Inov8 Snowdon Twilight 2022 – race report
After a break of three years the popular uphill-only Inov8 Snowdon Twilight took place last Friday (25th June) on the famous slopes of Wales’ highest peak, Yr Wyddfa.
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.
The Twilight is also a firm favourite with uphill-only exponents, as the race starts from Llanberis and finishes on the 1085m summit.
The men’s and women’s races were packed with international runners, such as Victoria Wilkinson, Russell Bentley, Gavin Roberts and Sara Willhoit.
As the race got underway at 5.45pm Bentley and Roberts soon hit the front and led the runners out of Llanberis and on to the mountain proper on the Hebron ascent.
Winner of the recent Salomon Trail Marathon Wales half marathon Bentley is bang in-form, but was keeping his powder dry behind Roberts, as the two runners passed halfway on to the Clogwyn climb at around 3.5 miles and onto the super-steep section of Allt Moses.
Meanwhile in the women’s race Shrewsbury athlete and England international Willhoit was blasting up the steep ascents, ahead of fell and mountain running legend Wilkinson.
As the runners neared the summit and into the mist, it was Bentley who had finally made a move and as they neared the finish line, pulling away from Roberts to take the win by 19 seconds in 45:55. Roberts took second place, with Meirionnydd runner Rhodri Owen a fine third.
In the women’s race it was far more clean-cut as the runners neared the summit, with Willhoit finishing a fantastic 4th overall, and first female, in a very fast 48:40. Her effort good enough to finish over 2 minutes clear of Wilkinson, with Helm Hill runner and GB international Emma Gould completing the women’s podium.
Twilight Race 2022 – Top 3
Male
- Russell Bentley 45:55
- Gavin Roberts 46:14
- Rhodri Owen 48:18
Female
- Sara Willhoit 48:40
- Victoria Wilkinson 50:55
- Emma Gould 52:31
Full Race Results from TDL Events Services can be found at
https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/event-results/events
SportpicturesCymru images from the Snowdon Twilight Race can be seen here https://bit.ly/SPCRASGWYLNOS
Thanks to Wendy James for the pictures.
On the Course pictures from the Marshals and MRT Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team.
Speaking after the race event organiser Stephen Edwards said:
“I’d like to thank all of the sponsors and supporters of the Twilight Race once again this year, it was great to back on the mountain for this excellent event. Thanks to all of the runners who supported the race too – the racing was brilliant!
“So a big thanks to the following brands and organisations
inov-8 All Terrain Running
Snowdon Mountain Railway
The Legacy Royal Victoria Hotel
Visit North Wales Wales
Eryri Mynyddoedd a Môr Cyngor
Gwynedd Council
Moose Brewery
Jones o Gymru
“Also a huge thank you to the x 17 marshals on the hills today or the cattle grid (boards) up to the summit. And a special thank you to Zoe, Anest and Gwyn for offering us our help to summit along with Dougs and also Malcolm from TDL. We’ve had some very supportive comments from the race and are grateful to everyone who made it happen”
DIOLCH PAWB – THANK YOU
