Blistering performances as records topple at SkyRun Eryri®
The heatwave this weekend saw not only soaring temperatures but blistering pace from leading athletes at the sixth edition of SkyRun Eryri®. Despite temperatures in the high 20s, several course records toppled on Saturday, GB vests were awarded and winners of the 14 Peaks Ultra were crowned Middle-Distance British Trail Running Champions. Read on to find out how the action played out…
SkyRun Eryri® delivers Wales’ premier skyrunning weekend amid UK heatwave ©Evan Davies
14 Peaks Ultra®
The first athletes to toe the line at SkyRun Eryri® this weekend were the competitors in the 14 Peaks Ultra®, starting from Abergwyngregyn on the north coast of Wales at 7:15am – but despite the early start, things were HOT from the very start!
Jack Scott set a blistering pace out of the blocks and Andy Symonds, Robin Downie and Hugh Chatfield had to work hard to stay in the front group with him, as they jostled for position in the runnable first half of the race. Scott was clearly the stronger descender but Chatfield consistently reeled him back in on the climbs. On the ascent of Eilidr Fawr, Chatfield really pressed his advantage and consolidated a solid lead, which he held until the finish. Hail storms and gusty winds marked the latter part of the race for the leaders (around midday) but conditions improved before the traverse of Crib Goch. Winner Chatfield crossed the line in 06:36:56 to set a scorching new Course Record. In fact, all three of the podium finishers in the men’s race went under the previous course records set by Josh Bakker-Dyos in 2024.
A happy Hugh Chatfield in the opening kilometres of the 14 Peaks Ultra ©Joel Jameson
“I ran the time I wanted to run but overall it was much harder than it should have been. With a GB selection, I’ve got a new A-race, so it’s all eyes on the World Championships now” says Chatfield, who also claims the title of Middle-Distance British Trail Running Champion with this win.
The second runner over the line was INOV8 athlete Jack Scott who left everything out there on the course and finished in 06:48:58.
Jack Scott established a phenomenal pace in the 14 Peaks Ultra ©Joel Jameson
The men’s podium was completed by Scottish athlete Alastair Graves, who worked his way up from 6th place to the leading three in a well-executed race, with a fast finish in 06:54:56.
“I couldn’t really be happier. I held back for the first leg, to see how I was feeling but was able to break away after Tryfan. I caught third coming out of the second aid station and managed to hold it from there” says Graves.
The indomitable Crib Goch greets runners later on in the SkyRace and Ultra ©Tanya Raab
Andy Symonds took the 1st 40-44 title (4th overall) in 07:10:20 and Orran Smith was 1st 45-49 (14th overall) in 08:45:16. First U23 was Alex Hammond (15th overall) in 08:50:23 and first 50-54 was Lee Ireland in 10:55:34.
14 Peaks Ultra men’s podium (L to R), Jack Scott, Hugh Chatfield, Alastair Graves ©Evan Davies
The lure of a World Champs qualification also drew a strong field in the women’s race, which was dominated by Lizzie Richardson, originally from Blaenau Ffestiniog but who is now living in Inverness. Richardson holds the record for the Paddy Buckly Round (17:23), so she knowns these hills like the back of her hand! She delivered a sizzling performance on Saturday, and not only set a new course record but took over an hour off the previous winning time. This result also mean that Richardson claims the title of Middle-Distance British Trail Running Champion, as well as a qualification for the World Mountain & Trail Running Championships in Canfranc-Pirineos, Spain on 25-28th September.
A focused Richardson traverses Crib Goch ©Tanya Raab
“I wasn’t in front throughout” she says “but after Tryfan, I had enough of a lead to feel quite comfortable. This race is my farewell to these hills in way, and two-years since I did my Paddy Buckley Round here, so it means a lot.”
Second female over the line was Yorkshire 3 Peaks Course Record holder Holly Wootten in 08:45:44, who led the field until Ogwen Valley. Behind her Lauren Woodwiss held third position steadily throughout the course and finished in 09:15:56. Both these athletes were very pleased with their performances on the day, especially coming back from injury and from having a baby respectively. Woodwiss was really testing her endurance in this event, her first race over 25k since her baby was born a year ago. As in the men’s race, the top three finishers all went under the previous course record, showing the extremely high calibre of the female athletes on this podium.
