PARADE OF EX-CHAMPS IN LLANBERIS
A parade of former winners
and a return the High Street for the start of the race are
just two of the many aspects that will make this a year
to remember at the 40th Tyn Lon Volvo International Snowdon Race /
Ras-yr-Wyddfa on the 18th of July.
Anticipation
of the 2015 event is as high as ever with 600 runners getting ready for
what promises to be one for the best ever races at this monument in
International mountain running. With the race hitting 40 years you would expect
a few celebrations, however Stephen Edwards and the race committee
are finalising preparations for what will be a day to remember for
Llanberis and Wales, with a festival atmosphere guaranteed in the north
Wales village.
The
race is considered as one of the greatest in the world of mountain running,
and attracts some of the best racers in Europe. However, the event has
grown over the last four decades to be one on the bucket-list of mere mortals
across the world, as just completing the race from Llanberis to the
summit of Snowdon and back is something thousands aspire to, but only
hundreds achieve, year-on-year - and this year that extra 3/4 mile of high
street tarmac might just come into play as the race pans out over 10.5
arduous miles on the slopes of the highest peak in England and
Wales.
Speaking
about the festivities planned for this year's race, Edwards comments:
"This is going to be a very interesting and exciting
few days in Llanberis. Since the days when I was on the committee as a 13-year
old, I always marvelled at the Snowdon Race and it is now an honour
to be able to say that I am the organiser of the race and have been part of
history, especially this year as its 40th anniversary. My intention from the
first race I organised back in 2009 was to aim for the 40th and organise a full
week of activities, to bring the carnival feel back to Llanberis and I think we
have done that for 2015."
"Perhaps the most exciting aspect is the reconstruction
of the 1976 start, where the main race this year will start in the centre of
the Llanberis village, which is been welcomed by the residents and especially
the local businesses. Past runners such Dave Francis (the first ever race
winner in 1976), Kenny Stuart (race record holder), Joan Glass (first ever
women's winner), Bridget Hogge, Mark Kinch, Neil Wilkinson, Colin Jones (first
ever Welsh men's winner) and Tim Davies (3-time winner) to name a few, along
with past committee members and the race founder Ken Jones and the field of 600
runners - all will be paraded behind the local Batala samba band from the field
to the start line in the village".
The
race will be preceded once again this year by the Snowdon Super Cup / Cwpan
yr Wyddfa - an invitational, uphill-only, race to the summit of
Snowdon, starting at 10.30am on race day and this year featuring some
top GB athletes in the men's and women's races.
In
the main race, the men's event looks to be wide open. Wales' men's team
contains seasoned international Richard Roberts, and he is joined by relative
new faces to the Welsh vest Hugh Aggleton, Harry Jones and local runner Gareth
Hughes. Scotland's Kyle Greig returns after a strong showing in 2014, as does
Ireland's James Kevan, 8th in last year's shortened race. The English team will
as ever be a strong collective with Tom Adams featuring.
Not
running in an international vest this year, but a potential winner,
is England's Rob Hope who is in fine form this year. The 4-time British
Fell Running Champion will be running for Salomon GB and having placed third in
2013 will be looking to go at least one better in 2015. Equally hopeful of a
good finish will be the evergreen Ian Holmes, a multiple race winner.
Holmsey will also be part of that pre-race parade and will competitive as
ever.
2014
women's champion Sarah McCormack returns again this year, hoping to be able to
run to the summit in 2015 after last year's race to the Clogwyn station. She
heads-up the Irish challenge, who have provided winners in the last two years,
with Sarah Mulligan taking the win in 2013. England's third placer in 2014
Lindsey Brindle is in fine form after winning the recent Twilight
race on the mountain, and will be looking to improve on that performance in
2015, along with Yorkshire runner Katie Walshaw, who herself has been in
great form recently.
Wales'
womens team contains Andrea Rowlands, who is another athlete who could
feature prominently on a mountain in a race that she knows very well.
Andrea is joined by Hannah Jarvis and Katie Beecher in the Welsh ladies
team.
The
Super Cup race will once again include some of the UK's top
mountain running talent. 2013 Super Cup winner Olivia Walwyn returns
in the women's race and will be up against 2015 revelation Emmie
Collinge. The Englishwoman has swept all before her in Italy this
year, winning top class uphill events, against world class
opposition. In the men's race GB international Rob Samuel will look to go
a few places better after his 5th place finish in 2013, as
he returns from injury. Local man Alun Vaughan is also on the start sheet
and along with Rob will take on the likes of top English talent Martin Cox, and
young Max Nicholls, fresh from his 5th place run at the European Mountain
Running Championships.
Evidence
of the general popularity has once again been visible as the 700 places
available online went on sale on the 1st of March. Within 3 days all but a
few had gone and Stephen Edwards was able to close entries
and begin the 2015 race preparations:
"As ever, we have been inundated with entries, and
even since the closing date I have had numerous
requests for entries for the race, even though the event is full. Little
could the organisers of that inaugural race in 1976
have realised what this event would become some 40 years
later. Snowdon is now recognised as the UK's busiest mountain and
that is part of the attraction for those runners who get that 'Tour de France
feeling' as they ascend the crowds of people cheering on
the slopes come race day.
Edwards
is keen to point out that the event is now much more than just a race, with
major sponsors, attractions and a sense of festival which almost brings
Llanberis to a stand-still on its traditional third-weekend of July race
date and the 40th celebrations continue in the week leading up to the race:
"We as a voluntary organisation have also put
hours of work into organising the community aspect to this international event.
The week pre-race will include a pool competition, darts nights, bingo, whist
drive and also a new DMM Llanberis 5km, along the popular kids' races on the
Thursday night. We also have a 40th race exhibition
of historic images until Sept 1st in the First Hydro Electric
Mountain, the building where the registration takes place. Add to this the Hwyl
i Bawb kids races on the morning of the race at 11am and the traditional junior
mountain races also starting straight after the main race from the high street,
and the entertainment and sport is endless.
