by Stephen Edwards by Stephen Edwards

 

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 10th 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 4th 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 4th 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