Alan Griffiths won the 2012 Nos Galan fancy dress competition as 'Grand Slam Man'

A former school headteacher walked away from the 2012 Nos Galan Road Races in Mountain Ash with a fantastic prize - a brand-new 42-inch LCD television.

Buy As You View kindly donated the prize to the best fancy dress competitor in the Adult 5k Fun Run at the annual New Year’s Eve spectacular on the streets of Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Alan Griffiths, of Glenboi, Mountain Ash, ran the 5k Adult Race dressed up as a Six Nations rugby fan - complete with the flags of each nation proudly flying on his back!

Mr Griffiths, the retired head of Pengeulan Primary School, Miskin, Mountain Ash, was delighted with his prize.

“I love Nos Galan and am a great rugby fan so I decided to bring the two together. I had a great response as I ran around the streets,” said Mr Griffiths.

The Nos Galan Road Races, which started in 1958, are organised by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and the Nos Galan Committee.

Rachel Morris, communications manager at Buy As You View, said: “Many of our customers and staff live in and around Mountain Ash and attend this event every year.

“The race is a calendar highlight for many local people and is just the kind of thing our Community Fund was set up for. We were really pleased to be offering this prize to the best fancy dress winner.”

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Deputy Mayor, Cllr Ann Crimmings, who is also Chair of the Nos Galan Committee and Secretary of Aberdare Valley Amateur Athletics Club, said: “We are so grateful to Buy As You View, and all of our other race sponsors, for their overwhelming generosity. Nos Galan is a huge family event that grows in popularity year-on-year, and the 2012 event was no exception and was a huge success.

“It is great to see that each year local businesses and organisations continue to support Nos Galan, and the extra support received this year will mean that we will continue to build and improve the event for the coming years.”

As well as support from the Council, the race is also sponsored by Persimmon Homes, Darran Las Communities First, Amgen Cymru, RCT Homes, and Fernhill and Glenboi Communities First. Again this year, Springfield Soft Drinks are also supporting the races, along with Buy As You View and Red Bull.