Llanberis, Wales – Challenging weather conditions at 47^th the running of Ras Rhyngwladol Yr Wyddfa International Snowdon Race 2024 only added to the drama, as Scotland’s Naomi Lang and England’s Joe Steward triumphed at this iconic mountain race.

Next year will be the 48th race, but organisers will be celbrating it as 50th Anniversary birthday 1796 – 2025 but will be 48th Race

Heavy rain greeted the runners on the start line once again this year, but with lighter winds on the mountain compared to 2023 (when the race was shortened due wind gusts in excess of 90 miles per hour recorded on the summit of Yr Wyddfa) the runners would be visiting the summit.

As is traditional at Snowdon strong teams from Wales, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Italy come together for what is renowned as one of the classic European races on the calendar, and the weather would do nothing to deter the international athletes from producing some incredible racing.

Both Steward and Lang came into the race amongst the favourites, having both represented Great Britain at the recent European Championships in Annecy, France, with Steward taking the gold medal in the uphill only race and Lang coming home first Brit and 5^th overall in the women’s up and downhill race.

The pace up front was fast as the runners headed out of Llanberis at 2pm, with Steward, Italy’s Lorenzo Cagnati and Scot Jacob Adkin well to the fore as they climbed on the mountain proper around one mile into the race.

In the women’s event Italian Vivien Bonzi wasn’t hanging around as she blasted up the first climb and forced the pace up and through the Halfway House station. Behind Naomi Lang and England’s Eve Pannone were running together.

As the leading runners approached the turn round point of the race and the 1085m summit, Steward had a commanding lead in the men’s race, showing impressive climbing skills as he crested in 41:28, with Cagnati following 75 seconds later. Behind Adkin summited 3^rd in 43:13.

In the women’s race Lang had by now passed a slowing Bonzi and was establishing a commanding lead in the women’s event, looking in control as she hit the summit in 50:48 and began her descent. Further back Pannone was in a solid third, with 2023 4^th placer Beatrice Bianchi beginning her charge.

The positions at the head of the race were by now becoming clear as Steward led Cagnati who led Adkin, but it was Englishman Grant Cunliffe who was perhaps having the best descent of the race as he was eating up the ground behind, and as they came off the mountain below Hebron and onto the steep tarmac descent he had passed Adkin and was now sat in third, chasing Cagnati to the line.

Up ahead Joe Steward was away and gone and rounding the final bend he was greeted by a huge crowd at Cae’r Ddol, having time to smile and raise the finish line ribbon to take a fantastic win in 1:05:48, adding his name to the illustrious role call and becoming the latest in a long line of English winners.

Italy’s Cagnati finished a jubilant second in 1:08:13, almost being caught by the charging Cunliffe at the line, who had produced one of the fastest Snowdon descents in recent times to take third in 1:08:22.

Italy packed well with 5^th and 7^th to take the men’s team prize.

In the women’s race Lang was producing a stellar performance, making the technical slopes of Allt Moses look easy. Italy’s Bonzi wasn’t enjoying the steep descent so much and by the halfway point on the way down had been passed by both Pannone and compatriot Bianchi. But Lang continued to plummet into Llanberis, passing male runner after male runner, and entered the finish straight with big smile, knowing that she had the win in the bag, crossing the line to take the women’s title in a super-fast 1:15:48. She now joins 2023 winner Holly Page, mountain legend Angela Mudge and young Catriona Buchanan as Scottish female champions of this famous race.

Pannone finished an excellent runner-up in 1:18:28, just holding off Bianchi, who completed the women’s podium with a super-strong run to take third in 1:18:32.

As with the men, Italy’s women were triumphant in the team race taking 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th.

47th Race – Castell Howell International Snowdon Race Ras Rhyngwladol Yr Wyddfa 2024 – Results (49th year)

Men’s Top 3

1. Joe Steward (England) 1:05:41
   2. Lorenzo Cagnati (Italy) 1:08:13
   3. Grant Cunliffe (England) 1:08:22

Team: Italy

Women’s Top 3

1. Naomi Lang (Scotland) 1:15:48
2. Eve Pannone (England) 1:18:28
3. Beatrice Bianchi (Italy) 1:18:32

Team: Italy

ENDS

49th Castell Howell International Snowdon Race 2024 – Race Preview

Llanberis, Wales – With just over a week to go until the 47th International Snowdon Race / Ras Ryngwladol yr Wyddfa sponsored by Castell Howell on Saturday 20^th July, mountain runners from across Europe are getting ready to descend on Llanberis, Wales, for one of the greatest sporting events on the Welsh calendar which can trace it beginnings back to 1976.