Wootten in race mode, with Tryfan’s iconic silhouette as the backdrop ©Joel Jameson
First U23 over the line on Saturday was Gemma Griffiths in 10:32:42, in 9th position overall, with Adele Clarke coming in 10th as first 45-49 and in 11th place in 11:17:52 and Rachel Fawcett first 50-54 in 11:33:44. The first female 40-44 was Holly Jenkins in 15:16:36.
Full provisional results can now be found online HERE.
14 Peaks Ultra women’s podium (L to R), Holly Wootten, Lizzie Richardson, Lauren Woodwiss ©Evan Davies
Snowdon SkyRace®
The SkyRun Eryri® sub-ultra classic was won by local athlete Cat Wai-Hobson from Anglesey this year, who surprised herself as much as anyone, with a stellar performance and top spot on the podium — crossing the line in 07:59:12. “I’m super surprised, I can’t believe it” she said at the finish.
Wai-Hobson is targeting the series and four SkyRaces in her 40th year, with her next one being Pinnacle Ridge Extreme in July. Holding something back on the initial climb up Yr Wyddfa, Wai-Hobson pushed on the technical descents, her forte, using this approach to gain time throughout the race. On Y Gribin, Wai-Hobson moved into the lead and was able to hold position until the finish.
Wai-Hobson on the opening climb of the Snowdon SkyRace ©Joel Jameson
This was a first SkyRace for both second and third finishers in the women’s race this year. Mary Marshall, who came in second on Saturday, crossed the line in 08:18:40 – a phenomenal effort from an ultrarunner who trains predominantly around Hamstead Heath and who is not accustomed to the likes of Crib Goch! Third place fell to ParkRun collector and ex-‘GoodGymer’ Egg Cameron in 08:25:25, second 40-44 finisher on the podium. Cameron will be building on her success at Snowdon by taking on the Pinnacle Ridge Extreme next month. Another noteworthy performance was that of Polish athlete Anna Szafranska, who finished first 50-54 and took 5th overall in the women’s race in 09:19:25.
Snowdon SkyRace women’s podium (L to R), Mary Marshall, Cat Wai-Hobson, Egg Cameron ©Evan Davies
The men’s competition was close this year, with less than 4 minutes between the top three finishers. The race was led in the early stages by Michael Lelliott. Chasing him down was Ed Brewer and Jeremy Swainson.
“I went out too quickly in the last race at Scafell, and so I took it steadier and shared the work this year” said Brewer, who picked his moment to break away from the others on the technical descent off Tryfan. Brewer then ran alone at the front for the rest of the race, taking first place in 05:51:29. He was however, only 2 mins ahead of Swainton in second but that was enough, and Brewer claimed a new course record by just 29 seconds. Swainton too was playing it cool on Saturday, holding back to run his own race, finishing in second place in 05:53:48.
“It’s an awesome course and I had so much fun. I can’t wait for the Pinnacle Ridge Extreme now” says an exhilarated Brewer, who finished second at PRE in 2024 and ran for the UK team at last year’s Skyrunning World Championships.
Brewer sizes up the first climb of the Snowdon SkyRace ©Evan Davies
Completing the podium was Lelliott, who took things steady in the early stages of the race after blowing-up and finishing 14th in the same race last year. Despite a more measured approach, Lelliot led until Tryfan where he was overtaken — and then thought himself to be in 4th place. He enjoyed the race much more this year than last and at the finished described himself as ‘over the moon’ with his performance (05:54:43), as well as very happy to find himself on the podium!
Christopher Warne was first 40-44 in 07:13:46 (8th overall) and Elt Hughes was first 45-49 in 08:00:02 (18th overall). A super strong performance from 55+ athlete Darren Jones saw him over the line in 08:18:21, just one position ahead of first 50-54 Ian Young in 08:24:19. The U23 age cat win goes to George Dean, who arrived back at Rhyd-Ddu in 09:08:52.
