Music on the water event to celebrate Canalathon
Excitement is building and preparations are well underway for this year’s new event – the Canalathon 2014 – taking place along the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal on Sunday 14th September.
Fifty five teams of four have signed up to the Canalathon, which will challenge them to complete a 33 mile route by canoe, bike and foot. Participants will be starting at Pontymoile basin, where they will canoe for 5 miles to Goyre Wharf, which will be followed by a 17 miles bike ride to Llangynidr. From Llangynidr they will walk or run 11 miles to complete the challenge at the Brecon Canal Basin.
Once they cross the finishing line at the Canal Basin a musical extravaganza has been organised to celebrate the end of the challenge and congratulate those taking part. Seven bands have been booked to play throughout the day as the participants make their way to the finishing line. Cllr Geraint Hopkins, Chairman of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority will be presenting the participants with medals after the challenge.
Refreshments will also be available.
The challenge has been funded by Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority’s Rural Alliances project, which is funded by the EU’s Interreg IVB NWE programme and Welsh Government. The Canalathon is being organised by Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority, The Canal Trust, The Canal and Rivers Trust and Adventa.
Carol Williams, Tourism Growth Officer for Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority said: “We are so excited to see this event coming together. The community spirit has been fantastic and we are hoping as many people as possible turn out on the day to cheer the participants as they complete the challenge, as well as enjoy the day’s entertainment. It’s a perfect event for the whole family to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the music.”
Cllr Rosemarie Harris, Member for Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority said the new event has been welcomed in her local constituency of Llangyndir. She said, “Events like these really get the community enthused and I am very grateful to the community volunteers and National Park officers who put so much time and effort into creating this new event which we hope will be a regular annual feature.”
David Morgan, Enterprise Manager for the Glandŵr Cymru The Canal & River Trust in Wales said: “This event is something that we have really enjoyed being part of and we’re pleased to see that so many signed up to the challenge in its very early days. We hope this community event will take place again next year.”
Canal Programme
1pm Copper and Co
2pm Tell Tale
3pm Uskulele
4pm The Borrowers
5pm Alive and Kicking Community Choir
6pm Safely Insane
7pm Mike and Johnny Bird
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