG - same as the JOGLE but in reverse (south to north), 854 miles, 50+ miles per day.

What if I complete all 6 Challenges?

• Completing all six challenges is not time restricted.
• If you complete all six challenges you will be recorded in the Honourable Book of Endurance (HBoE).
• In recognition of achieving admition to HBoE you will receive a membership Scroll, unique to yourself, recording your full 6 challenge achievements. The Scroll is still in the design stage, but expect it to be wall mounted, and a well earned treasure to keep.

 

The Myths and Legends of CYMRUN

Day 1 - Angelystor

Folklore says villagers in Llangernyw, midway between Abergele and Llanrwst, learn their grim fate from a supernatural being under the boughs of a 3,000-year-old yew tree.

Each year on Hallowe'en and 31 July the Angelystor is said to appear in the medieval church of Llangernyw in Conwy. On those dates it solemnly announces, in Welsh, the names of those parish members who will die shortly after.

According to folklore, one Hallowe'en a tailor called Shôn ap Robert scorned the idea of Angelystor while drinking in a local pub. His fellow drinkers challenged him to visit the church to prove the story groundless.

Taking up the challenge, ap Robert made his way to the church. But when he arrived at the door, he heard a deep voice from within reciting names. And the first name he heard was his own.

"Hold, hold!" he cried. "I am not ready yet!" But, ready or not, he died later that year.

The church at Llangernyw is itself centuries old, but the site it stands on was sacred thousands of years before it was built.

The churchyard contains the oldest living thing in Wales - a yew tree which botanists believe to be over 3,000 years old - dating it's origins to sometime in the prehistoric Bronze Age. Elsewhere in the churchyard are two standing stones, which would have been raised up by pagans at about the same time.

 

Day 2 – Cerridwen

Cerridwen is a powerful enchantress with incredible magical talents in Welsh mythology. She possessed the gifts of Awen, poetic wisdom, inspiration, and prophesy. Cerridwen is frequently depicted as a witch or an enchantress, and her tale is an important part of Welsh literature. She is often associated with transformation, wisdom, rebirth, and the cauldron of inspiration.

Cerridwen, also spelled Ceridwen and Kerrydwen, is a name with Welsh origins. It stems from the words Cerid, meaning poetry or song, and the word Wen, which can be translated as fair, white, or blessed.

In Celtic Mythology, Cerridwen was the most powerful sorceress, or a white witch. According to the Welsh lore, she was a wise mother, blessed with the skills of Awen, a collective name for poetic wisdom, prophecy, and inspiration. She is the keeper of the magical cauldron, where she makes potions to help other people and draw Awen’s blessings.

Besides the gifts of wisdom and knowledge, her potions give other magical effects, including making possible shape-shifting and changing of appearance. The potions are also quite potent; one drop of the potion is enough to kill. Since Cerridwen only deals with white magic and wishes no evil, she’s cautious with her potions. Sometimes she uses them to help those closest to her, such as her son Morfran.

 

Day 3 – Gelert

Gelert is a legendary wolfhound associated with the village of Beddgelert in Gwynedd North Wales.

In the legend, Llywelyn the Great returns from hunting to find his baby missing, the cradle overturned, and Gelert with a blood-smeared mouth.

Believing the dog had devoured the child, Llywelyn draws his sword and kills Gelert.

After the dog's dying yelp, Llywelyn hears the cries of the baby, unharmed under the cradle, along with a dead wolf which had attacked the child and been killed by Gelert.

Llywelyn is overcome with remorse and buries the dog with great ceremony, (then leading to the town name) but can still hear its dying yelp.

After that day, Llywelyn never smiles again.

 

Day 4 – Pendragon

Uther Pendragon was the father of King Arthur. As such, he is vitally important to the legends of Arthur. Without him, there would be no Arthur at all!

He ruled as king prior to Arthur’s reign. According to the legends, he was a powerful war leader who fought successfully against the Saxons, although not with the same level of success as Arthur.

