OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY: Week two from Cardiff to Liverpool

By Nathan Brown, Sportsbeat

KINDLED by the rays of the sun in Ancient Olympia, the Olympic torch finally arrives in the UK after a week-long journey around the home of the Games in Greece. Over the next ten weeks more than 8,000 will carry the torch - from the young to the old, the well-known to the deserving.

BIG CROWDS: Police admit they've been suprised by the numbers lining the streets during the first week of the Olympic torch relay (Getty Images)

MAY 26 – DAY EIGHT - CARDIFF – SWANSEA

Caerphilly Castle will be a major landmark as the torch starts its first full day in Wales, with more than 100 torchbearers taking the flame between Cardiff and Swansea.

As a teenager Alan Acreman, 74, dreamed of representing Wales at the Commonwealth Games until his hopes were dashed by polio.

But he still continues to stay active, cycling 70 km and running seven miles on his 70th birthday just four years ago.

Betty Gray, 91, began a successful career in table tennis in 1939, winning gold medals in both the European and World Championships in her age group.

She continues mentoring and teaching young players at several Swansea youth clubs and she was recognised with the 2010 Sport Wales Coach of the Year Lifetime Achievement award for her work.

KEY TIMING - 10:10 - Caerphilly Castle 

HISTORIC: On May 26th the torch will visit Caerphilly Castle in Wales, one of the UK's most castles

MAY 27 - DAY NINE - SWANSEA - ABERYSTWYTH

The torch will follow a path along the south-west tip of Wales, skirting along Carmarthen Bay, St Brides Bay and Cardigan Bay, before halting in Aberystwyth for an evening celebration.

Among the torchbearers is 41-year old Susy Evans.

Evans is a two-time Welsh karate champion and the only deaf instructor in all of west and south Wales.

Also running is great grandmother Bella Murray, 83, who arrived in the UK from east Africa over 50 years ago and has committed her life to volunteering and fundraising, particularly with the Guide and Scout movement.

Several stars of the British team from last year's Special Olympics in Athens will also run, including five-time gold medallist gymnast Omar Haddad, 23, and two-time silver medallist Charlotte Cox.

KEY TIMINGS - 07:20 - Oystermouth Castle, 07:39 - Bay Rider Land Train, 11:25 - Kidwelly Castle, 17:22 - Ceredigion Cob Horse

MAY 28 – DAY TEN - ABERYSTWYTH – BANGOR

Inspirational torchbearers old and young will be among those who carry the flame, which will also take a spin on the famous Blaenau Ffestiniog railway.

Allys Clipsham, 19, is a keen athlete who dreams of refereeing in the FA Premier League while Carian Scudamore was a gold medallist in equestrian at the first-ever Youth Olympic Games in Singapore

Clipsham has been inspired by stories of her great grandfather, who after losing an arm in World War II, won medals in swimming, shot put and discus at the 1948 Stoke Mandeville Games, the inspiration for the modern Paralympic movement.

Tony Pumfrey, 80, was one of the fastest Welsh milers in his day and despite suffering a recent stroke, continues to jog and stay active.

Mike Pepper will carry the flame through his hometown of Y Felinheli in recognition of the thousands of pounds he has raised for charity through his sporting exploits, which include marathons, triathlons, a sponsored swim from Alcatraz to San Francisco and a cycle ride from Land's End to John O'Groats.

KEY TIMINGS - 07:55 - Cliff Top Railway, Aberystwyth, 12:10 - Steam Train, Blaenau Ffestiniog Railway Station to Porthmadog Station

SUMMIT: At an altitude of 1085 metres (3560 ft), Snowdon, part of Snowdonia National Park, is the highest point of the UK outside Scotland - the flame visits of May 29th

MAY 29 - DAY 11 - BEAUMARIS - CHESTER

The flame will be carried to the summit of Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales, and conclude the day by crossing the border back into England for an evening celebration in Chester.

Rising sporting stars Charlotte Bryan, 17, Elin Jones, 16, Huw Barrett, 17, and Lucy Doherty, 16, are all amongst 100 torchbearers due to carry the flame. 

Arthur Newnes, 80, has been nominated after raising £400,000 for local charities and Bryn Terfel, the famous Welsh opera singer, will run a leg through Bangor.

KEY TIMINGS - 07:05 - Beaumaris Castle, 07:28 - RNLI Lifeboat, Beaumaris to Menai Bridge, 10:27 - Great Orme Cable Car,18:25 - Eastgate Clock Tower, 18:38 - Racehorse at Chester Racecourse

MAY 30 - DAY 12 - CHESTER - STOKE ON TRENT

The torch will pass through Much Wenlock, the Shropshire village that served as an inspiration to modern Olympic founder Pierre de Courbetin.

The Wenlock Olympian Society, the brainchild of Dr William Brookes, has staged their annual sporting celebration for local residents since 1850 - 46 years before the first modern Olympics in Athens.

John Simpson, a vice-president of their organising committee, will be among the torchbearers when the flame visits and Dimitrios Eforakopoulos, a resident of the Greek town of Krestena, just a few miles from Ancient Olympia, will also run through the village.

Volunteer and charity worker Ron Miles, 83, is the day's oldest torchbearer while 12-year old's Joe Ashley, Mo Ullah and Ryan Gardner are the youngest.

KEY TIMINGS - 09:12 - Pontcysllte Aqueduct & Llangollen Canal, Trevor, 15:15 - Ironbridge *

HERO: Amir Khan (right) is Bolton's favourite sporting son after his Olympic boxing silver as a teenager in Athens. He is tipped to be involved as the flame passes through his home town

MAY 31 - DAY 13 - STOKE ON TRENT - BOLTON

Huge crowds are predicted as the flame arrives in England's north-west, with Amir Khan, Bolton's Olympic boxing silver medallist, tipped to feature along the route.

Among the confirmed torchbearers are Eddie Johnson, 69, who has been involved in the Scout Association for 60 years, and Mike Freary, 73, who has spent over half a century coaching athletics.

Freary, a former British 10,000m record holder, was nominated by his son Paul, who he coached to the World Masters half marathon title in 2006.

The flame will pass through the Potteries Museum in Stoke on Trent, Tatton Park in Knutsford and Jodrell Bank, the famous research facility in Macclesfield.

KEY TIMINGS - 7:00 - The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Stoke on Trent, 11:05 - Tatton Park, Knutsford, 18:38 - Victoria Square, Bolton

JUNE 1 - DAY 14 - BOLTON - LIVERPOOL

The red and blue halves of Liverpool will unite to support the Olympic torch with several Merseyside sporting legends being lined up to play a starring role.

Among the ordinary local heroes to carry the flame is 68-year old Jack Blakemore.

He has spent the past 35 years as a football linesman, referee, and coach, and recently he was rewarded for his long service to the game by the Football Association.

Mike Hatcliff, 78, is a former British Olympic swimmer who competed in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.  

After retiring from the sport, Hatcliff has been both a PE teacher and a private swimming instructor, and he estimates he’s taught 42,000 children to swim.

Liverpool taxi driver Bernie Buxton was nominated to carry the torch for his charity work for the Liverpool Taxi Drivers Children in Care Outing Fund.

"Never in a million years did I think I'd be involved in the Olympics," he said. "I'm not a sporty person but when I found out I was carrying the Olympic flame I was over the moon."

KEY TIMINGS - 06:05 - Bolton Town Hall, Bolton, 12:10 - Another Place, Crosby, 15:05 - Knowsley Safari Park, Knowsley, 18:45 - Mersey Ferries, Birkenhead - Liverpool