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GLYN-YR-AUR EVENTS 2011 MACHYNLLETH STREET
MARKET Every Wednesday Town Square,
Machynlleth Time: from 10.00am The ancient Welsh town
of Machynlleth was once the home of Welsh hero, Owain Glyndwr's rebel
parliament, when he rose up against the English and Henry IV in a bid to make
Wales an independent country once more. People can see the old
house where he held his political summits, which has now been converted into
a museum near the town square. Markets have aso been
central to town life in Machynlleth, and following centuries of tradition, a
street market is held most Wednesdays of the year; and It's well worth the
journey from Glyn-yr-aur to check out the stalls and see if any intriguing
bargains can be bought. MUSIC NIGHTS First Friday of every
month George III Hotel,
Penmaenpool Why not head along to
the George III Hotel on the first Friday of the month, when some outstanding
local bands and musicians have their jam sessions. THE ROYAL CAMBRIAN
ACADEMY 28 March - 7 May 2011 Moma, Y Tabernacl,
Penrallt Street, Machynlleth, Powys SY20 8AJ Tel: 01654
703355 Website:
www.momawales.org.uk Opening times:
10.00am - 4.00pm Admission: free Some of the most
pre-eminent and distinguished artists in Wales will be exhibiting their work
for over a month at the Museum of Modern Art, (Moma) at Machynlleth this
spring. The Royal Cambrian
Academy comprises a mix of professional and amateur artists that number
around 150 in total. They are elected by existing members and typically have
an association with Wales either by family, birth, friendship or choice. Some
of the most formidable examples of the academy's contemporary artwork will be
on loan to the museum for this particular exhibition. APRIL GO APE HIGH WIRE
FOREST ADVENTURE 9 April - End of
November 2011 Coed-y-Brenin,
Ganllwyd, Dolgellau, Gwynedd Website: goape.co.uk Cost: Adults
(gorillas) £30 per session 10-17 yr
(baboons) £20 per session (Typically closed Mon,
Tues and Fridays and open weekends only in November) People typically say
'it's a jungle out there'. Well the rangers at the Coed-y-Brenin want
visitors to channel their inner Tarzan or Jane at the new Go Ape high wire
adventure assault course which has been set up at five sites around the
forest park. People can reconnect
with their primeval self, and test their strength, stamina and agility on the
walkways, bridges and zip-lines that are just waiting to be explored. EASTER BUNNY VISITS
THE TALYLLYN 24 April 2011 Talyllyn Railway,
Gorsaf Wharf Station, Tywyn, Gwynedd LL36 9EY Tel: 01654
702653 Website: www.talyllyn.co.uk The Easter Bunny will be
out in force at the Tallyllyn Railway on Easter Sunday, when he will be
organising fun and games for all the family. Young and old alike can
join in the Easter Egg hunt, which will culminate in a special prize for the
winner. There will be five steam
trains running during the day, and people will be able to buy refreshments in
the King's cafe and explore the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum. MAY HARLECH TRIATHLON 15 May 2011 Harlech Website:
www.harlechtri-entries.org.uk E-mail:
anne.fuller@harlechtriathlon.org.uk Tel: 0775 4596701 -
Derek Bowley Think you couldn't run a
triathlon, then think again says Anne Fuller, co-ordinator of the Harlech Triathlon,
which is now in its 10th year. Anne believes athletes
and marathon runners are never really born, but can be made and self-taught. On the triathlon's
website, she guides people through a series of training techniques that she
believes should see people competing in a triathlon in no time at all. Anne, who has been a
contender in tri-events for the last 20 years, says beginners could be ready
for the 15 May Harlech revelry if they persevere with her useful guide. For the Harlech event,
competitors will be expected to swim 400m (16 lengths of a pool), cycle 28 km
and run across 6.5km of mixed terrain - which will include a 1:4 climb to
Harlech Castle and the finish line in the adjoining square. In her article, Beginner
to Finisher, which can be found at
http://harlechtriathlon.users.btopenworld.com/main.htm, she advises people to
concentrate first on technique, and then on building strength and stamina. "Concentrate on
going further, not harder. Once you have achieved 20 minutes of running use the
same principle to build up to 30 minutes and then increase to 40, 50 and 60.
