Llanberis, Wales – With a new headline sponsor and over 650 runners, 42nd Jewson International Snowdon Race 2017 / 42ain Jewson Ras Ryngwladol yr Wyddfa promises to be one of the highlights of the sporting year in Wales.
Anticipation of the 2017 event is once again high, with some of the UK’s top athletes taking part. Teams from Wales, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland and Italy will once again go head-to-head over the 10 arduous 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 24 hours all but a few had gone and race organiser Stephen Edwards was able to close entries and begin the 2017 race preparations.
Stephen 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:
“The 2017 race is set to be out best ever! We have a new headline sponsor on board for this year in the form of Jewson. The team at Jewson saw the opportunity to sponsor an iconic race as a great fit for a national company connecting with the local community.
“The buzz in this little village come 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 – its incredible really.”
Charlotte Bird from Jewson UK states:
“We’re always looking for ways to support the community in which we operate. Here in North Wales, we’re fortunate to have Snowdon – a nationally-renowned landmark – right on our doorstep and it’s our backdrop whenever we’re out and about making deliveries and visiting customers on-site. We couldn’t pass up the chance to support the iconic 42nd Jewson International Snowdon Race that welcomes runners from across the world and UK to our local community.
Edwards continues:
“Also new for 2017 as a sponsor are inov-8. As one of the leading global mountain running footwear brands, they are a perfect fit with Snowdon. They will have a strong presence on race day and be sponsoring this year’s t-shirts as well as providing prizes for the race. This partnership has been made possible with the help of Pete Bland Sports, another of our long-term sponsors who will once again be present on race day this year.
“Another change this year will be that the main race will start two hours earlier at 12pm, this has been well received by runners and the local organisations. The traditional junior mountain races will once again be starting straight after the main race at 12.05pm, sponsored by bubbles specialist Dr. Zigs, and in partnership with Gwynedd Council ‘Sport for Life’ department and this year we will have the Hwyl i Bawb kids races on the morning of the race at 10.30am.
“The racing should be fantastic, with one of the strongest fields for a few years. From a media perspective we have a TV highlights package on S4C the Sunday after the race at 6pm 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. Local business gets involved every year and 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 the likes of Clif Bar, Snowdon Mountain Railway, First Hydro, the Royal Victoria Hotel, S4C (televised again), the Snowdonia National Park Authority, Welsh Athletics, DJ Fruit, Sports Pictures Cymru and all of the Snowdon Race committee and Llanberis community, and I suppose that’s what makes this race so magical – it’s an international event, with a local feel, and long may that continue!”
Also taking place this summer is the inov-8 Snowdon Twilight / Gwylnos yr Wyddfa, organised by the same Snowdon Race team. The uphill-only race takes place on Friday the 9th of June, with over 150 runners expected to tackle the Snowdon slopes starting at 7pm. Entries to this race are now open via the Snowdon Race website.
ENDS
Press and media enquiries (including hi res image requests) should directed to Matt Ward on 07515 558670 or by emailing matt@runcomm.co.uk
Matt Ward
PR, Ras Ryngwladol yr Wyddfa / International Snowdon Race
+44(0)7515 558670
