Dai Richards Diary

Welcome to the story of my life, it's had it's ups and downs, read on................................

It all started in 1960, I was born in Neath but we lived in Port Talbot, there was no maternity ward in the hospital in Port Talbot, us embryos used to get carted off to the great City of Neath for our entrance into the big wide world, it's a good job really as I was to find out years later, all my family hail from Neath. It was just that dad (Dai Richards senior) and mam (Marion Rees) were residing in Port Talbot - by - Sea while dad worked at the steel works. Not a bad decision on their part, living in Port Talbot, growing up on the Sandfields Estate was like growing up in the world's largest Butlins Camp, masses and masses of kids, everywhere you looked, and all nice playful characters too !!!!!!! After being dragged up in Sandfields we moved on to Baglan. An amicable split from my parents moved me on to Swansea in 1985. 5 years in Mount Pleasant, not Oystermouth Rd was enough, followed a 6 month posting in Trebanos, then I headed off back home to Neath in 1991. So here I am back in the ancestral homeland of Llantwit in Neath. It's been a long and sometimes winding road and it still winding it's way along but if you read below you see a few of the bends, hills and corners that I've taken during my life and sporting career.

Early

Days

First memories................ - I went to church 3 times on Sunday, not by choice, my other inmates were John Tetsil (Noj), Ian Jones (Junto), Jeremy Isaac (Jesse), Andrew Paddison (Paddy). My first memory is Dad picking us up one Sunday in our first family car (I had two sisters Anne & Barbara, 12 & 9 years older than me). It was a red Vauxhall Velox - JBW 243, this I believe was about 1964 and we still had it about 10 years later. It was one of those machines that went on forever with a bench seat in the front. While I was small I used to sit between mum and Dad in the front, no safety belts, don't think dad ever crashed the car, he was a great driver.

1966

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1966 - My first sporting memories go back this far. My dad or Bert Bamsey (next door) used to take us to the Afan Lido Sports Centre where Keith Bamsey, his brother Brian and I, used to take part in judo. Alan Petherbridge was the instructor at first followed by Bobby Sullivan (Bonnie Tyler's husband & judo legend, both these early instructors were olympians, I think Bobby was the first 7th dan black belt outside of Japan or something to that effect), I may have been he who coined my first nickname “Smiler” which I carried during my first spell at judo. Judo was something I played at on and off for 6 years not a sport at which I excelled but I swear it saved my life in 1976 when I crashed into a car at the bottom of Church Hill in Baglan doing about 40 miles an hour on my bike. When I eventually hit the floor I landed on my shoulder rather than my bonce, an automatic breakfall was in progress. Co-incidentally the car I crashed into was being driven by George Edwards, one of the managers at the Afan Lido. Weird or what.

1967

1967 - I taught myself to swim at the Afan Lido, went swimming every day during the summer holidays and by the time they finished I could swim about 20 metres unaided. Frequented Tirmorfa Junior School in Sandfields for my education, one day, I believe it was the first year of primary, Mr Thomas told us a story about Bombo, he was a little boy in Africa and he lived in a mud hut by a river. I was rivetted, wanted to know all about Bombo, so I put my hand up and asked when we were going to visit him. Mr Thomas said that it was only a story in a book and that we weren’t really going, I curled up and died, when I woke up it was nearly 1968 and I was still doing judo although not very well.

1968

1968 - I was alive and well and 8 years old. My teacher (Scarface) hated my guts, I sat on a table in school where three of us had been born on the same day. I played my first football match for Bay View Under 13s, I think it was against Abercregan in the Afan Valley, on their pitch by the river. We lost something like 9 – 1. We always lost, more often than not by big scores. My first training session at the Bay View I remember well. I walked through the door and some kid named Buzz walked straight up to me and gave me “one up the belly”*, he was about 3 years older than me and I guess he just did things like that for kicks or punches !!!!!! At about the same time I started to collect football programmes, then the next year Keith, my next door neighbour and I were collecting newspapers for bonfire night one day, Doug Woods, who lived a couple of doors up gave us a rugby programme to put on the fire, Wales v England 1965 it was. It never made the fire and it started off the collection of rugby programmes.

1969

1969 - I’ve got a feeling that for a short time I was a member of Port Talbot Harriers. Some guy called Derek Edwards who was in Keith Bamsey’s class took me down to one of their training sessions. I remember doing an 800 mts and finishing about 5th out of about 8, I wasn’t first and I wasn’t last, just somewhere in the middle. This was the year that I got my first stitches. Cut my hand with an axe doing Bob-a-Job with cubs, a piano fell on my foot while we were moving it at church, this was painful and I had seven stitches put in my bloody foot with no anaesthetic, I was hard in them days. Got another 4 stitches sliding down the banister in Tirmorfa school. Also had my first filling and you should have seen the state of the haircuts my mother gave me. I played a couple of games of rugby on the wing for the school side, scored a try against our arch rivals Towyn, but was then dropped. On the whole though 1969 was not a good year.

1970

1970 - I remember at the age of 10, sitting in the classroom at Sunday school in Fitzclarence Church, Sandfields. Bill Cumpstone who was taking the lesson asked us each one by one, “what is your life’s ambition ?” mine was “to play for Wales”, at football he asked “no ! at any sport” I suppose this was My Life Ambition number 1. I was absolutely bonkers on football, I remember after the cup final in 1970 running out of the house shouting “Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea ……… Peter Osgood was my favourite. Playing for Bay View Under 11s, we had a reasonable team and I scored a few goals. Most of my time at home was spent playing football out the front. I used to play regularly One – on – One against a kid called Tony Valetta, he was about 2 years older than me and quite skilful, he skinned me every time. I didn’t care, I was a compulsive competitor, every goal I scored was heaven. Playing board games when I could, Monopoly, Cluedo, Soccerama.

1971

1971 - We moved to Baglan, I joined Baglan Boys Club, the best team in Port Talbot at the time, scored a goal in the 5-1 win against Newton on my debut, we lost 2-1 to Naval in the next match where I missed an open goal, dropped for the next match so that was the end of football career No 1. Playtime at school was on the “Bars” (single bar suspended with two A bars at either end) I was the star at “Up” this was a strange game where you hugged the bar with your leg over the top trying to knock off your opponent who was doing the same from the other end. When you knocked them off and touched the end you could get off and start again. My claim to fame was that I once beat “Booter” now a black belt karate instructor and two years older than myself. He was a legend. I'm going to be a legend when I grow up !!!!!!!!! Had Buster my dog for Xmas.