Full provisional results can now be found online HERE.
Snowdon SkyRace® men’s podium (L to R) Jeremy Swainson, Ed Brewer and Michael Lelliott ©Evan Davies
Copper SkyTrail
Racing was surprisingly fast and furious on the Copper SkyTrail this weekend, despite the hot and muggy conditions. In the women’s race, a new course record was set against the odds by winner Beth Logan (04:14:29), who developed a convincing lead on fellow Welsh athlete and local runner Anna Buckingham in second place. Buckingham finished in 04:48:34: and was first 40-44 over the line. These front two ladies were widely spaced but behind the leading pair, the chasing field were jostling for third position.
Logan en route to victory in the Copper SkyTrail ©Evan Davies
“I ran as part of group, mixing and matching throughout,” said Claire Shelley. “I enjoyed sharing some chat with the others and also the changing weather – cooling down and then warming up again later on” she said. Shelley later broke away from the pack and crossed the line in 05:18:03, more than five minutes ahead of the 4th woman, to complete the female podium and take first 45-49. Age cat winner for Vet 55+ was Deborah Fisher in 07:05:35.
Copper SkyTrail women’s podium (L to R) Anna Buckingham, Beth Logan, Claire Shelley ©Evan Davies
In the men’s race, Sam Atkinson — known to be a strong hill climber — led from the off and played to his strengths throughout. Having never competed in a SkyRace before, Atkinson admitted he was unsure how to gauge his effort. “I was pushing hard on the climbs and trying to keep the momentum because I knew that Caleb (Nonhebel, who was in second position) is a strong technical descender.” Atkinson’s game plan came to fruition with a strong win in 03:26:25, despite the pervading heat.
Nonhebel was happy with a second-place finish, after coming in third in this race last year. Crossing the line in 03:46:57, Nonhebel was also first U23 finisher in this first counter in this year’s U23 Series – a series that he won last year.
Atkinson runs the steep switchbacks of the Snowdon Ranger Path ©Evan Davies
“I felt really happy with how it went today. Once I knew that Sam was firmly in first and I had a good lead on third, I decided to chill for the rest of it” says Nonhebel.
Third over the line was another U23 athlete, Adam Williams in 04:07:51, completing the Copper SkyTail men’s podium. After Williams, the third U23 finisher was Irish athlete Ciaran Goss, coming in 7th overall in 04:17:42. U23 Series rankings will soon be up on the Skyrunning UK website, ahead of the next event at St. Sunday Sky Race on July 19th.
Scotsman Nonhebel gets hands-on ascending Y Lliwedd ©Tanya Raab
First male 40-44 finisher was James Wilson in 04:17:14 (6th overall) and first 45-49 was Edward Box in 04:44:46 (10th overall). Wayne Vickers took first 55+ in 04:56:46 (14th overall); that’s some top results from age cat winners, in this shorter and faster SkyRace format, with over 92 finishers.
Full provisional results can now be found online HERE.
Copper SkyTrail men’s podium (L to R) Caleb Nonhebel, Sam Atkinson, Adam Williams ©Evan Davies
Will we see you in the Lake District next month for the next races of the Series?
Next up in the 2025 Skyrunner® UK & Ireland Series and SkyUltra®/U23 Series are the following races from Lake District Sky Trails, all on the 19th July, in Patterdale, NE Lakes:
Rab Helvellyn Sky Ultra: 57km & 3,700m+ and the second race of the new SkyUltra® Series. Entry HERE.
St. Sunday Sky Race: 29km & 2,050m+ and the second race of the new U23 Series. Entry HERE.
Rab Pinnacle Ridge Extreme: 28km & 2,700m+ and as the name suggest, the most technical race in the series by far, featuring Grade 3 scrambling! Vetted entry HERE.
Entries are open until June 29th, so it’s not too late to be part of the Skyrunner® National Series! Enter HERE today. Discover more about all these classic Lakeland skyrunning races on the LDST website HERE.
In the meantime, be sure to follow Skyrunning UK on Facebook HERE, Instagram HERE, or why not join the Facebook Group HERE or the Strava Club HERE.
