This year’s Race the Train event in Tywyn has been hailed a great success by organisers.

Over 1,500 runners, from toddlers to pensioners, took part in the five races held on Saturday.

Race the Train takes place alongside as far as practicable the route taken by the Talyllyn Railway on its journey to Abergynolwyn and back.

In what was the 36th annual Race the Train, there was a total of five races: the Toddlers Trot fun run for children up to the age of five; the Tynllwynhen Challenge, a 3.5-mile race for runners aged nine and over; the Dolgoch Challenge, a five-mile race for those aged 10 and up; the Quarry Challenge, a 10k race for 15+; and the Rotary Challenge at 14 miles, minimum age 17.

The number of competitors who had registered was considerably up on last year but due to the inclement weather the day before, some did not turn up.

A total of 250 runners registered for the Toddlers Trot; 168 for the Tynllwynhen Challenge; 170 for the Dolgoch Challenge; 499 for the Quarry Challenge; and 686 for the main Rotary Challenge.

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