1972

1972 - I won the school cross-country. Beat all the best runners. Didn’t know there was a difference between sprinters and distance runners. Thought no more about running. They took the “Bars” away. Playtime was devoted to “Dab” with a tennis ball. Throwing rather than kicking the ball. There was a drainpipe in the middle of the wall and if you hit this, more often than not the next thrower was out. Suffered quite a lot of overuse injuries on the shoulder but honed my throwing skills to near perfection. This came in handy when about 4 years later at the carnival in BP Llandarcy I won 4 coconuts in 4 throws on the “Shy”. Asked Jacqui Jones out, took me about 3 weeks to pluck up the courage, she became my first girlfriend. Joined Aberavon swimming club for a short while. I think I went twice.

1973

1973 - I started playing football with local side Ty-Canol. On my debut I forgot my shorts and had to play in purple corduroy trousers, they were seriously tight and I could hardly move. I scored a goal from the half way line, it must have been a good one they've built a car park where that pitch was in memory of it. Had trials for the town football team, didn't get in. Played about 4 games of rugby at full back for the school until Peter Hillan (a giant then) ran through me to score the only try in our loss against our closest rivals St Joseph’s. I was replaced after that game, never to don the school rugby jersey again. I won the school cross-country again and the gymnastics competition. Finished 5th in the town school cross country at Cymmer Afan. Think this was the year when I started playing badminton with my mate Mark Harris (Parky) at BP Llandarcy. Playtime at school was spent playing “kick the tennis ball” or “pass the tin” (touch rugby with an empty coke can). I bought my first season ticket with Neath RFC and followed them religiously.

(Illustration - Glanafan Comprehensive School rugby team 1973 - I'm second from right in the back row, just behind our headmaster 'Basher'

1974

1974 - At the age of 14 I was still playing badminton and started to play squash during games and on Saturday’s in BP. Got to the final of the school tennis tournament playing doubles with Parky. Lost to James Matthews and Ian Gibbs who didn’t go on to careers in professional tennis. Had a season ticket for Neath and followed them religiously. Started playing squash.

1975

1975 - Took my dog Buster everywhere, became known as “Dai Dog”. Played a little badminton & squash. Had a season ticket for Neath and followed them religiously.

1976

1976 - O levels, summer on the beach, played badminton for British Steel Co. Had a season ticket for Neath and followed them religiously .

1977

1977 - Started work with Andrew Scott Civil Engineers as a Wages Clerk. Played football occasionally on a dinner time, at this time I learned the benefits of 'drafting' or 'slipstreaming' as I rode back and fore to work on my Sun GT 10 XL racing machine, chasing buses back & fore to work. I used to wear shirts that a real person wouldn’t be seen dead in. Went to watch punk bands in Cardiff (Jam, Boomtown Rats, Clash, XTC, etc) discovered drinking beer in pubs. Still playing badminton seriously and squash, not so seriously. Took part in a “Construction Industry Supersports” competition, missed a penalty against Phil Parkes the old QPR goalkeeper in the five-a-side, eventually we won the competition and won an all expenses weekend to Berlin which was still behind the wall. Had a season ticket for Neath and followed them religiously

(Illustration - Scott's Construction Supersports team, l to right - Hairy Dai, Brian Kelly, Phil 'Pancho' Phillips, Terry Ayres)

1978

1978 - Fed up with watching Neath, I wanted to do something on a Saturday afternoon, started rugby refereeing, had no guidance to speak of. Chucked in at the deep end, my first match was to be Pontrhydyfen v Green Stars. Declined this wisely, then spend 6 months watching my back as a referee before playing for Baglan Youth one day because they were short. Found that I wasn’t that bad at it, packed in refereeing and played some more. Developed first as a scrum half then as an outside half and finally ended up as a full back. I could kick the ball quite well, knock over a penalties from the half way line and could kick with both feet. From memory I only tried one conversion with my left foot, it was from the right touchline and I hit the post. Still playing badminton for British Steel and playing a little squash. Started playing cricket for Baglan 2nds.

(Illustration - Baglan CC tour to Blackpool 1978 - I'm in front with the long hair)

1979

1979 - Stayed on in youth rugby an extra year (I was a late developer) dislocated shoulder in crunch tackle in local derby against Cwmafan. We won the game 6-3 (my penalty and drop goal). Had 8 weeks off, came back and dislocated my shoulder again and again and again. Played cricket in summer, had an average of 63 for the season. That’s how many runs I scored all season but was only out once. Had bowling figures in one match of 5 for 22 in the midweek league but never really bowled or batted regularly. Took part in Afan Lido Superstars competition, finished 2nd in mile race, won the football penalties, lost the rugby penalties, lying in second place until the gym tests. Didn’t bother to attempt the Bench Press, finished half way down the field.

(Illustration top Baglan Youth team - Below - pictured in Baglan Sevens who beat Aberavon in local Sevens tournament, I was sub)

1980

1980 - Early in 1980 I was called up to play for Baglan 1sts and commanded regular place until the end of the season as non-tackling full back for rest of season. I must have impressed because I was then picked for Aberavon District JRU at senior level at full back. Played this one match for the district then retired to wait for operation on shoulder. I’d have never made to the big time at rugby but I think that I was good enough to have the occasional game with Neath or Aberavon when they were short, I was always on standby for any team that needed a player, in fact I had a season playing for the local police side who needed a regular scrum half. Expected to be back playing within 12 months. Started playing football again in September, just a season while I was waiting for the operation. Played for Baglan 2nds in Div 2 of the Port Talbot League. John Sullivan was our manager. He's a great guy, his final words before kick off were always “And don’t forget, Enjoy it”, I never said 'thank you' to John for his wonderful coaching so if anyone knows him, pass it on please. When soccer matches were called off with bad weather etc. I’d make my way to Baglan RFC for a game with the seconds but was regularly press-ganged into playing for Briton Ferry Steel who met in the pub 100 yds before Baglan RFC. Packed in work, played loads of squash, bit of badminton, spent a lot of time in the Afan Lido.

