Ultra-Trail Snowdonia: Harsh Racing in the Welsh Mountains

Chasing Trails: Ultra-Trail Snowdonia Dispatch

After multiple years with hot, dry conditions, Ultra-Trail Snowdonia by UTMB tested runners with very challenging Welsh weather this year. With pouring rain, endless bogs, mud, freezing cold wind, and thick fog hiding the gorgeous Eryri views, it was time to focus on the basics to get through the particularly tough courses, whether running 100 miles or 25 km. A huge well done from us to everyone who braved the elements!

- Kate Parker, Director/Founder

A New Course Record For the 100 Miles

In unlikely conditions, France’s Beñat Marmissolle ran the race of his life to not only claim the victory, but also set a new course record. The 100 miler is an absolute beast showcasing the toughest of what Eryri National Park is all about: around 163 km with 9200 m of elevation, a mix of soft ground and unforgiving rock, all topped with changing weather that would not allow runners a second’s lapse of concentration. Only 280 people took to the start line in Llanberis and 112 finished!

Beñat, who is no stranger to tough racing, having previously claimed second place at the 200-mile Tor des Géants in the Italian Alps and in the 100-mile Hardrock 100 in the United States, as well as counting a win in 2022 at the Diagonale des Fous on the island of Reunion. He ran a measured race from the start, always in the top 5 men, pulling away into the lead on his final ascent of Yr Wyddfa at c. 133 km. From there, he cruised up and down Mynydd Mawr and Moeil Eilio, arriving at the finish line in Llanberis just before noon on the Saturday: 21:59:51 - an unbelievable performance on a truly challenging weekend. He was just under 39 minutes clear of second-placed Joaquin Lopez of Ecuador, whose finishing time was a highly respectable 22:38:37. Italy’s Franco Collé (a 4-time winner of the Tor des Géants) completed the podium in 25:18:09.

The women’s race kicked off with Charlotte Fisher (who placed third last year) in the lead for a large part of the day, but she eventually got overtaken by Myvanwy Hanna, who would run an amazing race and finish first in 29:14:49. Charlotte claimed second in 32:56:24, followed by Rachel Sergeant in third (33:17:25).

The 100k Battle

The other huge battle of the weekend - against the elements and at the top of the leaderboard - was in the 100k race. After a few course changes, this year’s route abandoned the Carneddau mountain range in favour of muddier technical climbs and descents to the south, taking runners towards Blaenau Ffestiniog where they would discover disused quarries and atmospheric ruins. But to get there, they first had to tackle a climb up Yr Wyddfa to the Finger Stone, then Moel Siabod with a slippery, rocky descent in the clag. After Blaenau Ffestiniog, icy winds and dark fog were on the menu for the climb up Moelwyn Mawr. Runners then took on two notoriously difficult technical sections involving scrambling in already difficult conditions: Cnicht and Nanttle Ridge. An absolute beast of a course that totaled 107 km and just shy of 6000 m of ascent by the end.

The women’s race saw Switzerland’s Ariane Wilhem claim the win (16:02:48) ahead of British runners Katie Kaars Sijpesteijn (18:40:26) and Mel Sykes (19:41:53). In the men’s race, France’s Paul Cornut Chauvinc, in top form after a 2025 where he won MIUT Madeira and the 100 miles at Nice Cote d’Azur by UTMB, took the lead after Cnicht and didn’t look back. He finished in 11:51:43, a full 20 minutes clear of second-placed Jean-Philippe Tschumi of Switzerland (a previous winner here, finishing in 12:12:08 this year). Keith Wigley rounded out the podium for the third time since he’s been raising at UTS, this time battling tough conditions and pushing through in 12:53:05.

80k, 50k and 25k Results

A new race was added to the mix this year, favouring less technical runners looking for a fast challenge that started in Caernarfon Castle and finished with a lap in Snowdonia. The 80k night run set off at 8pm and covered a fast rolling, almost flat, 20 miles before climbing to the Finger Stone on Yr Wyddfa and adding on a more runnable hilly section through Beddgelert and Rhyd Ddu. Josh Wade absolutely stormed it, claiming victory in 6:56:44. David Rees (8:11:24) and Thomas Vickery (8:13:36) rounded out the podium. The women’s race was won by Lowri Morgan in 9:21:33, followed by Ellen Cheetham in 9:40:36 and Jordan Foster in 10:05:04.

In the 50k, Jonathan Albon returned to Eryri after his victorious run of the 100k last year, and had a brilliant race to win in 5:34:37. Andrew Heyes was second in 6:00:38, followed second later by Anders Vaga in 6:01:05. Giuditta Turini claimed the win in the women’s race in 7:00:28, followed by Beth Pascall (7:34:37) and Anna Louise Astad Sørlie (7:39:18). 

Finally, it was the turn of the 25k runners on Sunday, but they had to be delayed half an hour and rerouted to take out Yr Wyddfa summit, as the weather was still not improving and thunderstorms were looming on the horizon. As the final finishers of the 100k and 100 miles rolled into Llanberis, they took off at a blistering pace to cover 22 km with 1100 m of elevation. Sam Bentham took his first UTMB World Series race win in a fantastic 1:41:45, with Caiden Thom in second (1:42:08) and Kieran Hardie in third  (1:44:40). Cana Peek won the women’s race (1:59:01), while Katrina Entwistle was second (2:04:51) and Becky Rafferty third (2:10:21).

Brilliant runs by everyone - huge congratulations!

My last report for Chasing Trails talked about how the Arc of Attrition lived up to its name… and it was a similar story this past weekend, which could have been called the Snowdonia Race of Attrition! I took on the 100k and was timed out at Rhyd Ddu, 96 km into the race, after a hip flexor injury that slowed me down massively, especially on the descent from Nantlle Ridge. But before that, I witnessed some amazing scenes: extremely challenging conditions, determined runners who pushed through some points where many would have turned around, and a team of volunteers who helped us immensely. The aid stations welcomed us like beacons of hope through the night, and we were never short of hot teas, coffees, and hot chocolate! I also feel that we need to recognise the special care put into accommodating women in the race. There were only 52 of us in the 100k (out of 365 total runners), and we were always pointed to women specific toilets with sanitary products, as well as private places to change when we arrived at checkpoints. I particularly appreciated the latter in Croesor at the halfway point, where I changed out of all my soaked clothes!

Ultra-Trail Snowdonia delivered what it promises: a set of events that are “beautiful beyond belief, savage beyond reason.” Having difficult weather made it that much harder, so well done again to everyone who pushed through, checkpoint after checkpoint, and created a story they should be proud of!

-Alecsa Stewart