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 20th 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 49th 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 4th 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 5th 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 3rd 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 47th 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 14th (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