(Illustration top Baglan team prior to cup final victory over Pontrhydyfen, - Below - Baglan on tour in Spain, club record score against a local Spanish side, can't remember if I scored but Steve 'Chinky' Lewis scored 8 tries)

1981

1981 - Second season with Baglan Boys Club, started playing “up front” for the Labour Club on Sundays. You weren’t allowed to play in the Saturday and Sunday Leagues simultaneously but I had a different name and address with my photo on the registration card so I got away with it for a season. Still waiting for the shoulder op. Offered the chance to play outside half regular for Baglan 1sts, the year they won the Welsh Brewers Cup on Cardiff Arms Park . Kicked myself hard for not accepting but the shoulder would never have stood a full season. Played squash and badminton.

(Illustration - Baglan Boys Club 2nd team)

1982

1982 - Played soccer again for Baglan Boys Club. (scored 17 goals from midfield in 82/3 season - remember the one where I turned on the edge of the box and placed it in the top corner with my left foot - OK you were looking the other way, pay attention next time.............please, but more often than not it was a case of being in the right place at the right time for a gentle tap in. Still waiting for that operation, still playing football. Moved to play for Oystercatcher in Swansea in the Sunday League. Playing squash and badminton regularly. Moved down to a flat in Pentwyn, Baglan. Started running, did my first race, the Swansea Bay 10k in September, finished in 35.36. Second race was the Afan Half Marathon (1.16.??), I got hooked. Playing squash mostly in Cwmafan, won the handicap tournament, fancy giving me that many points head start, God was smiling at me. Packed in football at the end of the season to concentrate on the running and squash.

1983

1983 - Squash started come nicely, played a couple of games for Afan Lido B (won a match against Swansea Uni player 9-0, 9-0, 9-0) and played one for Afan Lido A in Division One of the Welsh League, I lost this one. Did a canoeing course in the Afan Lido/Bristol Channel, £1 a week for 6 weeks, I could paddle well by the time it was finished. Running was going well, selected to represent West Glam in the Inter counties, won the 1500 mts at the Dole Olympics in 4.20, shown winning the race on BBC Wales doing a Mike Channon celebration as I crossed the line. We also won, football, table tennis, squash and hockey. I’d assembled a team of ex pro and Welsh League footballers. The standard of competition was good, there were a lot of people on the dole. Classy fields in every competition. Colin Jackson finished 3rd in the 100 mts, my man Chris Connolly was first in 11.00 secs. Finished high up in the West Glam Cross Country leagues. Heard about triathlon, (10.4.83 – wrote in diary “Have been thinking about triathlons, Will have to find some dates for the events”.) bought a new bike, started swimming more. By the end of 1983 I was swimming up to 1 width breaststroke for every 6 widths front crawl. Picked up my first running injury (knees). Parents moved to Neath so I had to cycle more to get fed regularly and have my washing done. Had Glandular Fever in May which completely wrecked my athletic year.

(Illustration - Dole Olympics - on the podium with my dad's vest on)

1984

1984 - had operation on shoulder, Won my first road race (Ynys Park Trust Fun Run). Moved to Neath. Played No 1 for Neath C squash team, lost my first match then went remainder of season unbeaten, dropping only one game in the process. The crunch match was the last game of the seaon against Woodlands, Clydach, I was up against the fellow that beat me in the first match, I stormed it 3-0, we were promoted champions. Started racing regularly. Did my first “Round the Pier Race” finished 18th, Harry Worth hit me with the rescue boat, thanks Harry. Still thinking about triathlons. Oooooh ! we like the sound of them.

(Illustration - Ynys Park report - PT Guardian)

1985

1985 - Got married, started family, all within 6 months, no hanging about there, got a job, didn't like my job, won the county athletics 5000 mts championship, offered No 2 in Neath Squash 'A' team, started specialising in steeplechase on the track. Transferred from Neath to Swansea Leisure Centre in squash, cos that's where my job was, played No 1 for the ‘A’ side. Had my bike stolen and broke the strings on my squash racquet on the same evening, something had to go, gave up squash bought a new bike, had it 2 days before my first triathlon or my first triathlon wouldn’t have been my first triathlon. The Pen-y-Bont Ironman, finished 9th. Joined the Territorial Army. Laurie was born on 18th October, 1985 was a busy year.

(Illustration - West Glamorgan 'Dole Olympics' team 1986)

1986

1986 - Second year in triathlon, already committed myself to the sport. I started to do cyclo-cross with a view to improving my bike to run transition. I figured if you were getting off your bike and running it could only be good. Finished 4th in my first race at Morfa. I was astonished to find that in my second race they announced the Welsh team, only I’d just beaten half of them on a road bike with slick tyres. I won my first cross in the Rhondda during this year as well as winning 7 running races, it was a good year, I became a racing machine. Did my first marathon at Colchester, finished 8th overall, 2nd in TA champs. Did my 2nd 3rd & 4th triathlons. Second in the Pontardawe Tinman to Richard Morris one of the early stars of triathlon. Third in Blaenavon in front of Jon Ashby, soon to be British International (pre age grouper days).

(Illustrations - Territorial Army Marathon Champions - 223 sqn RCT, Jeff Rees, Me & Doug Johnson //// my second cyclo-cross in Seven Sisters. //// One of my early cross events at Hirwaun, this course on an old coal tip was to prove an unlucky one over the years with a puncture in this particular race whilst leading future British Mountain bike champion Tim Davies. The following year I took a tumble requiring 28 stitches, 23 in my leg, 5 in my arm. //// - early results including first Cyclo Cross win in the Rhondda)

During the Hirwaun race I punctured and struggled to change my wheel at the 'pits' 'whilst feffing & blinding over my bad luck and the inability to change my wheel fast enough, what I thought was a member of the public gave me a hand, helpful bloke I thought and didn't pick my head up to say thank you etc. On finishing the race, I noticed my Dad, he rarely came to watch me, I'd explained how well I was going until I had the puncture, he explained that he'd seen it and had also helped me to change my wheel !!!! - ooops dad was a regular church goer !!!!!

