‘Beat the train’ set to return

An event which attracted hundreds of runners raising thousands for charity in its heyday is set for a surprise return.

 

The ‘Beat the Train’ race was a popular fixture on Montgomeryshire’s sporting and social calendar with runners challenged to beat the Llanfair-Welshpool steam railway. It attracted both serious and social runners from aross the UK but was stopped on health and safety fears in the 1980’s.

 

But it is now set for a welcome return with Welshpool Rotary Club dusting off the organization manuels and putting early moves into place to resurrect the event.

 

“We are in the early stages but we are confident that it will be back at some point in 2011,” said Rotary Club President Robert Robinson. “It is likely to be a cycle-only event and we are in discussions with the police, National Cycling Association as well as the Railway.”

 

It is believed that the event would start in Welshpool before setting off on the Llanfair Road to Cwm Lane where cyclists would complete the journey to Llanfair on closed back roads. The proposal it to have two races, one for serious cyclists and another for social cyclists with a minimum age in place for safety.

 

The Welshpool-Llanfair steam train takes approximately 50 minutes to complete its eight-mile journey through stunning countryside.