Starting point of Snowdon Race, Llanberis
Starting point of Snowdon Race, Llanberis
The playing field beside Y Ganolfan is the starting point of the annual Snowdon Race. For most people, walking up Snowdon summit and back is a tiring and rewarding day’s exercise, but male and female fell runners have completed the 16km round trip in little over an hour!
It was in May 1976 that Ken Jones of Llanberis suggested to the local carnival committee a race from the village to Snowdon summit (1,085 metres above sea level) and back. Hurried arrangements were made, and on Saturday 19 July a small group of runners set off from outside Pete’s Eats café. It was quite a sensation when Dave Francis of Bristol reached the finish line after 1h 12m 5s – the upper photo shows his arrival.
The starting point was moved here in 1977. The race attracted media attention and before long a strict entry limit had to be imposed for safety reasons.
In 1985 Kenny Stuart of Cumbria broke the record by finishing in 1hr 2m 29s. In 1993 Carol Haigh of West Yorkshire broke the women’s record with her time of 1h 12m 48s.
The 1980 race was the first to involve Italian runners, including that year’s winner, Privato Pezzoli. This led to many athletes running in the Snowdon Race and the Trofeo Vanoni, in Morbegno, Lombardy. Both races twinned together, as did the athletic clubs CSI Morbegno and Eryri (Snowdonia). In 2005 the villages of Llanberis and Morbegno were officially twinned, in ceremonies held in both countries.
The lower picture shows three runners on Snowdon: Privato Pezzoli, followed by Kenny Stuart and Fausto Bonzi. All three won the race, in different years.
The 2020 Snowdon Race could not be held because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
With thanks to Ken Jones
Postcode: LL55 4UR View Location Map