Tough life !!!!!!! - you've got to take your hat off to the older generation, those that fought in the war etc. My Dad served in the forces the whole of the second world war from the age of 17 to 23. While I was bumming around on the dole at this age, deciding what the hell I'd like to do in my life, my Dad was fighting for his life. He didn't say a lot about the war, he started off in the RAF and graduated to 'Combined Services' as a commado. The two stories he did tell me were

1. - He was in a group who were captured by the Germans in the desert in North Africa. the Germans were marching them across the desert when a British fighter plane came across them and started to fire on them. Dad says that the British ran towards the plane and the Germans ran away from it, they escaped !!!! yipeeeeee !!!

2. When he was in Italy towards the end of the war him and a mate were clearing a town, making it safe for the troops to enter, they tactically entered an old church in the town and as they entered the main area of the church 200 Italians put their hands up and surrendered to them.

1987

1987 - January 1987 saw me compete for Wales at cyclo cross (life ambition number 1 put to bed). The event was in January, the Tuesday prior I had been playing 5-a-side football and was chopped from behind landing on my knee. During the cross international I took a fall and landed on exactly the same spot as on the Tuesday, serious knee problems. Spent the majority of this year on the “critical mental list”. Mountain bikes arrived from America “Now I’d be good at that, gis a go”. Vicky was born on 28th November.

(Illustration - I was a seriously scary soldier, Laurie & Vicky with my parents)

1988

1988 - Mr Schmoo (Hero No 1) got fed up with me nagging him in his shop and gave me a place on his mountain bike team with a Jeff Bruce mountain bike to play with. We spent the summer travelling to competitions all over Britain. I found myself in pink and yellow for the first time. The years with Schmoo were great, good team mates, good bikes, excellent back up. I had 5 years with Schmoo as a sponsored rider. He was “Simply The Best”. Got injured towards the end of the year so played 5 –6 games of rugby as outside half for my territorial army unit 4RRW. Scored the first try in the first ever victory over local rivals, Cardiff based 3RRW.

(Illustration - match report of TA match where the 'star' outside half converts his own try')

This is me winning my first multi-sport race at Llanelli in 1989. Llanelli has been a happy hunting ground for me over the years !. I'm captured on camera, it's that magic moment I've grown to love, the victory salute, a moment to savour !!!!! But before the salute you have the last mile of the race, you are leading and you know you should win, but what if ? What if something goes wrong !!!!! This last mile is a mixed bag of emotions, there's sheer euphoria at the impending win, but then again, what if something goes wrong ? you must concentrate, concentrate, concentrate - you keep telling yourself 'concentrate, concentrate, concentrate', all the way to the to the line. Then you arrive at the finish. at the moment the arms go into the air at the finish line for the double arm winners salute, if you study the picture and the others of me winning races you'll notice there is no smile or grin. (I'd yet to coin the saying 'Grin when you win' ) For me this moment is more often than not "relief". You've achieved what you came to achieve, all those hours, all the pain and time spent training, the preparation, the race effort, it's an intense introspective feeling, one I find difficult to describe. It's over................. I done it !

1989

1989 - The first year I hit some serious form in Multisport. This was the year I walked into Schmoo’s shop one day and Graham Rogerson had just resigned/packed from the staff. I inherited his Jeff Bruce road bike and his Roberts mountain bike. Now I had some serious equipment to work with. Winning became a lot easier. I flew the Bynea & Ammanford biathlons, won cyclo crosses, running races and finished 2nd to Bill Pegler in the Hereford Triathlon because I put a pair of socks on and lost by 17 seconds. The last time I wore a pair of socks in a sprint tri.


Brisco 10k Gorseinon, a boiling hot day, pulled back Paul Miller's 100 metre lead after about 3 miles.	My first photo shoot with a Mountain Bike magazine for Schmoos, this was to become a regular occurrence over the next couple of years as Mr Schmoo's team gained major publicity with the distinctive pink & yellow race kit			Picture number 1 - Middle picture - Receiving the folding stuff from my hero Mr Schmoo & Picture No 3 - Newspaper report on this win plus winning a cyclo cross a week later		At the Welsh Open Champs in Abergavenny, I finished in 6th place, the leading Welsh rider, an awesome course that went on forever. The saving factor for me in this race was Schmoo handing out fingers of fudge and jelly snakes when the going got tough.	Radical Riverrun - this time a photo shoot for Mountain Biking UK in the Neath Valley, pictured second from right

1990

1990 - A new decade, new year's day saw us winning one of those 'wacky races' the Mumbles RFC Wheelbarrow race. I won the Llanelli Duathlon again, but this time more convincingly. Won my first triathlon at Pen-y-Bont. Founded, together with Schmoo, Schmoo's Cycles Triathlon Club (took on role of secretary). But this was the year of the cattle grid, I slipped and bruised my knee prior to a mountain bike race only two weeks before the Commonwealth Games Trial at Excalibur. I missed the trial and missed out on the Games. Something I’ll never forget, every time I see a cattle grid, I'm reminded of this. Got divorced, promised myself a trip to NZ to see what I missed out on. Met Hayley.

Illustrations - Started the decade with a most unusual victory at a wheelbarrow race in Mumbles, a 2 mile race with 3 in a team, one member had to be sitting in the barrow, we covered the distance in 12 minutes, 6 minute miling, not bad pushing a barrow as well, Jeff Jones at the back sat in the barrow all the way, he was absolutely freezing by the time we finished ///// pictured with 2nd place ash tray at the Maesteg Triathlon //// Mountain Biking UK feature on "The Schmoo Effect" /////// Last 200 mts before winning Pen-y-Bont Ironman ///// Race report for victories at P-y-B & Hereford ////// Picture from Cycling Weekly racing in the Man v Horse v Bike Classic and yes I was taking a push ///// At the waterfalls in Glynneath again, this time photo-shoot for SW Evening Post /////// Schmoos v MyCycles, another MBUK feature //////

1991

1991 - Things started to come together with the fitness, won a stage in the castles relay, had some also rans in duathlons, more mountain biking. Won four triathlons, Dyfed (at Carmarthen ), Pen-y-Bont, Hereford & TA Champs (1st in a run of 4, I was never beaten by another TA soldier in these championships). Mervyn Lloyd (Hero No 2) joined the 4RRW. Things started to look up with the TA’s, Mervyn liked the running team and supported our efforts. Founded Rugby Relics. Dale was born on 20th June.


