Vender continues Italian success as Jenkinson makes history at Snowdon 2018

Llanberis, Wales – Italy’s Alberto Vender and Wales’ young mountain running sensation Bronwen Jenkinson took top honours at the 43rd running of the Jewson International Snowdon race on Saturday.

The highest peak in Wales and England once again provided high drama, as almost 600 runners from across the world tackled the steep slopes of this iconic mountain. For Vender it was a performance that saw him follow in the footsteps of compatriot Davide Magnini who had captured the crown 12 months earlier and adds his name the roll call of Italian winners that includes such greats as Martin May, Fausto Bonzi and Marco DeGasperi.

For local runner Jenkinson it was a day she will surely never forget. After the disappointments of 2016 when she failed to finish and 2017 where she finished 4th, 2018 was to be third time lucky for the 21-year old as she became the first Welshwomen to win at Snowdon since 1989 when Angela Carson won for the second time.

Grey skies and low visibility on the mountain added to the spice for the runners as they embarked on the challenging 10-mile race, which can be traced back to 1976 when a small group of competitors ran from the centre of the village of Llanberis to the 1085 metre summit and back.

As ever the supportive Llanberis community came out in style as hundreds lined the field and streets to see off the runners as they headed out at 12 midday, with race starter Cllr Ioan Thomas, the Gwynedd Council Cabinet Member for Economic Development, getting the race underway.

As the race hit the early part of the mountain it was a familiar sight of English vests to the fore as 2016 winner Chris Smith and Chris Holdsworth were joined by local runner and Welsh international Rob Samuel. Through halfway Smith held a healthy advantage, with Northern Ireland man Zak Hanna looking strong in fourth place. At this stage Vender, fellow Italian Guilio Simonetti and 2012 winner Murray Strain were over a minute back on Smith.

However, as the race developed and they passed the iconic milestones of Hebron, Allt Moses, Clogwyn and Bwlch Glas, Vender began to impress himself on the race and joined Samuel in the chase behind Smith as they raced to the summit.

Meanwhile in the women’s event Bronwen Jenkinson was leaving nothing to chance and after a steady start through Allt yr Parc and Penceunant she took hold of the race to hit halfway with a sizeable lead over the trio of England’s Sophie Noon, Scot Miranda Grant and Ribble Valley Harrier Caitlin Rice.

Little changed over the next miles as the women also hit the summit and Jenkinson’s lead had grown to fully two minutes over Grant, with Noon and Rice a further 40 seconds back.

All minds in the men’s and women’s races were now focussed on the bottom of the mountain, and as Englishman Smith turned to head to Llanberis he still held a sizeable advantage over Samuel and Vender.

From here on in the men’s race it would be a battle of wits on the descent, with Smith picking his way through the runners and walkers and Vender on a charge behind, edging closer to the Englishman with every step as they hurtled towards Clogwyn with the steep, marble-like stones of Allt Goch underfoot.

It was here that Vender made a big move and he swept past Smith with his descending skills coming to the fore, and as they passed the halfway descent tracker the times now showed an advantage of 10 seconds for the Italian.

At this point Rob Samuel was still in third, but Englishman Holdsworth was on a charge and had both Samuel and team-mate Smith in his sights as they embarked on the last 1.5 miles of the descent.

Up ahead it became apparent that Vender was pulling away with every stride and as he hit the quad-sapping tarmac plummet to the finish line he could by now start to relax as Llanberis became ever nearer. Behind Smith’s brave attempt to take a second Snowdon title had succumbed to firstly Samuel and then Holdsworth.

Into the final 400 metres and the 22-year old Vender started to realise what he had achieved, finishing to rapturous applause and becoming the latest in a long-line of Italian athletes to win this famous race. As he crossed the line the realisation of what he had done hit home and he collapsed in tears of joy.

His time of 1:06:41 was almost immaterial but was within two seconds of Magnini’s time 12 months earlier in very similar conditions. England athlete Holdsworth had an equally stunning descent as he went two better than his 2017 performance to finish a brilliant runner-up in 1:07:30.

Completing the podium Rob Samuel received one of the biggest cheers of the day. His time of 1:07:53 a personal best on the mountain and one of the performances of his career. Smith finished a valiant fourth, with Italian Simonetti completing the top 5.

In the team race Italy just edged out the English as Vender and Simonetti were backed up by team mate Manuel Solavaggione in 8th.

Meanwhile, in the women’s race Jenkinson majestically raced back into Llanberis, hardly putting foot wrong on the technical sections of Clogwyn and Hebron. As she hit the tarmac descent of Penceunant it was clear the young Welshwomen was making history and after a 12th place in the European mountain champs in June, her GB senior debut, this was to be the performance of her career.

