Hundreds took part in the Lliswerry 8 road race in Newport at the weekend

The Lliswerry 8 was completed by 782 people this year, walking or running the route that starts and finishes at Lliswerry High School.

The annual event, now in it 34th year, is organised by Lliswerry Runners, although they only have two small teams take part, with more than 150 members volunteering to help ensure things run smoothly on the day.

Chairman of Lliswerry Runners, Chris Davies, said: “The race went really well, with some racers travelling all the way from Aberystwyth to take part.

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“Many road races have been discontinued in the UK, due to safety issues, but as this race has been going for 34 years we’ve had plenty of time to ensure it’s safe.

“We have agreements with Newport City Council. Some roads are closed for a certain amount of time to promote safety and minimise disruption.”

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This year there was an emphasis on eco-friendliness, with Sytner BMW providing an electric car to lead the race.

Marshalls were also provided litter picking kits, provided by Keep Wales Tidy, allowing them to clean up along the route. They cleaned up more than 18 bags of rubbish on the day.

Plus, plastic water bottles were collected to be recycled, avoiding them being dumped in a landfill.

The race is inclusive, with no cut-off, and gets huge demand each year. In 2016, the race was oversubscribed due to a technical error, which you can read about here.

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Racers battle for glory, awards, and a T-shirt with an iconic “eight” on it. Each year the T-shirt varies; this year it was red with yellow writing.

Another incentive for racers if the annual post-race bake sale, offering “the biggest selection of cakes imaginable” cooked up by Lliswerry Bakers.

“We actually have marshalls encouraging racers during the last mile, reminding them of the cakes on offer,” added Mr Davies.

“This year, the cake sale fundraised for Alzheimer’s UK as one of our members, Karen Penny, has embarked on a four-year trek to raise money for this cause.”

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The cake sale raised £860 this year, with entry fee funds supporting the continuation of Lliswerry Runners.

“This is a wonderful community event and it wouldn’t be possible without the support of Lliswerry High School who let us use their grounds and GOL Football who allow us to use their car park,” said Mr Davies.

“They get nothing out of it, other than helping the community, and we are so grateful.”

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To see the results of Lliswerry 8 Race 2019 visit: www.triandenter.com/race-results/2019-race-results/