Craig Jones

I found running way back in 1991, though the requirement to pass a fitness test; so I started training, wearing a pair of Dunlop Greenflash badminton shoes!  Numerous miles and painful feet later I met colleagues who took me under their wing and off-road which I loved.  My first fellrace was the 1993 Welsh1000m, woefully unprepared and wearing a pair of road shoes, I finished almost last and utterly destroyed, but I was hooked.   Now a V50 I've raced all over the UK and a few abroad, everything from 1 to 96 miles, 2 day nav events and the occasional XC, road race and triathlon.  I love the freedom of fellracing and I'm never happier than running with the sun on my back on a mountain top.

I was encouraged to volunteer by Ross Powell, then WFRA Chairman, who asked me to think about a new race in the Conwy Valley (Pipe Dream).  Later I created the Great Orme race for the Midweek Series.I joined the WFRA committee as an ordinary member in 2007.  I then Chaired Eryri Harriers 2010-2012, during which I learned a lot, and also led the team hosting the British Fell Relay.  In 2015 I agreed to become WFRA Chairman and have remained so since, mainly because 1. nobody else volunteers, and 2. there's been unfinished work to do and there still is.

Fellrunning has been a hugely positive part of my adult life and I've enjoyed giving something back, though it can be a thankless task.  The Chairman role involves steering the committee and encouraging progress in a wide range of areas.  I'm proud to say I've contributed to Welsh fellrunning remaining firmly not-for-profit which in turn has had a wider influence on UK fellrunning. Likewise in other areas such as runner safety, use of GPS and Juniors.  I strongly recommend fellrunners put something back in, it's rewarding (mostly!).