Crossing the line in a fabulous time of 1:20:41, she also recorded the fastest ever time by a Welshwomen in the race.

Performances behind were also impressive as Scottish athlete Grant claimed a brilliant second place (1:22:27), with Sophie Noon finishing third (1:23:00), Caitlin Rice in fourth and Scot Jill Stephen completed the top 5 women.

In the women’s team event it couldnt have been closer as both Scotland and England racked-up 16 points, however with the Scots taking less time to complete the race it was they who retained the international team title, as Steph Provan joined Grant and Jill Stephen on top of the podium.

Speaking after the race a delighted Bronwen Jenkinson said:

“This is a dream come true to win. It’s my local race, but also so special on the international stage. I have grown up watching the race over the years and have seen so many great winners, and now I am one of those winners!

“I was reasonably confident going into the race and I had a few aches and pains this week, so you never know on the day. But it all came together – I can’t quite believe it!”

The day had also seen over 200 junior runners take part in a range of races for under-10 to under-18 athletes. Some of the future winners of the main race have come from these races and the event was fantastically administered by the Cyngor Gwynedd Council Sport for Life / Chwaraeon am Oes team along with their young ambassadors.

Speaking after the event, race organiser Stephen Edwards stated:

“What a day once again in Llanberis! With the 12 midday start the whole morning is a blur leading up to race time, especially as we have the junior races to pack in beforehand. Equally the weather was against us a little, especially on the higher part of the mountain where the visibility was poor due to the low cloud and damp air – and of course the shear numbers of people on the mountain always makes it challenging. But the marshals and volunteers, including the rescue teams on the mountain did a great job as ever.

“We always receive great support from the Italian runners, and this is underlined in our association with Morbegno and of course the Trofeo Vanoni race. The quality they have in depth is amazing and every year they are so competitive. Alberto was a great champion today and deservedly takes the Snowdon title back to Italy. But, I am a little biased in saying the performances of the day for me were Bronwen’s win and Rob’s third place in the men’s race!

“We have a rich history of producing great mountain runners in Wales and I hope their performances today will inspire the next generation to run and to compete at Snowdon and other races in the area.

“I’d like to thank all of the sponsors, especially Charlotte, Dylan, Jason and the team at Jewson for their generous support as headline sponsor this year. Also inov-8, once again for their kind sponsorship of the prizes for all of our winners. Thanks also to the Snowdonia National Park Authority, Cyngor Gwynedd Council and the Chwaraeon am Oes team for their organisation of the junior events and finally, as ever, I would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all for the volunteers, supporters and of course the Llanberis community for once again making this a day to remember.”

 43rd Jewson International Snowdon Race 2018 – Results

Men’s Top 3

1. Alberto Vender (Italy) 1:06:41
2. Chris Holdsworth (England) 1:07:30
3. Rob Samuel (Wales) 1:07:53

 Team: Italy

 Women’s Top 3

1. Bronwen Jenkinson (Wales) 1:20:41
2. Miranda Grant (Scotland) 1:22:20
3. Sophie Noon (England) 1:23:42

Team: Scotland

Full Snowdon Race race results are online at the TDL Events Services website here

Race images via Sport Pictures Cymru can be viewed here

Race highlights are online via S4Cfrom Sunday evening

ENDS

43RD JEWSON INTERNATIONAL SNOWDON RACE 2018 – RACE PREVIEW

Llanberis, Wales – With less than a week until the 43rd Jewson International Snowdon Race / Ras-yr-Wyddfa, anticipation of this famous mountain race is high, as over 600 runners get ready to take on one of the toughest mountain races in the UK.

Jewson, with support from leading mountain running brand inov8, are once again installed as major backers of the event in 2018, which sees a 12noon start from Cae’r Ddol in Llanberis. This year the race will be started by Cllr Ioan Thomas, the Gwynedd Council Cabinet Member for Economic Development.

Other features of the day will be the traditional junior races starting ten minutes after the main race at 12.10pm on the Saturday, the ‘Hwyl i Bawb’ family run at 10.30am, and the Thursday evening local junior races, which will see almost 200 youngsters taking part. The junior races will once again be support by local business Amdro and the Gwynedd Council Sport for Life team.

Registration for the main race opens at 4pm on Friday July 20th, closing at 8.30pm with the race day registration running from 8.30am until 11.30am on the 21st of July.

Anticipation of the 2018 event is once again high, with some of the UK’s top athletes taking part. Teams from Wales, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Italy will once again go head-to-head over the 10 challenging miles of this famous mountain in the heart of the Snowdonia National Park.

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.

Evidence of the general popularity has once again been visible as the 650 places available online went on sale on the 1st of March. Within 2 days all but a few had gone.

