Welsh 1000 m Peaks Race
Encyclopedia
The Welsh 1000m Peaks Race takes place on the first Saturday in June each year. The 32 km route is also known as the Snowdonia
Summits Marathon
as competitors have to reach the top of the all the 1000 metre peaks in Wales.
and pass through up to 6 other checkpoints.
This gives a total of around 8000 feet of ascent for competitors. In previous years only the lower slopes of the Glyderau
would be crossed, however in September 2010, the summit of Glyder Fawr
was remeasured at 1001m. This will leave the organisers of the race with the decision to maintain the old course, or change it to add in the 5th summit over 1000m.
The idea was the brainchild of Ron James, the warden of Ogwen Cottage
Outdoor Pursuits Centre]], along with Dr Ieuan Jones, who invited 60 people to participate in a trial event in 1970. The first race proper was held in 1971 with men starting from the shoreline at Abergwyngregyn
, on the shoreline of Conwy Bay
, and ladies from the Ogwen Valley. Both finished on the summit of Snowdon
after which entrants were still responsible for their own safety and descent to the valley. The early events were for mountaineers, with kit checks to ensure boots were adequate & rucksacks a certain minimum weight, and groups such as West Bromwich Mountaineering Club
participated every year. The Army supported the whole event, providing checkpoints throughout the route. Later a Fell running
class was introduced and a team event. The Gorphwysfa Club took over the race organisation from the military in the 1990s.
The fastest times are 3h 27m 20s recorded by Gavin Bland in 1999 and, for women, 4h 2m 39s by Angela Mudge also in 1999. The record for the team event (the accumulated times of the 3 best finishers) is 13h 41m 56s set in 1996 by the Reserves team of the Royal Regiment of Wales. The event is currently sponsored by the First Hydro Company.
Snowdonia
Snowdonia is a region in north Wales and a national park of in area. It was the first to be designated of the three National Parks in Wales, in 1951.-Name and extent:...
Summits Marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
as competitors have to reach the top of the all the 1000 metre peaks in Wales.
- Carnedd LlewelynCarnedd LlewelynCarnedd Llewelyn, usually spelt Carnedd Llywelyn in Welsh, is a mountain massif in the Carneddau range in Snowdonia, north-west Wales...
1064m (3491 feet) - Carnedd DafyddCarnedd DafyddCarnedd Dafydd is a mountain peak in the Carneddau range in Snowdonia, North Wales, and is the third highest peak in Wales, or the fourth if Crib y Ddysgl on the Snowdon ridge is counted. Situated south-west of Carnedd Llewelyn and north of Pen yr Ole Wen, Carnedd Dafydd is on the main ridge of...
1044m (3425 feet) - Garnedd UgainGarnedd UgainGarnedd Ugain, sometimes incorrectly referred to as "Crib y Ddysgl", is a mountain in Wales that forms part of the Snowdon Horseshoe. It is the second highest peak in Wales, and lies 1 kilometre north of Snowdon...
1065m (3493 feet) and - Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) 1085m (3560 feet)
and pass through up to 6 other checkpoints.
This gives a total of around 8000 feet of ascent for competitors. In previous years only the lower slopes of the Glyderau
Glyderau
The Glyderau are a mountain group in Snowdonia, North Wales. The name derives from the highest peaks in the range, Glyder Fawr and Glyder Fach....
would be crossed, however in September 2010, the summit of Glyder Fawr
Glyder Fawr
' is a mountain in Snowdonia, Wales, the highest in the Glyderau. At just over 1,000m, it is the fifth highest mountain in Wales.It lies on the ridge between and , and has views to the north, across the Ogwen Valley, of and the , and views south to the Snowdon Horseshoe. The summit is very rocky,...
was remeasured at 1001m. This will leave the organisers of the race with the decision to maintain the old course, or change it to add in the 5th summit over 1000m.
The idea was the brainchild of Ron James, the warden of Ogwen Cottage
Ogwen Cottage
Ogwen Cottage Outdoor Pursuits Centre is part of Birmingham City Council's Outdoor Learning Service. It provides outdoor education and has links to the climbing community.-Thomas Telford:...
Outdoor Pursuits Centre]], along with Dr Ieuan Jones, who invited 60 people to participate in a trial event in 1970. The first race proper was held in 1971 with men starting from the shoreline at Abergwyngregyn
Abergwyngregyn
Abergwyngregyn is a village of historical note in Gwynedd, a county and principal area in Wales. Under its historic name of Aber Garth Celyn it was the seat of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd....
, on the shoreline of Conwy Bay
Conwy Bay
Conwy Bay is an inlet of the Irish Sea, defined by the east coast of Anglesey and the north coast of Wales. Puffin Island and the Great Orme mark the limits of the bay....
, and ladies from the Ogwen Valley. Both finished on the summit of Snowdon
Snowdon
Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales, at an altitude of above sea level, and the highest point in the British Isles outside Scotland. It is located in Snowdonia National Park in Gwynedd, and has been described as "probably the busiest mountain in Britain"...
after which entrants were still responsible for their own safety and descent to the valley. The early events were for mountaineers, with kit checks to ensure boots were adequate & rucksacks a certain minimum weight, and groups such as West Bromwich Mountaineering Club
West Bromwich Mountaineering Club
West Bromwich Mountaineering Club is one of the oldest and most active climbing and hill-walking clubs in the West Midlands. It currently meets at "The Globe" in Reform Street every Thursday night and has a membership of almost 300...
participated every year. The Army supported the whole event, providing checkpoints throughout the route. Later a Fell running
Fell running
Fell running, also known as mountain running and hill running, is the sport of running and racing, off road, over upland country where the gradient climbed is a significant component of the difficulty...
class was introduced and a team event. The Gorphwysfa Club took over the race organisation from the military in the 1990s.
The fastest times are 3h 27m 20s recorded by Gavin Bland in 1999 and, for women, 4h 2m 39s by Angela Mudge also in 1999. The record for the team event (the accumulated times of the 3 best finishers) is 13h 41m 56s set in 1996 by the Reserves team of the Royal Regiment of Wales. The event is currently sponsored by the First Hydro Company.