He was the successor of a king named Ambrosius, allegedly his brother.

When he was a child, Uther was taken away to Brittany in France to protect him from evil King Vortigern. When he became an adult, he returned to Britain with his brother Ambrosius and helped the Britons fight back against their enemies there.

The name Pendragon is actually an epithet, and is composed of two words: ‘pen’ and ‘dragon’.

The word ‘pen’ is Welsh for ‘head’, which can be used in the sense of ‘chief’, just like in English. The Welsh word ‘dragon’ has the same meaning as in English, but with the added poetic meaning of ‘warrior’. For example, the Welsh poem ‘Y Gododdin’ calls certain warriors ‘dragons’.

Therefore, the epithet ‘pendragon’ means ‘head warrior’ or ‘chief warrior’.

 

Day 5 – Afanc

A lake monster from Welsh mythology, the afanc can also be traced through references in British and Celtic folklore.

Sometimes described as taking the form of a crocodile, giant beaver or dwarf, it is also said to be a demonic creature. The afanc was said to attack and devour anyone who entered its waters.

Various versions of the tale are known to have existed. Iolo Morgannwg, who revived Welsh bardic traditions during the 18th and 19th centuries, popularised a version of the myth that had Hu Gadarn’s two long-horned oxen drag the afanc from the lake, enabling it to be killed. An earlier variation on this had the oxen cast the afanc into Llyn Ffynnon Las (lake of the blue fountain), where it was unable to breach its rocky banks to escape.

In one telling the wild thrashings of the afanc caused flooding which drowned all the people of Britain, save two, Dwyfan and Dwyfach. Another has a maiden who tamed the afanc by letting it sleep in her lap, which allowed her fellow villagers to capture it. When the afanc awoke its struggles crushed the maiden.

Later legends had King Arthur or Peredur slaying the monster. Near Llyn Barfog is a rock with a hoof print carved into it, along with the words Carn March Arthur (stone of Arthur's horse), supposedly made when his steed, Llamrai, dragged the afanc from the deep.

 

Day 6 – Y Ddraig Goch

The proud and ancient battle standard of the Welsh is The Red Dragon, otherwise known as Y Ddraig Goch, and consists of a red dragon, passant (standing with one foot raised), on a green and white background. As with any ancient symbol, the appearance of the dragon has been adapted and changed over the years, and hence several different variations exist.

One legend recalls Romano-British soldiers carrying the red dragon (Draco) to Rome on their banners in the fourth-century, but it could be even older than that.

It is considered that the Welsh kings of Aberffraw first adopted the dragon in the early fifth century in order to symbolise their power and authority after the Romans withdrew from Britain. Later, around the seventh century, it became known as the Red Dragon of Cadwaladr, king of Gwynedd from 655 to 682.

Geoffrey of Monmouth in his Historia Regum Britanniae, written between 1120 and 1129, links the dragon with the Arthurian legends, including Uther Pendragon the father of Arthur whose name translates as Dragon Head. Geoffrey’s account also tells of the prophecy of Myrddin (or Merlin) of a long fight between a red dragon and a white dragon, symbolising the historical struggle between the Welsh (red dragon) and the English (white dragon).

The oldest recorded use of the dragon to symbolise Wales however, is from the Historia Brittonum, written by the historian Nennius around 820.

The red dragon was even said to have been used as the British standard at the Battle of Crecy in 1346, when the Welsh Archers, dressed in their beloved green and white, played such a crucial role in defeating the French.

Race Overview:

The MTC Angelystor is a 38 mile race.

It is also day 1 of the MTC CYMRUN, which is a six day multi race. So competitors entering the Angelystor will also be running alongside MTC CYMRUN competitors.

The Route:

The MTC Angelystor route stays on the Cycle Route 8 for most of the way, with the exception of a short distance at the start from the Boathouse Hotel of around a mile or so.

