Will it be third time lucky for a former soldier hoping to Race the Train in Tywyn this weekend?

As a serving Royal Welsh Fusilier, Kevin Williams first participated in the Race the Train in the early 1990s.

Since retiring from the services, he and fellow former soldier, Dewi Williams made the attempt together in 2017 and 2018.

This Saturday, 17 August, a man from Colwyn Bay, will be making his final attempt to beat the train in the multi-terrain 10km running race.

Kevin said: “I can’t remember the timing exactly, but I think I was about one minute and 30 seconds behind the train in 2017. So close, yet so far! I thought I’d try again, and last year I was just 23 seconds behind the train. It’s a ‘do or die’ last attempt this year, so I really hope I beat it!”

Kevin, 47, raised money for Blind Veterans UK over the past two years through this event, and is the reason why the charity is the named beneficiary of the 2019 event.

He has been instrumental in gathering runners to take on the challenge and support the military sight loss charity.

Full details of how to enter and to raise funds for Blind Veterans UK can be found at www.blindveterans.org.uk/get-involved/events-calendar/race-the-train-tywyn/

See this week’s north editions for the full story, in shops and online on Thursday