Kilvey Killer

The Kilvey Killer is an annual endurance race, usually held in August, which involves running up and down Kilvey Hill carrying a sack of cement. Kilvey Hill lies next to the Swansea community of Bon-y-maen in south Wales. In a Runner's World on-line discussion forum the run was considered to be one of the hardest in the United Kingdom.
History
The race was established in 1989 by the former amateur boxing champion and trainer Nigel Page. The initial aim of the race was to raise money for a special baby unit for Singleton Hospital, Swansea, which had saved his daughter Kirsty's life after she was born prematurely.
Nigel Page died in a roofing accident in 2004 and since then the race has been held in his memory and has been organised by friend Rocky Reynolds and daughter Kirsty Page.
The race
The race is open to men and women and its objective is to raise money for charity. The event requires each competitor to carry a bag of cement on their backs along a mile long course. The cement bag for men weighs 50kg and the cement bag for women weighs 25kg. If a competitor's bag touches the ground then they are eliminated from the race. In bad weather the bags are liable to break open during the run. Application forms for the race are available beforehand from the Bonymaen Inn, Bon-y-maen, Swansea. Competitors can also register from 10 am to 12 pm on the race day.
The first race started with 10 participants and is now popular with local people, Bonymaen Boxing Club members and Swansea City Football Club supporters. In 2011 the run was undertaken by the Welsh former international football star and cancer survivor John Hartson. Welsh professional boxer Enzo Maccarinelli has also competed. In 1998, Sammy Woods became the first woman to finish the race. In 2008, Chris Ware, 26, established a race record of 10 minutes 43 seconds.
Charities and sponsors
The race has raised money for: Breast Cancer Wales, Cystic Fibrosis Trust, John Hartson Foundation, St John Ambulance, Wales Air Ambulance. Sponsors' support enables all race proceeds to go directly to charity and sponsors include: The Bonymaen Inn, Dorian Heel Bar, Design T-shirts, Eastside Insurance, Morrisey Cement (provider of cement bags for the race), Travis Perkins Builders, Yellow Cabs.

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