Snowdon - England still the team to beat
On Saturday (18) the 34th International Snowdon Race will once again present a field loaded with international quality. Fell runners, and road runners with climbing ability, target this great Welsh mountain race as one for the history book..
…a win at Snowdon ensures a runner recognition with some of the greats of international mountain running.
This year the competitive flavour of Snowdon has been re-seasoned with Stephen Edwards and Jayne Lloyd joining the race committee and the focus on international competition is now high. In years gone by the teams from England and Italy have developed a strangle-hold on the team competition, with England winning the overall team prize since 2002. It’s hard to see beyond that once again this year as the English team is full of strength in both the men’s and women’s events.
Wales
As ever at the Snowdon race the team that receives the most support is the ‘home’ team of Wales. The men’s A team is once again headed up by Richard Roberts, who dominated the Welsh fell running scene in 2008. He will be well backed up by Andy Davies, Matt Collins and Martin Shaw. Wales B consists of Chris Near, Iain Ridgway, Roland Stafford and Matt Roberts, with Roberts looking to put the de-hydration problems of 2008 behind him with a strong run.
Richard Roberts - 2008, in the Welsh colours...
The Welsh ladies present a strong team consisting of local girls Andrea Roberts, Sarah Ridgway and Jenny Hemming, joined by experienced international Anna Bartlett. Course knowledge, along with a partisan crowd, should see the red vests as prominent as ever at the head of the race.
Italy
The Italian team also has significance at the Snowdon Race. Llanberis (the host village) is twinned with the Trofeo Vanoni mountain race held every October in the Italian village of Morbegno at the foot of the Alps, and as such as strong Italian contingent has always been a part of the colour of the Snowdon Race. Although no Italian females make the trip a male quartet of quality featuring experienced WMRA Grand Prix runner Giovanni Tacchini take to the start line in the hope of disrupting the probable English dominance.
England
Once again the English will be very hard to beat. The three-time winner Andi Jones looks to cement his place in Snowdon Race history by making it four-in-a-row, and this year pulls on the vest of England. With former winner Ian Holmes and Danny Hope making up the three counters they will need to have a very poor day not to retain the team crown.
Andi Jones - going for 4th win
Likewise in the women’s race 2008 winner Katie Ingram returns, and is backed by the in-form Pippa Jackson and Emma Clayton, meaning that the both the male and female team prizes could well be destined for English hands yet again.
France
With only two runners traveling the French-raiders will not be able to compete for the team prize. However, the international tussle for individual medals should be very interesting this year as Julian Rancon returns in an attempt to better his runner-up spot of 2004. Former French national mountain running champion Thiery Icart also travels.
Slovenia
Ensuring the international flavour is strong Slovenia sends three top quality male mountain runners to the race, hoping that they can push for medals. Promising youngster Peter Oblak, Slovenia’s best junior in 2008, and this year twice 2nd at senior Slovenian cup races, makes the trip alongside experienced team mates Bostjan Kozan and Borut Malavasic, both of whom have been at national team standard for many years. An interesting competitor in the form of 27 year old Jana Oman will compete in the women’s race, Jana is an international sport climber, having represented Slovenia on a number of occasions.
Ireland
The Irish team are steeped in history at the Snowdon race, with Robbie Bryson still holding the Summit Record (an incredible 39.47) from way back in 1985. This year team manager John O’Connell travels with a strong squad of six (three man, three women). Experienced internationals Keith Heary and Angela Speight head the Irish line-up, with Vincent O’Sullivan, Richard Healy, Cathy McCourt and Caroline Reid making up the men’s and women’s teams.
Robbie Bryson - still a great
Scotland
Adding to the Home Nation line-ups Scotland are another team who have produced many great fell runners in the past decades – former local-man Colin Donnelly was one runner who often came close to the Snowdon crown. This year expect the Scots to be a strong proposition, especially Fiona Maxwell, who has been running particularly well in the Scottish and British championship races. Oleg Chepplin, David Rodgers and Murray Strain represent the men, with Sue Ridley and Nicola Meekin joining Maxwell in the ladies’ squad.
At the time of writing the Northern Ireland team had yet to be announced, however with the country confirmed to attend the racing is guaranteed to ensure that internationalism reigns at this year’s Snowdon Race.
Junior Racing
2009 also sees a return to junior racing at the Snowdon race. A programme of events, starting just after the main race at 2.05pm, sees races for U10, U12, U14, U16 and U18 year olds, varying in length all the way to a 6.4km race for the under 18’s, to the Halfway Bridge and back to the finish in Padarn Park.
For further race information please visit www.snowdonrace.com
Press, media and race enquiries should directed to Jayne Lloyd on 07786 223763 or by emailing Jayne at snowdoniamarathon@btinternet.com