Cyclo Cross victory at Hirwaun, Western Mail report	Dyfed Open (Carmarthen) Triathlon, WTA Newsletter race report	Bynea Biathlon report	Magazine article on race tactics, photo shoot on Kilvey Hill, pictured top left & middle of 3 yellow jersey riders

The winning team left to right Mad, Shy & The Lune - Welsh 1000s 1992 - coming down the Water Board Road after the Carneddau.

1992

My first full length Welsh 1000s and I got it right, cracking the Ghurkhas and the 3^rd Battalion on the middle group. I ran Snowdon on my own finishing comfortably ahead, A big win for me in a big year. This was the year I made my first trip to New Zealand, after missing out on the Commonwealth Games and going through a divorce I promised myself a trip down under. What an awesome place, what a great people. I arrived in NZ with 3 weeks to rent a car, buy a canoe, recce the course and take part in the famous Speights Coast to Coast. There are two races, the one day 'World Championship' and the two day leisurely stroll across the country. I was doing the leisurely stroll and was fortunate that the weather turned nasty on the first day swelling the river to massive proportions, the kayak section was cancelled and the 50 miles were added to the second day cycle, making it a total of 120 miles on the bike. Starting in the eleventh groups of 10 from Klondyke corner I managed to pass 99 of the 100 competitors in front finishing second on the beach and third overall in this my first overseas competition. It was on this trip that I realised I could compete on the world stage and started planning a big effort to try and become World Veteran Champion when I turned 40, This was my Life Ambition No 2. The countdown begins. 8 years to go. In November I ran the New York Marathon, finishing in 2 hours 41 mins.


(Illustrations - Off to NZ for the Coast to Coast - 2 day on the bike - being presented with 3rd place medal - post trip report - Dragons Magazine article on Rugby Relics - New York Marathon poster - Neath Half Marathon Race Report - running for 4th Battalion Royal Regt of Wales in Newbridge half marathon - Newspaper Reports for first victory in the Welsh 1000s - running in the Swansea Duathlon - Front and back page of the Western Mail on the same day - they offered me a column but I turned it down !!!!

1993

1993 - This was a good year. A 5-week trip to New Zealand was great for the fitness but the competitions were a nightmare. First I double punctured on the 1 day Coast to Coast leaving me 10 minutes behind the lead group on the run over the mountains, with no one to follow I suffered on the route choice. If that wasn’t bad enough I decided there and then that I needed to go home with something, so a fortnight later I entered the Auckland Ironman hoping to break the then Welsh record of 10.04 becoming the first Welshman to break 10 hours. Things were going swimmingly, 70 miles into the cycle I was 20 minutes ahead of schedule then psssssssssssssss, down the tyre goes again. There’s an old army saying called the 7 P’s….. “Proper Planning and Preparation Prevent Piss Poor Performance”. Who was it that forgot to pack the adaptor for the Specialized Tri Spoke, yours truly. Goodbye record. On my return I bought my Zipp wheels the won the Worcester & Hereford Duathlons, pulling back Chris Ray (British Ironman Champ) on the Hereford Du and bogeyman, Phil Kibble was third. Not a bad result considering I’d done 110 miles on the bike in the previous two days, plus some swimming and running. One of my most satisfying victories. Selected to represent Wales at Triathlon for the first time. Selected to represent Wales at Mountain Running.

Later on in this year I reached my peak of fitness. This came in a week when on the Saturday I won the Welsh 1000s very easily and 4 days on the following Wednesday I finished 4th in the Army Triathlon Championships, winning the TA title for the 3rd year in succession. The legs were absolutely shot to pieces but I still managed to finish the Olympic distance in less than 2 hours.

Winning the Lichfield Half Marathon 1993. The team crossing the line together. This is one of the greatest moments so far in my short and dull life. As young Jeffrey in the middle said "the hairs on the back of my neck were standing on end", the three of us had won team events before but this is one of two occasions where we crossed in front 'team together'. At 6 miles in this race there were 6 of us, the three others were from an elite forces team, who shall remain nameless. Mike Cherrington, far right said, "c,mon let's go" and off we went, just like that, 7 miles to go, we finished in 1:12:11 'team together'. Thanks to Bazza Smith who looked after us, kept us all together and took the photograph, what a man.


Illustrations - Top Man Bazza Smith - pre Coast to Coast report - paddling an Evolution down the Waimakariri - me and my mate Judkins - Coast to Coast poster - Worcester & Hereford Duathlons report - it's the 1000s again, this time we've got matching kit - at half way only a couple of Gurkas in front - post 1000s race report.

Illustrations - winning age group in Fairford Duathlon - Mountain Running selection hits the press - in Welsh kit with Francis Gill - winning the first Dyfed Open Triathlon for the second time - results - British Champs, Swindon Triathlon - Race report, winning 10k, in 29:30, a PB

1994

1994 - I struggled for a lot this year with injuries. Managed selection for the GB Age Group Triathlon Champs in New Zealand but never had the fitness to perform well. Split from the West Glamorgan Triathlon Club, founded together with Gareth Thomas "Multisport Racing Club" (with role of Chairman). Simon came along in early May !


(Illustrations - My last victory at the TA Triathlon Champs - winning team at TA Cross Country Champs - pre NZ report - event poster - warming up for NZ trip with victories in Welsh Sprint Duathlon & Atlantic College 10k - 3 Welsh reps in NZ, Neil Lewis, myself & Bob Furness, last 200 mts - report of trip, Nos Galan and fell race victory.