Now in its 49^th year the Snowdon International is considered one of the greatest in the world of mountain running, and anticipation for this year’s event is once again high, with some of the UK’s top athletes taking part from Wales, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland.

That international flavour can be expected across the weekend as runners from Italy and the Republic of Ireland will once again pose threats for the race victory, as all go head-to-head and rub shoulders with club runners and those just hoping to complete the 10 arduous miles of this famous mountain in the heart of the Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri National Park.

Men’s Preview

As ever the Welsh team will be looking to perform well on home soil. Gavin Roberts, Tom Wood, Gareth Hughes and Rhys Jones make up the quartet, with Jones also making his debut in the red vest of Wales.

The English team will be super-strong and are led by possible pre-race favourite Joe Steward, fresh from being crowned the European Mountain Running Champion in June. Grant Cunliffe, Ben Sharrock and Jack Wright complete the English team.

Italy have a strong history of success at the event, and will be looking to make it four wins in the last six editions of the race, after the wins by Davide Magnini (2017) Alberto Vender (2018) and Isaacco Costa in 2023. Matteo Rossi, Lorenzo Cagnatti and Elia Mattio travel Wales this year to see if they can add their names to the list of Italian mountain running legends to win this race.

Scotland is another nation that has tasted Snowdon success over the last few years with Andrew Douglas winning in 2019 and Ross Gollan in 2022. This year the Scots are led by Jacob Adkin, GB international and runner-up behind Joe Steward in those recent European Championships. Euan Brown, Keiran Cooper and Robin Downie make up the Scottish foursome.

The Republic of Ireland have a rich history of success at the event, with Zak Hanna taking 4^th in 2019, and he returns in 2024. Zak is backed up by Aaron McGrady and Matthew McConnell in the emerald vests.

Completing the international teams are Northern Ireland, with Tom Crudgington, Ashley Crutchley, Keith Johnston and Joshua McAtee making the journey to Wales.

Women’s Preview

With pre-race favourite Sarah McCormack from the Republic of Ireland a late withdrawal from this year’s race, the battle for top honours in the women’s race will be wide-open in 2024. The Irish women will be represented by Aoife Courtney and Jo Hickman-Dunne.

After a brilliant 5^th place at those European championships Scotland’s Naomi Lang makes the trip to Wales in great form. She will be joined by Catriona MacDonald, Jill Stephen and Ella Peters meaning that the Scots women will be strong in the team race too.

Italy’s Beatrice Bianchi placed 3^rd in 2023 and will look to climb that podium in 2024 as she returns in great recent form. She is joined by Vivien Bonzi and Luna Giovanetti in the famous Azzuri colours.

Wales once again have a strong team with the in-form Elliw Haf Roberts running in Welsh colours after her recent win at the Cader Idris race, the Welsh team selection event. Elliw is joined by Lucy Williamson, Katrina Entwistle and Bethan Logan from the Mynydd Du club.

The is no doubt that the English women’s team will once again be challenging for the top spot of the podium. 2023 runner-up Phillipa Williams returns to Llanberis to see if she can take the title and add her name to the illustrious list of English women winners such as race record holder Carole Greenwood and 3-time winner Mary Wilkinson. Phillipa will be joined in the England colours by Antonia Fan, Alexandra Whitaker and Eve Pannone

Representing Northern Ireland will be seasoned international and multiple finisher at Snowdon Diane Wilson, as she will be joined by Tanya Cumming, Catriona Edington and Naomi McCurry in Llanberis

Away from the elite side of the race one runner will once again make history once again in 2024. Malcolm Jones from Tremadog ran in the very first race in 1976 and has managed to complete every race since, a simply incredible achievement. Therefore, Malcolm will be running his 47^th Snowdon Race this year and makes history as the only person to have competed at every event in the last 49 years.

The race will once again be televised on terrestrial TV via S4C and also be available on the BBC iPlayer, with the highlights programme produced by North Wales-based production company Cwmni Da.

Other features of the day will be the traditional junior races starting ten minutes after the main race at 2.10pm on the Saturday for 10-18 years, once again supported by the Eryri National Park and will be organised by the Byw Iach, Cyngor Gwynedd team.

Registration for these races will take place from 9.30am-1.30pm at the Llanberis community centre.

