a fatal toll on Guto: it is reputed that during the post-race celebrations he collapsed and died in his lover's arms after an over vigorous congratulatory back-slap. His body was laid to rest at St. Gwynno Church in the Llanwynno forestry. A large gravestone was erected in 1866, over 100 years after his death. Nos Galan road race The Nos Galan () is an annual 5 kilometre (3.1 mi) race, run on Nos Galan () in Mountain Ash, in the Cynon Valley, Wales. It attracts runners from all over Great Britain. The 2009 race attracted over 800 runners, and 10,000 people into Mountain Ash for the associated entertainment. The race was created by local Mountain Ash resident Mr. Bernard Baldwin, a PE teacher at Mill Street Secondary school in Pontypridd and a President of the Amateur Athletic Association, in 1958 as a memorial. It is run over the course of Guto's first competitive race. Each year a mystery runner competes: these have included Lillian Board, Iwan Thomas and Linford Christie. The main race starts with a church service at Llanwynno, and then a wreath is laid on Guto's grave in Llanwynno graveyard. After lighting a torch, it is carried to the nearby town of Mountain Ash, where the main race takes place. The current route consists of three circuits of the town centre, starting in Henry Street and ending in Oxford Street, by the commemorative statue of Guto. Traditionally, the race was timed to end at midnight, but in recent times it was rescheduled for the convenience of family entertainment, now concluding at around 21:00. This has resulted in a regrowth in size and scale, and now starts with an afternoon of street entertainment, and fun run races for children, concluding with the church service, elite runners' race and presentations. Memorial A statue of Guto Nyth Brân stands in the centre of Mountain Ash. Bibliography Thomas. W. (Glanffrwd) (1888), Plwyf Llanwyno, yr Hen Amser, yr Hen Bobl, a'r Hen Droion, Pontypridd. 2nd edition 1913. Revised edition Llanwynno (1949), published by University of Wales. References External links Nos Galan Races (maintained by the local Council) 1700 births 1737 deaths People from Porth Sportspeople from Rhondda Cynon Taf Welsh male long-distance runners