1995		1995 - Won a bronze medal in the Welsh Duathlon Champs, not bad considering I helped to organise the race as well and took part in the 12 stage road relays the day before. Went on to organise with Gareth the Inaugural Home International Duathlon Championships at Neath and took part in the event representing Wales, it was Gareth's turn to race but as I had qualified for the Welsh team on my turn to race, I got to play again !!!!!. Had some good form around March, finished 10th in the Gwent Lge at Aberdare which would have been a club 'best' had Nick Grinnell not finished 9th. I also won the Welsh Veterans Mountain Bike Championships there in July. (Illustration - Newspaper report of Gareth's selection for GB, I sneak a mention there at the end with my selection for Welsh Mountain bike team)
1996		1996 - won County (West Glamorgan) cross country championships at senior level, represented Wales at mountain biking at senior level in the only ever Mountain Bike Tour of Britain. Returned to NZ for the Coast to Coast, teamed up with me old mate Steve harvey and finished 3rd team, neither of us were particularly fit so it was a good result for us, experience was a telling factor. (Illustrations - one of the many river crossings and finishing the Coast to Coast - bottom picture, the finishing straight, a 100 metre run after 56 miles on the bike, I was in bits after hanging on to the bunch for the last 5 miles.
1997		1997 - Had a small spell of fitness around September, 1st in Cymmer Tri, 1st in Ironballs swim/run duathlon the day after. 2nd in Excalibur. Did my first Quadrathlon in the Peak District and finished 2nd. (Illustration - running for Neath Harriers in Mickey Morris Cross Country relays)
1998		1998 - Finished 7th in the European Sprint Quadrathlon, I passed the leading vet on the run. Had nacred my back the week before in a kayak race, so was pleased to get a reasonable result here, but I was fit for it and peaked nicely for this race, had a resting pulse of 29 the day before the race. Selected for Wales at Marathon Kayak taking part in a Scottish series of races.
1999		1999 - This was to be a big year, a dress rehearsal for the big 40, I was hoping to be flying ready for the big 40. The year started brilliantly, 9 weeks in New Zealand, a superb base was built. In the first week after returning home a top 30 finish in the Gwent League at Carmarthen running at 80 % effort, then bang, say no more, this was the year of being “domestically challenged”. I still managed a bit of training and managed a silver medal in the British Quadrathlon Champs in Scotland. 1 year to go for the big 40 and panic has set in. (Illustration - selection for kayak team in Welsh Kayak magazine)
2000		2000 - Domestic problems reached a crescendo in late January. Then in February I woke up one morning and found myself in New Zealand with my neck and back in bits. This injury continued to plague me until early April. I spent my 40th birthday trying to come to terms with the fact that the last 8 years had been a complete waste of time. For my birthday treat I had a “business” haircut, then there was a glimmer of hope as I started to train gently again. I entered the World’s, it was just 4 months and counting and I was a long way away. By the end of May I was starting to put some decent sessions together then 3 weeks before the big day. CLICK ! Racing fitness, welcome home. A good run out in the Triple sprint in Cardiff then it was off to Berlin in the VW camper for the European Championships. The kayak for this race was an absolute nightmare, a huge lake with steamers, pleasure boats and waves. It took 150% concentration to stay up and on the last lap a steamer cut right across my path. I said "&^$£*&£"!!&&" - I managed a lightening 10k run out of the boat (this quad was swim/cycle/kayak/run) and I finished 8th overall, 1st veteran. A European title to warm up for the big one in 7 days time. Then it was into the van for the drive to Prague. So on the 26th August 2000 I lined up with a couple of hundred quadrathletes and became Dai Richards, World Quadrathlon Champion (Veteran). Life ambition No 2 put to bed. Hayley and the boys had flown over for the race, it was nice to finish and fall into the arms of the one I love. 2 weeks and loads of Guinness later I won the Welsh veteran's triathlon championship (finishing 3rd in Welsh Champs), spearheading Multisport RC home as the leading Welsh Triathlon club. (Illustration - winning world champs in Czech Republic)*
2001		2001 - Won the Welsh triathlon champs (veteran, over 40) again. In June published rugbyrelics.com for the first time during the 2001 Lions tour. In September the Rugby Relics website opened the world's first on-line dedicated rugby museum, the first collection the museum bought was that of England and British Lions player Jim Unwin - for the Dai's Diary entry on the Jim Unwin page CLICK HERE. Later that year I was awarded the Neath Port Talbot Sports Personality of the Year. In September I started work with Neath Port Talbot College managing Britain's first Triathlon Academy and started coaching several triathletes. (Illustration - the invisible man)
2002		2002 - I was still coaching triathlon at Neath College and with Multisport Racing Club & coaching kayaking with Neath Kayak Club, still running Rugby Relics. Took part in only 1 triathlon this year, winning Team Triple Sprint for 3rd year in succession. Got married for the 2nd time on December 7th in the Cook Islands. (Illustration - marriage to Hayley, with Dale & Simon)
2003		2003 - Still chairman of Multisport Racing Club, now Wales' largest and fastest triathlon club. Put on two stone. Did two multi-sport races this year finishing 12th overall, winning a silver medal as 2nd veteran in the first ever British Aquathlon championships at Llanelli. More importantly, Adrian Edwards, Aled Thomas and myself, two of the athletes I was coaching at the time won the gold in the team event. Still managing Britain's only Triathlon Academy. (Illustration - after exiting the swim in the British Aquathlon champs.)
2004		2004 - Retired as chairman of Multisport Racing Club. Took Triathlon Academy to Lanzarote on training camp. Took part in a 'multisport' event Aberavon Beach to the top of Pen-y-Fan (30 miles cycling, 10 miles running, broke course record by 30 miniutes but finished 2nd to someone who beat it by 32. Did the Llandovery Triathlon, finished 2nd. News in July was that the college were heavily in debt, lost job along with many others as College brought in a hatchet man as the new Principal. Came back to Rugby Relics full time. CLICK HERE FOR THE HISTORY OF NEATH PORT TALBOT COLLEGE TRIATHLON ACADEMY. I was invited to take part in the Seat 'Men's Health' Challenge in Spain. How can you turn down a challenge like that, photos from this challenge appear on the SEAT CHALLENGE PAGE - CLICK HERE. The story that appeared in Men's Health appears below. In December Rugby Relics helped to refurbish the William Webb Ellis pub in the town of Rugby. (Illustration - NPT College Triathlon Academy's Training Camp in Lanzarote, what a week !)
2005		2005 - My 20th year in triathlon was celebrated with one of the hardest events on the calendar at Blaenavon, I finished !. Had a good day out at the Welsh Orienteering Championships, finishing 3rd in my category, although I'm still struggling big time with this sport. Had another nice day out with a stroll over the mountains, doing the half course in 'mountaineering' section of the Welsh 1000s (see 1993 for my last time in this event), broke the course record for the veteran's section although I was nowhere near fit, tramping up Snowdon brought back great memories. It was happy father time when Vicky & Laurie both made it to University and Dale got his Welsh 'vest' in orienteering. Took Simon to his first international at the Millennium Stadium to see Gavin Henson slot the ball over against England. We then bought the grass he kicked off and encapsulated it in paperweights. Appeared in a documentary on BBC with Gareth Edwards on the 1905 Wales v NZ game, also appeared in the crowd of another on S4C and had a line 'Play Up Wales'. (Illustration - pictured with Dave Gallaher and Billy Wallace prior to filming the S4C documentary)

2006

2006 was a bit of an Annus Horriblus, if it could go wrong it did but I won't bore you with the details. The kids did well though ! Vicky finished 2nd in the Welsh slalom championships, just 2 seconds off the number one spot. Dale represented Wales at orienteering and cyclo cross and Simon won the under 12 orienteering short course Welsh championships. I had a few purple patches, the orienteering started to come together, with a couple of good runs, I won the Swansea Bay orienteering summer league but this worked on a handicap system, my best result was third in an event. I won the Welsh veteran's aquathlon championships (see below for the finish).

