Report: Snowdon International Mountain Race (incorporating the Senior Home International)

This year was the 48th running of the classic Snowdon mountain race and for the first time it incorporated the Senior Home International (SHI) Mountain Race. Normally the team is made up of four men and four women, but due to the SHI status this year you had two additional U23 runners in each team.

The team arrived on the Friday evening and were prepared as they could be for the tough challenge the next day. The weather was very wet and windy and there were rumours that the race might be cancelled due to the extreme weather expected overnight and into Saturday. Later on the Friday night we were told that a meeting would be called in the morning and a decision made whether the race would go a head. The team had no option but to sleep on it and wait for the outcome.

On race day the weather looked ok, but it was due to change after midday and the race was due to start at 2pm. We finally got the decision at about 10.30am that the race would go ahead, but on a shortened course to a bridge at Clogwyn Station (one of the stops for the mountain railway). This was extremely frustrating but on a positive at least the race was going to happen. There was one more twist before the start: it was then deemed that even this wasn’t safe enough, so the course was shortened once again taking out a steep technical part of the course just below the Clogwyn Station. This made the race approximately 6.4miles instead of the usual 10miles. Also due to the bad weather carrying emergency kit was mandatory.

When the race finally got underway Ross Gollan (Scotland) last years winner led the way up the steep road section. The England team were packing well not that far behind with Chris Richards and Dan Haworth. Also in the mix was Andy Douglas (Scotland) and Isacco Costa (Italy). As the race opened up Dan Haworth went into the lead followed by Chris Richards. In close attendance for England was Grant Cunliffe who was making his England debut and Ben Rothery who was 5th in 2022. Also in the top 12 at this stage were Fin Grant and Will Tighe. At the turn still leading the way was Chris Richards and Dan Haworth, but very close behind were Andy Douglas and Isacco Costa.

In the women’s race Holly Page (Scotland) led the way with England’s Phillipa Williams in 2nd place. Next was Ruth Jones (Salford Harriers). Ruth ran at last years World Mountain Running Championships in Thailand finishing 14th in the uphill race, so it was no surprise to see her in 3rd place on the ascent. At the turn nothing had changed as they started the descent. In 4th place was Nichola Jackson (England) and Caroline Lambert (Middlesbrough AC) both having great races. Next for England was Sharon Taylor in 8th followed by Vic Wilkinson in 12th and Ellen Weir making her senior international debut in 13th. Chloe Leather, another making her England debut, was running well in the top 20.

In the men’s race everything changed on the descent. Chris Richards took the lead with the Italian Isacco Costa moving into 2nd, Andy Douglas was in 3rd and Dan Haworth slipped to 4th. At the finish Chris couldn’t hold off the fast finishing Italian and finished 2nd to Isacco Costa who won in 38mins 59sec. Andy Douglas finished 3rd for Scotland and Dan Haworth 4th for England. Grant Cunliffe another making his England debut finished an impressive 6th followed by Ben Rothery in 8th. This secured the team title for England. Fin Grant finished 14th and Will Tighe 26th.

In the women’s race Holly Page led from start to finish and looked strong throughout. Phillipa Williams running well just couldn’t close the gap and finished 2nd. Caroline Lambert had a great descent and finished 3rd followed by another fast finishing Italian runner Beatrice Bianchi who came 4th. Nichola Jackson was 5th for England and Ruth Jones finished 6th. Sharon Taylor and Vic Wilkinson finished 8th and 10th securing the team title as the men did. Ellen Weir had a fantastic run to finish 12th with Chloe Leather battling to 21st.

With two fantastic team performances England retained their Snowdon Mountain Race team titles, as well as their Senior Home International team titles.

Results

Men

Teams: 1st England, 2nd Scotland, 3rd Rep Ireland

Women

Teams: 1st England, 2nd Scotland, 3rd Wales

• Access full results on the Snowdon Mountain Race website.
• Report by Mark Croadsdale.