Starting from the Boathouse Hotel, Holyhead, finishing at the Travelodge, Caernarfon.

It is important that competitors bring along other suitable clothing and equipment to counteract all types of weather conditions.

If URL consider any competitor not fit to continue we will remove them from the race. In addition, there is a minimum 4 mph requirement - falling below the 4 mph you will be withdrawn without debate.

Competitor numbers are limited to 20. There is an additional allowance of 20 for CYMRUN competitors, so a maximum race number of 40.

Time restraints:

Ultra Running has preset cut-off times along the MTC Angelystor route, based on a minimum average of 4 mph. If you fall below this minimum requirement you will be advised and given a warning. If the consecutive day is also below 4 mph you will be withdrawn without debate.

The MTC Angelystor is a Cup-Free event, so please bring your own re-useable cup (available in our store).

MTC Angelystor entry options:

All deposits and payments are on a non refundable basis. However, during the check-out stage you will have an option to upgrade and include your own personal protection insurance.

Entry Fees:

MTC Angelystor Ultra – £90.00
MTC Angelystor Plus Race Package - £155.00 (this includes an embroidered MTC Angelystor race shirt and lightweight hi-viz race jacket). In order to guarantee clothing supply, this entry option needs to be completed at least four weeks before the event.

 

The Bling!

All finishers get:

• Angelystor Medal

Male & Female Champions will also receive a bespoke race Trophy

Trophies are still in the design stage, so watch this space. But you can be assured they will be unique and worthy of the challenges that you complete.

 

 

MTC Angelystor Maps and gpx files:

URL are continually adapting their routes and it is a work in progress that has, and continues to, cost us a not insignificant amount of money and time.

It is for this reason that we only provide race mapping and gpx information to our own competitors. This information is emailed directly to competitors four weeks before the event.

MTC Angelystor start & finish locations:

Start Location:
The Boat House Hotel, Holyhead, Anglesey, LL65 1YF. ///narrates.plump.stiffly

CP1, 7.8 miles:
RAF Valley Park, LL65 3LD. ///wheat.such.feathers

CP2, 9 miles, (16.8 miles):
Bethel, LL65 5NL. ///shaver.nooks.newer

CP3, 8.4 miles, (25.2 miles):
Gaerwen, LL60 6HB. ///surnames.laser.pulse

Finish Location, 12.3 miles, (37.5 miles):
Travelodge Caernarfon, Victoria Dock, Balaclava Road, LL55 1SR. ///transmitted.kept.cable

Total distance – 37.5 miles

Navigation and Tracking:

Maps and GPX downloads will be available to entrants only – (don’t forget to bring a waterproof map case). Tracking of competitors can be viewed at real-time by logging into the map link available off this web-page (only available during the race).

Competitors must carry the following items:

Backpack or equivalent
Head Torch with spare batteries
Maps will be provided prior to the days race
Compass or GPS device
Whistle
Mobile phone
Basic First Aid Kit, blister treatment, pain relief etc
Waterproof map case

URL will provide each competitor with a tracking devise which will enable individuals progress to be monitored and recorded. The tracking devices also have inbuilt SOS buttons in case of an emergency or required assistance.

Please visit our shop to see a wide range of race related products;

• Personalised Hoodies
• Personalised Shirts
• Personalised Caps
• Personalised Race mugs with your name and finishing time
• Reusable race Cups

 

MTC Angelystor Time Restrictions:

The MTC Angelystor has preset cut-off times along the route, based on a minimum average of 4 mph.