Increasing your endurance is your first priority. Once you can run for 40+
minutes, you can start thinking about improving your speed and strength. Aim
for at least twice your anticipated race distance," she explains. She also offers similar
advice for achieving the required fitness levels in the cycling and swimming
sections. People can enter the
race either as an individual or as a team of three. An single person will be expected
to finish all three sections of the event, while a team member will be
required to complete one of the three race parts. MAWDDACH PADDLESPORTS
FESTIVAL 21 & 22 May 2011 Barmouth and Mawddach
Estuary Organised by Mawddach
Rotary Club Trust Email:
jonswain@talk21.com website:
www.paddlewales.com There's a welcome
addition to Snowdonia's summer season this year when the Mawddach Rotary Club
launches an all new sporting event in aid of Hope House Hospice. This exciting two day
event at the end of May 2011, will see a series of races take place in the
Mawddach Estuary in between Dolgellau and Barmouth for those interested in
kayaking or canoeing. People do not have to be professional or very
experienced to enter all of the races. There will be four main
races which include a 10km Mawddach Ascent from Barmouth to Penmaenpool. This
event is not timed, but it is expected people will complete the course in
around1.5 hours, and they will only be expected to travel in one direction. The next race is the
20km Mawddach Charity Challenge where entrants will be expected to compete
against each other in a bid to achieve the fastest time from Barmouth to
Penmaenpool and back again. The next category of
race is the 20km Rafted Open Canoe Race for teams of 6 paddlers, where canoes
would be lashed together with poles when competing in this particular time
trial. And finally, there will
be a 20km race for Celtic longboats, which will be required to navigate the
same stretch of the Mawddach Estuary. There will also be other associated
events including a big, open-air barbecue and various fishing demonstrations. CADER IDRIS RACE 28 May 2011 Free Library, Eldon
Square, Dolgellau Tel: 07917
001173 Website:
www.cader-race.co.uk Register by
12.40pm Start time: 1.00pm Winners' ceremony at 4.00pm Age restrictions:
Over 18s only This challenging fell
race requires competitors to run from Dolgellau's town square to the summit
of one of Snowdonia' highest mountains, the Cader Idris. The record to beat for
male competitors is 1 hr 21 minutes and 18 seconds. And this was set in 1996
by Colin Donnelly of the local Eryri felling running club. In 2006 Mary Wilkinson,
of Skipton Athletics Club, achieved the best ever female record when she
managed to complete the course in 1 hr 33 minutes and 58 seconds. The run is open to over
18s only and there will be a limit of 250 entrants. The race route is 10.5
miles long and follows the Pony Path up the Cader. There are well marked
roads and pathways on the lower reaches of the ascent, but the open fells
further up may require some navigational work. Competitors should carry
with them waterproof full body cover, a map, compass and whistle. A series of junior races
for under 18s, under 16s, under 14s and under 12s will also be organised
earlier on the day from 11.30am. People should just register on the day for
them. JUNE WILLOW SCULPTURES 4 June 2011 Centre for
Alternative Technology, Machynlleth, off A487. Tel: 01654
705952 Website: www.cat.org.uk Time: 10.30am -
4.30pm Course fees: £50
(excluding lunch and accommodation) Unleash your imagination
and creative side at the Centre for Alternative Technology on this day, when
Pippa Scott and Robert Ritchie will be teaching people how to make exciting
and innovative sculptures out of willow. Simple tools will be
used in the creation of the artwork, and people will also learn how grow
willow in their own garden to continue building on what they have learned. VICTORIAN TRAIN 9,16, 23 & 30
June - 7 & 14 July - 8, 15, 22 & 29 September 2011 Talyllyn Railway,
Gorsaf Wharf Station, Tywyn, Gwynedd LL36 9EY Tel: 01654
702653 Website: www.talyllyn.co.uk Departure time:
11.00am Why not step back in
time to the Victorian age on any of the dates listed above when authentic
19th century rolling stock will be running on the lines at Talyllyn. A spokesperson said:
"The Talyllyn Railway is probably alone in being able to run its
complete original passenger train dating from the 1860s, and invites you to
enjoy a conducted tour featuring the unique train travelling in the original
coaches behind an original locomotive. "The train will
make photographic stops, allow time for visiting a local hostelry for lunch,
for forest walks as well as a visit to a signal box and a guided tour of the
museum." The railway was
initially opened in 1865 to serve the Bryn Eglwys slate quarry at
Abergwynolwyn. Several years later it was developed as a passenger train
service and carried on in this guise until the end of the Second World War
when demand for slate plummeted. The railway would have
closed if author of Thomas the Tank Engine, the Rev Wilbert Awdry, and other
notable supporters had not rallied to the Talyllyn's cause. Since 1951 it has been
operating purely as a leisure line. And as such as it was among the first
ever narrow gauge railways to be opened in the UK, and has been a firm
favourite among visitors to Snowdonia ever since. CRICCIETH FESTIVAL 10 - 19 June 2011 In and around
Criccieth, Gwynedd Tel: 07790 830367 Website: cricciethfestival.co.uk A week long celebration
of music, literature, poetry and song is promised at the Criccieth Festival
in mid-June. People can expect an amazing range of musical performances from
Welsh folk heroine, Catrin Finch through to Mozart orchestras, jazz bands and
male voice choirs. BALA MIDDLE DISTANCE 12 June 2011 Penllyn Leisure
Centre, Pensarn Road, Bala Tel: 01978
761582 Website:
www.wrecsamtri.org.uk Email:
julian.hunter@virgin.net The Bala Middle
Distance, is one of the most challenging triathlons within the whole of
Snowdonia, and is not for the fainthearted, say the organisers. It involves a 2000m swim
in Bala Lake itself, 78.5k cycle in large tracts of Southern Snowdonia and a
20k run along the race shoreline which then follows a trail up into the
nearby Aran mountains.
Pre-registration is required. BARMOUTH TO FORT
WILLIAM THREE PEAKS YACHT RACE 25 June 2011 Barmouth, Gwynedd Tel: 01341
247553 Email:
secretary@threepeaksyachtrace.co.uk
The Three Peaks Yacht
Race is perhaps one of the most gruelling physical challenges known to man.
Teams, which typically consist of three sailors and two runners are expected
to sail for 389 miles from Barmouth
to Fort William, and the runners for their part are required to cycle for
18 miles and run for 72 miles to
scale the highest peaks in all of Wales, England and Scotland. The first port of call
for the teams is Caernarfon, where the runners then cycle to Snowdon
(3560ft) and run up the mountain and
back down again. Once on board again, the next stop is Whitehaven, and the
runners make their way to Scafell Pike (3208ft), and back down again. The
final destination is Fort William, where the running squad are required to
scale Ben Nevis (4408ft). Those down first take the winners' title. Over 500 teams have
completed the challenge successfully since it was begun in 1977, and that
year there were only 5 competitors who took part. It's expected that there
will be a minimum of 25 competitors this season in 2011. And if you think you
have the stamina and ability to take part, why not contact the organisers on
the number or email shown. Pre-registration is required. AUGUST MACHYNLLETH FESTIVAL 21-28 August 2011 Moma, Y Tabernacl, Penrallt
Street, Machynlleth, Powys SY20 8AJ Tel: 01654
703355 Website:
www.momawales.org.uk The Machynlleth Festival
is feted across Snowdonia and Mid Wales as an phenomenal celebration of music
and literature. Hosted by the Museum of
Modern Art (Moma), the festival promises visitors an incredible programme
that will range from classical concertos to poetry readings and jazz. For more details about
the full schedule, please visit the museum's official website which is shown
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