Took a Celtic Tri training camp to France for a week in May, click here for the story of this week. My triathlon for the year was in Bude (my 21st year) and I did a few cyclo cross events towards the end of the year. Bought a new bike for Dale, thank goodness because a couple of weeks later I broke his old one cyclo cross training, made a bit of a mess of my face in the gravel and three hours later I had to go to watch the Ospreys thrash Australia. What a fantastic night for the Ospreys, by the end of the night though I could only see through one eye, the other had closed and I looked like I'd been ten rounds with Joe Calzaghe. The World Rugby Museum made it's mark with an exhibition to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the Welsh Rugby Union and Charlotte Church bought Gavin Henson one of our paperweights for Christmas. Proud moments of the year were when both Vicky and Dale joined me and completed the 'Round the Pier Swim' in Aberavon, The water was seriously bumpy and eight people were pulled out or were retired including some experienced swimmers. Simon played the Wizard of Oz in the school production of the same name, it was great to see him on stage.

2007

Moved to the city of Glynneath

AQUATHLON

Aquathlon is the combined sport of swimming & running, it's triathlon without the bike. I haven't done many. In 2003 I finished 2nd in my age group in the British Champs and was a member of the winning team, Adrian & Aled, the other members of the team were athletes I was coaching at the time. In 2006 I finished 11th in Welsh champs and won the veteran's title.

ATHLETICS / CROSS COUNTRY

I started with the jogging boom in the early 1980's, 1982 to be exact, my first outing was the Swansea Bay 10k in which I managed 43rd place, in a time of 35.36, my main sport at the time was soccer and I didn't do much training, I was in amongst the club runners so this was quite a respectable time. My next outing was the Afan Half Marathon in the same year and I ran 1.16.??, still under 6 minutes a mile. Once again I was high up amongst the club runners, I think I finished 14th overall. This was pretty good going considering I was still running in flat trainers (I hadn't discovered cushioned running shoes yet) and nylon soccer shorts, these hurt like hell. It was a surprise to me that I could compete at athletics even though I'd won the school cross countries and done a limited amount of track running as a kid. The next year I was selected for the county cross country team and took part in the Inter Counties race at Leicester. Mid way through the summer, one of the hottest on record, the BBC caught me winning the 1500 mts at the Dole Olympics, coming off the bend to win the sprint finish in 4.21. My times steadily improved and by 1986 I was winning 5 - 6 road races a year, but then triathlon was my main sport and running just a means to an end. I didn't do too badly though winning the county championship at 5000 mts in 1985 and cross country in 1996.

BADMINTON

I first started playing badminton when I was about 13, playing 3 - 4 times a week I soon became quite handy with a racquet and eventually played league badminton for the British Steel Company, Margam. I had a couple of seasons playing with the team (1976 - 1978 ish) but sharpness, a requirement for badminton just wasn't there.

CYCLO-CROSS

Once I'd dedicated myself to Triathlon, I looked around for complimentary sports, cyclo-cross fitted the bill in that there were cycling skills involved and getting off the bike and running. In my first event at Morfa Stadium I finished 4th and in my second race I beat half the Welsh team, the next season I won my first 'cross' and was selected for the Welsh team, my first international vest/jersey, although they took back the jersey due to 'economical reasons' and it was several years later before I managed to pinch a cycling jersey so that I can show my kids that I represented Wales. I represented Wales 3 times at cyclo-cross, and was selected on a few more occasions but it didn't always fit in with my race calendar/budget. It was competing in cyclo cross that I received one of my worst injuries, 23 stitches, 17 in my leg and 6 in my arm while racing on an old coal tip. I only slid on some grass but must have caught my leg and arm on a piece of slag. What annoyed me most was that I had to pull out of the race, I was leading at the time, in front of Tim Davies, my future team mate and British Mountain Bike Champion. I'd only beaten him once before and was never to beat him again.

DUATHLON - (Run/Bike)

Always one of my strongest sports I won several duathlons in South Wales in the late 1980s & early 1990s. The Bynea Biathlon as it was then called was my first duathlon where I lost out to team mate Martyn Hughes, after that I won the race 3 or 4 times, finishing second on another 2 or 3 occasions. I won events at Worcester and Hereford in successive weeks, the Hereford victory was one of my best results, I beat, British Ironman champion Chris Ray into second and Welsh Triathlon champion Phil Kibble into 3rd. In 1994 I won the Welsh Sprint Championship and represented Wales in 1995.

MARATHON KAYAKING

I took up Marathon Kayaking to compliment Quadrathlon, it was after all the 4th discipline. This sport is not easy, unlike any other forms of kayaking, the marathon kayak does one thing, it goes in a straight line. I struggled with balance throughout my career and in the first 6 months of having a marathon kayak I spent most of the time in the water swimming with it. Likewise in most of my early races I fell out on most. I was selected to represent Wales in 3 events but only ended up doing the 'Tour of Scotland' because of other commitments. I won my only kayak race on the River Usk (near Newport), an 8 mile race, the last 3 miles against the incoming tide. Not a sport I greatly enjoyed but a necessary evil for Quadrathlon.