Start Location:
The Boat House Hotel, Holyhead, Anglesey, LL65 1YF. ///narrates.plump.stiffly

CP1, 7.8 miles:
RAF Valley Park, LL65 3LD. ///wheat.such.feathers
Closes 1hr 55min after race start

CP2, 9 miles, (16.8 miles):
Bethel, LL65 5NL. ///shaver.nooks.newer
Closes 4hr 15min after race start

CP3, 8.4 miles, (25.2 miles):
Gaerwen, LL60 6HB. ///surnames.laser.pulse
Closes 6hr 20min after race start

Finish Location, 12.3 miles, (37.5 miles):
Travelodge Caernarfon, Victoria Dock, Balaclava Road, LL55 1SR. ///transmitted.kept.cable

Total distance – 37.5 miles

Check-point food:

Remember - The MTC Angelystor is a cup-free race, so you need to bring your own reuseable cup.

Check-points are at pre-determined locations.

Example CP food items (which may change) are:

Malt loaf, cake, jam, peanut butter, cheese or marmite sandwiches, sweets, squash, cola and water.

 

You are now able to add a Personal Cancellation Insurance Policy at the time of your booking.

Please review what is covered under the policy HERE.

If you choose not to take out the Personal Cancellation Insurance Policy:

Defer Option: You can defer until the following year for a fee of just £15.00, this must be done through the booking system, just choose the defer option. The opportunity to defer will close four weeks before the event date.

By signing up to one of Ultra Running Ltd events you agree to abide by our general race rules;

The following are the race rules that apply to all Ultra Running Ltd events and should be adhered to by all race participants.

Each participant must make sure he/she is carrying all items detailed in the mandatory kit list

Competitors must follow the designated route and go through all check points and it is their sole responsibility to ensure that the check point attendant has recorded their race number and entry/exit time along with any injuries; failure to do so at any check point will mean the competitor has failed to complete the race and may be disqualified.

All entrants must be 20 years or over on the start day of the race.

Mandatory Kit List

Competitors must carry the following items. Anyone found not to have the correct kit may not be allowed to start the race

Backpack or equivalent
Head Torch with spare batteries
Route maps as provided by URL
Compass or GPS device
Whistle
Mobile phone
Emergency food pack consisting of a two chocolate bars,
Basic first Aid Kit

Competitor Retirement

If any competitor has to retire from the race for whatever reason they must tell the race organisers immediately. URL will then transport the competitor to the nearest train station, where, under their own steam they make there way back home.

Time Constraints

The organisers want to give every competitor the opportunity of completing the race and will, where reasonable practicable, allow generous opening times of CP Stations; the allowance should be within an average of 4.0 miles per hour. If you fall below the 4.0 miles per hour you will be pulled from the race without concession.

Cancellation

In the event of Ultra Running Ltd. having to cancel the event, an alternative date will be provided. If re-scheduling of the event isn’t possible, or a competitor cannot make the revised date. URL undertakes to refund payments received, less any out of pocket expenses which are determined at 25%.

For all other circumstances, including Competitor cancellations due to personal reasons, refunds are not allowed. But at the discretion of the organisers an entry may be transferred to the following years race providing the request is within four weeks of the event date.

Any ‘transferred races’ or ‘reduced rate races’ are not refundable or transferable in any respect.

Race Photography

Ultra Running Ltd. reserve all exclusive rights relating to photographic coverage of their races. By entering an event, participants agree that Ultra Running Ltd may exclusively use any photographic or textual content captured during the event for advertisement purposes.

Ultra Running Limited (URL) Terms & Conditions

The Agreement

This document constitutes an agreement between you (the Entrant) and URL (the Organiser). Entry into any of the URL races (the Events) is strictly conditional upon the entrant agreeing to all of the terms and conditions contained within this document (the Agreement). It is all entrants responsibility to have read and accepted this agreement before entering/registering for one or more of URL events. All entrants must be aged 18 and over.

Registration Process

Entrants are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of their personal records within the event database. Should any information change between registration and participation, it is the individual entrants’ responsibility to ensure that they contact URL to update their records accordingly.

Entry Fees must be paid in full before entry to the event will be confirmed.

All event fees are NON REFUNDABLE under any circumstance.