Race organiser Stephen Edwards takes charge of his 14^th (16 years) event in 2024, and states:

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

“From a media perspective we have the usual TV highlights package on S4C and will be using Facebook Live to broadcast the finish of the race. We as a voluntary organisation also put hours of work into organising the community aspect to this international event and local businesses who are so important to us get involved every year, also thousands of spectators turn out to see the runners, so it really is a win-win situation for everyone involved.

“Equally we really couldn’t put the race on without the continued support of sponsors Castell Howell, SCOTT Sports, Pete Bland Sports, Snowdon Mountain Railway, the Royal Victoria Hotel, S4C, Cwmni Da, Welsh Athletics, Oren, Bragdy Mws Piws Purple Moose Brewery, Always Aim High Events, Sports Pictures Cymru and the Events Department at Cyngor Gwynedd Council.

“Aberglaslyn Search and Rescue Team will be across the mountain keeping our runners safe and I’m very grateful for the full support of the team at Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri National Park too.

“Finally, my heart-felt thanks go to the Snowdon Race committee and Llanberis community who are incredibly hard-working and supportive to me as race organiser. And that’s what makes this race so magical – it’s an international event, with a local feel, and long may that continue.”

For further information visit https://www.snowdonrace.co.uk

ENDS                  

SCOTT Sports Ras Gwylnos Yr Wyddfa / Snowdon Twilight Race 2024

The SCOTT Sports Ras Gwylnos Yr Wyddfa / Snowdon Twilight race once again graced the famous slopes of Wales’ highest peak, Yr Wyddfa, on Friday evening and produced some stellar performances from runners who had travelled the length and breadth of the UK to take part.

As the sister-event of the International Snowdon Race / Ras-yr-Wyddfa, the Twilight is the perfect warm-up for runners who might be looking to test their fitness just three weeks ahead of the iconic Snowdon International in July.

With 68 starters setting off from Gwesty Victoria Hotel at 6.00pm for the 10^th anniversary of this 5-mile uphill only race, running conditions were just about perfect on the lower slopes with a hint of early summer evening sunshine and little wind, though temperatures at the summit were to prove to be chilly.

The early leaders included SCOTT athlete Lee Gratton, local Welsh athlete Rhys Jones – who was testing his legs ahead of Ras yr Wyddfa in a few weeks, where he will represent Wales – and Cumbrian runner George Foster.

In the women’s race Irish mountain legend Sarah McCormack was back on the mountain which has seen her taste success on multiple occasions in the international race, and Sarah was already challenging for the overall positions as she ascended out of Llanberis and on to the mountain proper on the Hebron ascent.

As the runners neared the super-steep climb of Allt Moses, it was apparent that HOKA athlete Foster had taken control of the race, powering up towards the summit finish, with Gratton in second and Hebog’s Jones comfortable in third.

By now McCormack was sitting in 4^th place overall and looked on target to smash the women’s course record. Behind Mercia athlete Mel Price was sitting in second, with Mynydd Du runner Rhian Probert in third.

As the summit finish beckoned Foster now looked almost comfortable as the mist descended and he crested the steps to touch the summit in 43.35, with Gratton coming home second and Jones completing the podium.

Irish great McCormack continued to fly up the mountain in the last 400m and became the first female to break the magical 50-minute barrier in the Twilight race, winning in 49.19, an incredible performance and good enough for a brilliant 4^th place overall. Price and Probert completed the women’s top 3.

SCOTT Sports Ras Gwylnos Yr Wyddfa / Snowdon Twilight Race 2024

Male

1. George Foster 43.41
2. Lee Gratton 45.56
3. Rhys Jones 46.32

Female

1. Sarah McCormack 49.19
2. Mel Price 59.35
3. Rhian Probert 1.00.45

Full Race Results from TDL Events Services can be found at

https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/en/results-embed.php?event=4030

SportpicturesCymru images from the Ras Gwylnos Yr Wyddfa Snowdon Twilight Race can be seen here  https://sportpicturescymru.photohawk.com/galleries/ras-gwylnos-yr-wyddfa-snowdon-twilight

Speaking after the race event organiser Stephen Edwards said:

“I’d like to thank all of the sponsors and supporters of the Gwylnos Twilight Race once again this year, the racing was really exciting once again. A huge thanks goe our headline partners SCOTT Sports and of course to the many volunteers and mountain rescue personnel who were out on the mountain this evening – diolch pawb, thanks all.”

SCOTT Sports

Snowdon Mountain Railway

The Legacy Royal Victoria Hotel

Sport Pictures Cymru

TDL Event Services

Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri

Visit North Wales

Cyngor Eryri Mynyddoedd a Môr

Cyngor Gwynedd Council

Moose Brewery

ENDS