Men’s Preview

Wearing their international vests with perhaps the most pride will be the Welsh runners. There is a strong look to the Wales A men’s team in 2018 as RAF man Mike Kallenberg, Peter Ryder, Mark Hopkinson and local favourite Rob Samuel line up. Samuel will be out replicate his form from a few weeks ago when he convincingly won the inov8 Twilight race to the Snowdon summit.

Wales also field a B Team in the men’s race, classed as a development squad, which comprises Dolgellau man Tom Roberts, Owen Roberts and south Wales runner Dan Bodman.

As ever the English team will be strong and they will look to challenge for the individual and team crowns.

After a storming win 2016 Chris Smith returns and will be one of the men to beat. Joining him in the English team are Chris Holdsworth, fourth in 2017, Cumbrian Tom Addison and Harry Holmes.

On paper one of the classiest teams lining up in 2018 will be Scotland.  2012 winner Murray Strain is joined by 2017 5th-placer James Espie, Robert Simpson and Al Anthony. All four have figured strongly in British and international races in 2018 and it will be a great battle for that team title with the English quartet.

Italy have a strong history in the event, with Davide Magnini taking a famous win in 2017. Although the trio of Giulio Simonetti, Alberto Vender and Manuel Solavaggione

are slight unknown quantities, we can be sure that the ‘Azzurri’ will be challenging for honours come race day.

Ireland have a rich history of success at the event and race regular and 2016 8th placer James Kevan leads a strong Irish quartet including Brian Furey, Seamus Lynch and Tom Lupton.

After a great run at the recent European Mountain champs Zak Hanna leads the Northern Ireland challenge with 2017 11th place runner Gavin Mulholland. Their line-up is completed by William McKee and Tim Johnston.

In the open race Salomon international and GB ultra-trail runner Tom Owens makes the trip south and will look to challenge in a race which he last ran way back in 2004!

Women’s Preview

Wales’ women’s team has a very strong look to it with GB junior international Bronwen Jenkinson looking to improve on her 4th place in 2017. A 12th place finish in her senior GB debut at the recent European championships underlines her form. The Eryri Harrier is joined by seasoned mountain runners Andrea Rowlands, and Katie Beecher, along with Wales debutant Elliw Haf.

The is no doubt that the English women’s team will once again be challenging for the top spot of the podium. 2015 third placer Katie Walshaw runs again after a strong showing in those recent European Mountain championships. Walshaw is joined by Todmorden Harrier Annie Roberts, who has been running well in the British fell champs in 2018, Sophie Noon and Louisa Powell-Smith.

Similar to the men’s line-up Scotland promise much. After winning the recent World Long Distance Mountain title Charlotte Morgan is in sparkling form and looks to improve on her last showing of 5th in the 2016 race. She is joined by 2017 3rd placer Stephanie Provan, GB international Georgia Tindley and Jill Stephen, for what promises to be a formidable quartet from north of the border.

Snowdon regulars Megan Wilson and Shileen O’Kane will be representing Northern Ireland and are joined by Sarah Graham and Esther Dickson

Irish women have dominated the race in recent years. However, after Sarah Mulligan’s historic wins in 2013 and 2016, and successive wins in 2014 and 2015 for Sarah McCormack, no Irish women will travel to the race in 2018.

Race organiser Stephen Edwards is keen to point out that the event is 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:

“We are really pleased to welcome back headline sponsor Jewson to the race this year and the support from them has been fantastic. We are also excited to have inov8 involved and as always very grateful to all of our sponsors. We are also very grateful to Gwynedd Council, Gwynedd Events Team and the Sport for Life team who are helping with the junior races once again in 2018 and we are looking forward to welcoming Cllr Ioan Thomas to start the race at midday.

“It has been a great summer as we all know in the UK when it comes to the weather and with the hope of continued good weather conditions we are expecting one of the biggest crowds ever in Llanberis this year.

“The atmosphere in the village for the Snowdon Race weekend is unbelievable, you have to be here to be able to understand that. This race means so much to the area and the people of Llanberis, they are proud of the race and what it portrays to the thousands of visitors that come here for the race and the weekend. To think what it has become all those years after that very first humble race back in 1976 – it’s incredible really.

“The racing should be fantastic once again, with another very strong field of runners from the home nations, Ireland and Italy. From a media perspective we have a TV highlights package on S4C the Sunday after the race at 9pm and will be using Facebook Live to broadcast the finish of the race.

“This will be my 10th year of organising this iconic event and it goes without saying that we couldn’t put on the race without the hundreds of volunteers and marshals who descend on the event. They turn out year-in-year-out to help at the race and I’d like to extend a huge thank you to each and every one of them who help make the Snowdon Race what it is.”

For further race information visit www.snowdonrace.co.uk

ENDS