By entering one of URL events, all entrants have acknowledged that they have read and agree to the event terms and conditions prior to their entry in to the event being confirmed. By doing so, the entrant is unreservedly accepting all of the terms and conditions of this agreement.

Use of Personal Data

The organiser or their agents will maintain a registration database for all entrants and their chosen emergency contact. All information will be collected, stored and processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018.

The organiser may use the entrants contact information to keep them informed of the event or to notify them of other events organised or promoted by URL.

Entrants give permission for the organisers, their agents, or any other associated organisations to use any photographs, video tapes, motion pictures, website images, recordings, or any other record of the event. Such articles may be used or included on websites, social media publications, advertising, promotional information, or other publicly accessible sources.

Personal Ability to Participate

It is the entrants’ responsibility to ensure they train appropriately and have the requisite level of fitness to be able to complete safely.

Entrants must ensure their personal health is suitable for participating in the event. If in any doubt the entrant should consult their doctor.

It is the responsibility of the entrant to ensure the organisers are informed at the point of entry of any medical conditions that could be relevant for any first-aid treatment.

If a participant believes that it is unsafe for them to continue in the event, it is their duty to notify an event official as soon as practicable.

Participants must be competent runners & confident in their ability to complete the course safely.

Participation in the Event

The event is a race.

Participants must act in accordance with the law and adhere to both the Highway Code and the Country Code, where applicable.

Participants are responsible for competing safely and with due respect for others.

Participants must comply with the instructions of the organisers and other course officials.

The majority of URL event routes are NOT signed, the onus of remaining on course rests with the athlete. Marshall’s are placed in appropriate places, according to the individual event and are there for your safety.

Should circumstances dictate, or in the interest of safety, the organisers reserve the right to make such changes to the published event routes as may be deemed necessary at their absolute discretion. In the event of the landowner e.g. the Forestry Commission or National Trust deeming it necessary to close access to the public, we the organisers reserve the right to a) reschedule or if this is not possible b) cancel the event. This will, in all cases be a last resort.

The organiser reserves the right to require a participant to retire from the race where their conduct is considered to be inappropriate. If required to retire the participant must surrender their race number to an event official and take no further part in the event.

Participants have a duty to report to an event official as soon as practicable, anything that they see or hear which they reasonably believe may impact on the safety or welfare of themselves or others, connected to the event or otherwise.

Whilst appropriate risk assessments will be carried out before the event, competitors assume full and complete responsibility for any injury or accident which may occur whilst travelling to or from the event, during the event, or whilst on any premises related to the event.

Racing in public places can be dangerous, all participants in this event must agree to waive, release and forever discharge the event organisers, sponsors, promoters, and each of their agents, representatives, successors and assigns, and all other persons associated with the event, from any liabilities, claims, actions, or damages that they may have against them arising out of or in any way connected with participation in this event. This includes any claims, whether caused by negligence, the action or inaction of any of the above parties, or otherwise.

Cancellation & Refunds

Entry fees for all URL events are NON REFUNDABLE under any circumstance.

Should circumstances dictate, or in the interest of safety, the organisers reserve the right to make such changes to the published event routes as may be deemed necessary at their absolute discretion. In the event of a force majeure, we the organisers reserve the right to a) reschedule or if this is not possible b) cancel the event. This will, in all cases be a last resort.

Defer Option: Available through the booking system up to 4 weeks before the event date for a fee of £15.

Entrants must exercise their own experience and judgement regarding their ability, equipment and preparedness to cope with the prevailing elements before they commence.

General Provisions

This agreement constitutes the whole agreement between the parties and any prior agreement, oral or written, are excluded.

Any failure by any party to enforce or to exercise at any time any term or any right under this agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of that term or right and shall not affect that party’s right to later enforce or to exercise it.

If any term of this agreement is found to be illegal or unenforceable it shall be deemed to be omitted from the agreement and shall not affect the validity of the remainder of the agreement.

Nothing in this agreement confers any right on third parties to enforce the provisions of this agreement under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.