Stage records and key stats
Ed's note - yet to be updated for the 2011 race
Many thanks to Mick McGeoch (who has been "burning the midnight oil at both ends") for compiling the following current stage record details. For the first time they include both male and female stage records.
The need to sometimes change the route taken and thus distance of each stage (typically done for reason of improved safety) means that individual stage distances have to be revised and the record book reset - hence the 'route changed' year below:
Stage 1, Caernarfon Castle to Penygroes
9.1m (stage re-routed in 2002)
Men’s record: 52:26 (Rob Hughes, Salford Harriers, 2010)
Women’s record: 59:46 (Teresa Gaillard de Laubenque, Serpentine RC,2010)
Stage 2, Penygroes to Criccieth Castle
10.75m (stage re-routed in 2005)
Men’s record: 55:34 (Philip Parry, Bristol & West AC, 2005)
Women’s record: 67:15 (Kath Sincock, South West RR, 2008)
Stage 3 (Mountain Stage), Criccieth Castle to Maentwrog
12.3m (stage re-routed in 1995)
Men’s record: 62:23 (Martin Rees, British Steel, 1996)
Women’s record: 73:02 (Karen Hazlitt, Winchester & District AC, 2005)
Stage 4, Maentwrog to Harlech Castle
9.5m (stage re-routed in 2002)
Men’s record: 50:07 (Darren Hale, Salford Harriers, 2003)
Women’s record: 57:26 (Nic Archer, Vale Royal, 2005)
Stage 5, Harlech Castle to Barmouth
9.6m (stage re-routed in 2002)
Men’s record: 53:36 (Eric Phillips, Serpentine RC, 2008)
Women’s record: 61:33 (Sally Haselhurst, San Domenico/PBB, 2010)
Stage 6, Barmouth to Dolgellau
10.7m (stage re-routed in 2004)
Men’s record: 57:31 (Ben Reynolds, Thames Hare & Hounds, 2010)
Women’s record: 63:23 (Michaela MacCallum, Winchester & District AC, 2005)
Stage 7 (Mountain Stage), Dolgellau to Dinas Mawddwy
9.75m (stage re-routed in 2005)
Men’s record: 53:17 (James McMullan, Thames Hare & Hounds, 2010)
Women’s record: 65:26 (Laura Parsonage, TeamBath AC, 2009)
Stage 8, Dinas Mawddwy to Foel
10.8m (stage re-routed in 2011)
Stage records for the pre-2011 route as follows:
Men’s record: 55:14 (Justin Hobbs, Cardiff AAC, 1992)
Women’s record: 68:13 (Bronwen Cardy-Wise, Mercia Maidens, 1997)
Stage 9, Foel to Llanfair Caereinion
8.6m (stage re-routed in 2002)
Men’s record: 43:32 (Steve Watterson, Westbury Harriers, 2004)
Women’s record: 50:49 (Lynn Jolley, Corus Strip Products, 2005)
Stage 10 (Mountain), Llanfair Caereinion to Newtown
13.3, (stage re-routed in 2005)
Men’s record: 70:00 (Richard Gardiner, South Wales Police AAC, 2007)
Women’s record: 83:45 (Kath Bailey, Winchester & District AC, 2007)
Stage 11 (Mountain), Newtown to Llanbadarn Fynydd
12.3m (stage re-routed in 1994)
Men’s record: 63:40 (Darren Hiscox, Bridgend AC, 1998)
Women’s record: 73:57 (Sarah Bradbury, Police AA, 2000)
Stage 12, Llanbadarn Fynydd to Crossgates
11.2m (stage re-routed in 1990)
Men’s record: 53:33 (Gareth Davies, Bridgend AC, 1993)
Women’s record: 64:25 (Marilyn Kitching, Tattenhall Runners, 2010)
Stage 13, Crossgates to Builth Wells
10.6m (stage re-routed in 1998)
Men’s record: 52:19 (Greg Newhams, Bridgend AC, 1998)
Women’s record: 62:51 (Rachel Jones, Wigan Phoenix, 2009)
Stage 14 (Mountain), Builth Wells to Drovers Arms
11.0m (stage re-routed in 1997)
Men’s record: 58:00 (Phill Sly, Thames Hare & Hounds, 2005)
Women’s record: 69:08 (Nic Archer, Vale Royal, 2008)
Stage 15, Drovers Arms (Epynt Visitor Centre) to Brecon
12.8m (stage re-routed in 2008)
Men’s record: 66:36 (Matt Bond, Sale Harriers, 2009)
Women’s record: 79:34 (Yvonne Wyke, Wigan Phoenix, 2008)
Stage 16 (Mountain), Brecon to Beacons Reservoir
8.8m (stage re-routed in 2008)
Men’s record: 50:46 (Simon Bruton, Salford Harriers, 2009)
Women’s record: 54:19 (Louise Damen, Winchester & District AC, 2010)
Stage 17, Beacons Reservoir to Cyfarthfa Castle
9.2m (stage re-routed in 2005)
Men’s record: 46:38 (Martin Rees, Corus Strip Products, 2008)
Women’s record: 53:55 (Louise Copp, Neath Harriers, 2005)
Stage 18, Merthyr Tydfil (Rhyd y Car Centre) to Abercynon (Navigation Park)
9.1m (stage re-routed in 2005)
Men’s record: 50:07 (Christian Cobbold, Les Croupiers RC, 2005)
Women’s record: 59:34 (Antonia Burt, Thames Hare & Hounds, 2010)
Stage 19, Abercynon (Navigation Park) to Caerphilly Castle
10.8m (stage re-routed in 2008)
Men’s record: 62:21 (Alastair Sheffield, Team Bath AC, 2010)
Women’s record: 70:44 (Emma Patel, Winchester & District AC, 2008)
Stage 20, Caerphilly Castle to Cardiff Castle
10.7m (stage re-routed in 2009)
Men’s record: 58:38 (Stuart Robinson, Blackpool Wyre and Fylde AC, 2010)
Women’s record: 61:13 (Holly Rush, TeamBath AC, 2010)