37th Tyn Lon Volvo International Snowdon Race

With just three weeks to go until the 2012 Tyn Lon Volvo Ras Ryngwladol yr Wyddfa/International Snowdon Race in the unofficial outdoor capital of Wales, Llanberis, race organiser Stephen Edwards hopes that this year’s event will be the best ever.

The Snowdon Race offers a community that has always ensured that participants, spectators and families leave the village of Llanberis with a feeling that they have been part of more than just a ‘race’. This feeling of togetherness was in part responsible for the close associations that have ensued with the Italian town of Morbegno and the Trofeo Vanoni mountain race.

Since its inception in 1976, the Snowdon race organisers have endeavoured to make the race a festival of events based around the Llanberis carnival, a place where racers, friends and family can relax and soak-up the atmosphere.  

With the event already set up to be one of the greatest ever to grace the area, some of the strongest home nation and Irish teams are preparing to go to battle on the famous mountain in an effort to put their names alongside the former winners that include Kenny Stuart, Angela Mudge, Marco de Gasperi, Tim Davies and Colin Jones. 

This year’s Snowdon event will once again feature on the ISF (International Skyrunning Federation) calendar, part of the Skyrunner® World Series, offering National and International competitors the chance to gain valuable ranking points.

The race will be started by special guests Neil Williams and Barry Baynham of Tyn Lon Volvo, who will sound the race siren at precisely 2pm as over 600 runners embark on the highest peak in England and Wales. 

Race organiser Edwards has worked tirelessly with the rest of the race committee to ensure that the race on July 21 will captivate the imaginations of all of those people who attend. The Llanberis man also oversees all of the activities outside of the race itself:

“With the race returning to the third weekend in July, there is a sense of the race coming home in 2012,” he says.

“Of course the race is also a week ahead of the start of the 2012 Olympics too, so essentially the race is kick-starting sporting celebrations in the area.” 

The festival starts on Thursday evening with 100 youngsters taking part in races, Friday sees a football match between Llanberis and Llanfairpwll and after the race on Saturday, a Sunday recovery run around Llyn Padarn will be held.

“There is so much to see and do outside of the actual racing this year," Edwards continues. “We have an MTB stunts team, climbing wall, crafts and goods, market stalls, the Air Ambulance will be on site, cake stalls, Pete Bland and Salomon running gear stalls, the local Fire brigade, bouncing castles, kiddies rides and the famous fun fair too – the list is endless! Sandra Bowers the Olympic athlete will be there with her huskies on the day and her Olympic flame torch.

"As far as the race goes, we feel that the elite runner line-up is as good as any in the last 20 years. Andi Jones is back for a crack at a remarkable sixth title, the Scots once again have a very strong team in the shape of Murray Strain (second in 2011), 2010 winner Robbie Simpson and Commonwealth bronze medallist Joe Symonds. The Welsh team is also very interesting, especially with the inclusion of local-lad Alun Vaughan who is back in the red vest of Wales. We are also very pleased to have TV presenter and running personality Lowri Morgan on the start line. Lowri is a very strong runner on the longer-distances and will be competing in her first Snowdon Race.

“We are very lucky for the race to have a strong committee of volunteers, and we have worked very hard to offer much more to the public rather than just a race for an hour. A family day out and a good atmosphere, a European’ carnival feel’ to the occasion. My aim and goal for the race to be back on the international scene as a major event is on target and we are slowly seeing recognition on a global scale once again.

“Cwmni Da will be filming the race once again this year, with highlights to be to be broadcast on S4C. There is so much to see and do for all of the family, it’s going to be a great day, not only for Llanberis and the Snowdon Race, but also for the whole Gwynedd region.”

The field is open from 9am, with the International race starting at 2pm. 

A programme of junior events will cement the family feel of the 2012 event. At 11am an Olympic themed Super Heroes race will take place over 1km for 4 to 8 year olds who will run with their parents. Additionally, starting just after the main race at 2.10pm, races for U10, U12, U14, U16 and U18 year olds will take place, 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.

Further information, news and updates are online at the Snowdon Race website www.snowdonrace.co.uk. 

If you are interested in becoming part of the International Snowdon Race/Ras yr Wyddfa team you can contact Stephen Edwards on 07867 976 183 or by emailing [email protected]