Richard Burton 10K
The Lowdown
The Richard Burton 10K is one of the oldest road races on the Welsh running calendar, held each autumn in the villages of Cwmafan and Pontrhydyfen in the Afan Valley, Neath Port Talbot. The event traces its roots to a 1982 memorial fun run for three young men from Cwmafan killed in a car accident, and took the name of Hollywood actor Richard Burton - born in nearby Pontrhydyfen - after he lent his support in 1983. Now sponsored by Tata Steel and run as a registered charity, the race hosts the Welsh Road 10K Championships and the Welsh Vets Championships, and drew over 3,500 runners for a sold-out 2025 edition, its first ever to fill up. The rolling valley course is considered a genuine test, with strong community support lining the streets and finishers rewarded with a t-shirt, slate coaster and traditional Welsh cake. All profits go to local charities and community organizations.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
Medium-sized race
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Excellent spectator turnout
Cwmavon Community Centre - start/finish and registration hub, Cwmafan
Pontrhydyfen - birthplace village of actor Richard Burton, passed on the route
Afan Valley - the race runs through the wooded, hillside valley that gives the area its character
Other distances available during the event weekend:
Cwmafan, Neath Port Talbot, Wales, United Kingdom
GB
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- 10K: minimum age 15 on race day
- Mini Miler (1 mile): family fun run; children under 9 must be accompanied by an adult
Required Documents
- Race number/bib collected before the start; no photo ID requirement published
Entry Methods
- Online via the official Fullonsport/RB10K registration page
- 2025 edition sold out for the first time, so early entry is advised
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Entries are non-refundable and non-transferable per standard UK mass-participation race booking terms; not confirmed on an official refund policy page
Named after Hollywood actor and Pontrhydyfen native Richard Burton CBE, who agreed to lend his name to the race in 1983; his brother Graham Jenkins served on the race committee.
Founded in January 1982 as a memorial fun run for three young men from Cwmafan who died in a 1981 car accident; proceeds funded a youth gym in the community.
Hosts the Welsh Road 10K Championships 2026 and Welsh Vets Championships 2026.
2.5-hour finish cutoff; finishers receive a t-shirt, slate coaster, Welsh cake and water; all profits go to local charities and community organizations.
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