MOUNTAIN BIKING

This is a sport with which I've had a love/hate relationship over the years. The early days, when mountain biking was introduced to Britain were tough, no suspension meant you were bounced all over the place and at one time I'd wake up the morning after a tough race (not with hangover) with arthritic pains in the fingers and wrists. My early races on the mountain bike were a nightmare, my first, a national series event at Cannock Chase was one big mudbath from start to non finish. Riding behind another bike at speed through mud means you have to continually blink to rid the eyes of any mud that gets in them and to hopefully catch the mud before it hits the eyeball. If it hits the eyeball then the blinking will hopefully clear it, if not, you just have to guess which way to go ! We were about threequarters of the way through the race when I came down hard on the back of the saddle and it snapped. No saddle and a sticking up seatpost meant no finish to my first race. The second and third races were also non finishes due to mechanical problems. It was a big thank you to Schmoo for providing bikes, parts, transport, event fees, in fact everything to do with mountain biking. I spent 5 years as a sponsored rider with the Schmoo's team. My best finish I think was 8th or 9th in a national series event but my best result was 10th at another event at Cannock Chase, 8 of the riders in front of me were professional and the one amateur Nicky Craig was to turn professional the next year. The were another 10 - 15 professionals behind me including Chris Walker who went on to win the Milk Race a couple of years later. I represented Wales a couple of times including the MTB Tour of Britain, a televised event that was to rival the Kellogs Tour, the race lasted a week and we were transported all around Britain for the races, it was great to ride amongst the top riders in Europe, I finished the leading rider in the Welsh team. In 1995 I won the Welsh veterans championship. The Welsh championships only came into being around 1992/3, a shame really, in 1989 I was the leading Welsh rider in the Welsh 'Open' at Abergavenny. The love/hate relationship I think stems from taking risks. I'm naturally a non-risk taker but to win events and race amongst the best you have to take risks, a necessary evil, I have the scars to prove it. It's also the expense of the sport, it costs a fortune to run a decent bike if you are doing the miles. There is no way I could have afforded to do mountain biking if it wasn't for Schmoo. Sadly, no longer with us, the man was a Saint.

MOUNTAIN RUNNING

As a kid we lived half way up a mountain, running downhill to the bus stop for school in the morning was always a natural thing and when tramping with friends 'up the mountain' I was always first to the top. Mountain running is great fun but you always pay for it after with dead legs from the downhills. I was selected to represent Wales in 1993 in the Home Internationals and in my mountain running career I won 3 or 4 'mountain' races although I have never really done that many in total. My one love on the mountains was the Welsh 1000s, a race starting at sea level near Bangor and ending at the top of Snowdon, after visiting the three other highest peaks in Wales (Carnedd Llewellyn, Carnedd Dafydd & Crib-y-Ddysgol). On paper the distance is about 25 miles but in reality it's more like 30. You have a list of items to carry, wetproofs, whistle, survival bag, torch, food, etc. The competition is organised by the British Army and there is a military section where the runner has to wear regulation boots and lightweights (trousers). I ran the race in 1992 & 1993 and won comfortably on both occasions over 10 minutes in front of my nearest competitors. In 2005 I went back to do the half race in the mountaineering section of the 1000s, just to get the feel of the mountains again, it was wonderful to be skipping up Snowdon again. I broke the course record for my age group in this category in this race.

ORIENTEERING

I always fancied myself at orienteering, the local club, Swansea Bay OC is fantastically well organised and they are superb at encouraging new people into the sport. I tried to get into it as far back as the late 1980s but with a young family it was too logistically tough. I started again with the family in about 1999 and 2000, mostly I just accompanied the boys while they were on their courses, there's a great family atmosphere at the club so there were also plenty of playmates for a post competition muck about for the boys while I managed the occasional nightmare run. Then the 'Foot & Mouth' epidemic hit and the countryside was closed off. It took us 3 years to get back into the sport. We had a full year's local competition in 2004 when more often that not I finished last. In 2005 I still struggled but there's a glimmer of hope for the future with 3 top 5 finishes in the Swansea Bay Summer League and 3rd place in my age group at the Welsh Champs. In 2006 I was orienteering with more consistency, I won the summer league at Swansea Bay and showed an improvement generally. 2007 was a bit of a so so year but 2008 started with a bang when I won the short course for my age group at the Welsh championships

QUADRATHLON (Swim-Kayak-Cycle-Run)

I first saw the sport of Quadrathlon in one of the triathlon magazines and thought, Mmmmmmmmmm like it ! A bit like multi-sport really, you see something and just know you can do it. I looked at it and it didn't take me long to decide I should spend the next 8 years of my life focusing on winning the Quadrathlon World Championship in the year that I turned 40, I even bought a house next to a canal so I wouldn't have to travel to train in the kayak. There were no doubts in my mind, the day I won the championship I was in the 'zone' big time, from start to finish. My overall position was 8th (in the world) but more importantly I was the best over 40 Quadrathlete in the world. A week before I'd won the European veteran's title and also finished 8th in that race, but as far as I was concerned that race was a warm up, a test, if I'd returned home European champion and not World Champion then that would have been a failure and I would have had to do it again and again until I got it right. The greatest feeling was crossing the line and Hayley and the boys were there, I can't stop smiling now that I think about it. Sadly it was just too logistically tough to get the girls there !!!!!! But I think it was the feeling of relief more than anything else ! Although I had been preparing for 8 years my first quad was only in 1997 when I finished 2nd in a race in the Peak District. In 1998 I was 7th in the European Championships, two days prior to this when I was tapering down I recorded my lowest ever pulse rate of 29, I was incredibly fit, it was just my kayak section that was letting me down. In 1999 I was 2nd the British Champs, held in Scotland. The fact that you have to arrive at the start line with wetsuit, bike & kayak makes quadrathlon an incredibly difficult sport in which to organise yourself. I suppose that was one of the factors that helped me to succeed, I'm quite well organised !!!!

RUGBY PLAYER

My first ever game was for Tirmorfa Junior School, I remember playing on the wing and scoring a try, but not what the result was. I was never a regular in the school team, I wasn’t a big lad and I wasn’t fast, I had some skills but not enough. I played 4 or 5 times for the school team in form 3 (now year 9) of the comprehensive at full back but missed a tackle, we lost, I got dropped and that was my last game at school.

I started playing youth rugby for Baglan RFC after I packed in refereeing, firstly I just made up the numbers, playing anywhere there was a space, wing, second row, hooker, full back, scrum half, centre, then commanded a regular sport at outside half, the only ‘famous’ player I can remember facing during ‘youth’ rugby was Bleddyn Bowen, (captain of the 1988 Welsh Triple Crown side). It was during the last couple of months of youth rugby that I badly dislocated my shoulder, we were playing a local derby against Cwmav