Lightfoot and Mauclair triumph in Llanrwst sunshine

7 July 2013 – In sweltering conditions Great Britain and France dominated this weekend at the 4^th IAU Trail World Championships in Llanrwst.

There was home delight as Britain’s Ricky Lightfoot won the men’s individual race by almost 10 minutes, and in doing so led the GB and NI team to a superb team gold. In the female event France’s Nathalie Mauclair was equally impressive, as she demolished a world-class field and also headed-up team success for the France women.

The day had started under cloudless, blue skies on the famous bridge in Llanrwst, North Wales, with over 120 athletes assembled, ready to take on the tough Gwydyr Forest terrain and temperatures that were to hit 27 degrees centigrade by the time the afternoon sun revealed all of its warmth. The ultra-trail running event entertained runners from 18 countries including Australia, USA, Great Britain, France and the Czech Republic all lining-up to tackle the challenging 77km route.

The pattern of the race was soon to become apparent as GB athlete Ricky Lightfoot, France’s Julien Rancon and German Florian Neuschwander led the runners out onto the first tree-lined climb and the first of five 15km loops, before finally heading back into Llanrwst.

As the runners passed through the first of the checkpoints and back to the start of loop 2 at the Saw Bench (16km), it was Lightfoot and Rancon who were clear, and the electric atmosphere of the team support arena made for a gripping and exciting viewing area, as the runners took on hydration and words of encouragement from team staff.

In the women’s race a clear pattern was already emerging as Nathalie Mauclair led through the Saw Bench, over 3 minutes up on French team-mates Aurelia Truel and Stephanie Duc.

Rancon and Lightfoot meanwhile remained locked in battle, and so it remained up to the 50k point, as the Briton began to pull away from the French athlete, and it was at this point that a heavy fall put paid to Rancon’s gold medal chances.

This left the door open for Neuschwander to begin his charge and as he passed Rancon, the German runner had Lightfoot on his radar. However, the power of the Briton was undeniable and for the next 25 km Ricky remained focused and strong, hardly putting a foot wrong and maintaining a consistent 10-11 minute lead all the way back to the finish line in Llanrwst, to take the home-crowd plaudits and obvious delight, becoming the new world champion in 5 hours 36 minutes and 3 seconds.

Behind a highly-excited Neuschwander (5:45:16) raced in for the silver, with an emotional Rancon (5:54:21) eventually crossing the line in third, realising that his fall on the technical Gwydyr course had cost him his chance of golden glory.

Speaking immediately after the race Lightfoot told the ecstatic crowd:

“I am glad that is over! The heat and the route were really, really hard today, and I was always aware that there were some great athletes behind me, so I couldn’t really relax.

“There were some time checks on the course, but I was also never really sure of just how far behind the guys were, so I just ran my own race and concentrated on finishing strong”.

It was apparent how much this meant to the British athlete who has cut his teeth on the fells of the Lake District in England, as he added:

“I really can’t quite believe it to be honest, being world champion is something you only dream of, it will take a while to sink in!”

Backed-up by fellow Brit Iain Ridgway in a superb 4^th, Great Britain also triumphed in the team event, ahead of France and Germany.

Meanwhile in the women’s race there was to be no looking back for the majestic Mauclair, who gradually and impressively increased her advantage over the course of the 77km to race to victory in 6 hours 38 minutes and 45 seconds, a full 17 minutes clear of compatriot Truel (6:55:51) who took the silver medal. Italy’s Maria Chiara Parigi ran a superb second half of the race to claim the bronze medal (7:00:30) just ahead of first female British athlete Jo Zakrzewski in fourth.

The French ladies were dominant winners of the team prize too, as Mauclair and Truel were backed up bu Duc in 6^th place. Italy won the team silver, with Zakrzewski leading Great Britain to yet more success and the bronze medal.

In the supporting 10km event – which also included an International match, seeing athletes from Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland and Brittany going head-to-head – there was an enthralling battle between Wales’ Andy Davies and Rob Samuel, as they swapped the lead throughout the technical and fast Gwydyr Forest tracks, with Davies (33:50) prevailing in the last 100m, just ahead of Samuel (33:53). Team-mate Alun Vaughan (34:59) made it a 1-2-3 for the Welsh boys, easily securing the team prize.

In the women’s race there was a great run from England’s Katie Walshaw (39:42), winning by over a minute ahead of Scotland’s Jenny Maclean (41:05) with Wales’ Kate Roberts (41:07) a mere 2 seconds behind in third. England won the women’s team prize.

Welsh Athletics and the Conwy Sport Development teams were also looking to the future too as they facilitated a roster of free-to-enter junior events and a family fun run, completing a festival of running and a day of which Wales and the UK could be proud.

4^th IAU Trail World Championships medal results

Men’s Individual

Gold – Ricky Lightfoot (Great Britain and NI) 5:36:03

Silver – Florian Neuschwander (Germany) 5:45:16

Bronze – Julien Rancon (France) 5:54:21

Women’s Individual

Gold – Nathalie Mauclair (France) 6:38:45

Silver – Aurelia Truel (France) 6:55:51

Bronze – Maria Chiara Parigi (Italy) 7:00:30

Men’s Team

Gold – Great Britain and Northern Ireland 17:47:59

Silver – France 17:58:14

Bronze – Germany 18:42:29

Women’s Team

Gold – France 20:46:16

Silver – Italy 21:28:22

Bronze – Great Britain and Northern Ireland 21:43:01

Full World Championship results are available online via this link http://www.tdl.ltd.uk/race-results.php?event=1386 and the International 10k results are here http://www.tdl.ltd.uk/race-results.php?event=1385

 

4 July 2013 – This weekend (6 July) will see Llanrwst transformed into a sea of international colour as over 150 athletes from 18 countries descend onto the North Wales town for the World Trail Running Championships.

The ultra-trail running event entertains runners from countries including Australia, Great Britain, France and the Czech Republic, including local athlete Iain Ridgway who will be proudly donning a GB vest for the very first time as he lines-up with some of the world’s best to tackle the challenging 77km route.

After months of preparation the spectacular location of Gwydyr Forest has been prepared for a programme of World Championship and open trail running races, including the inaugural Llanrwst Trail 10k, where runners of all abilities will be invited to tackle a stunning 10km course of forest trails and mountain-heathland in conjunction with the main event.

The 10km event will also include an International match – seeing athletes from Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland and Brittany going head-to-head on the Gwydyr Forest tracks.

Welsh Athletics and the Conwy Sport Development teams will also be looking to the future too as they facilitate a roster of free-to-enter junior events, with runners able to register on the day.

As the fastest runners in the World Championship race are expected to take up to 6 hours to complete the gruelling event, organisers have ensured that supporters and families will be entertained throughout the day with a free climbing wall, bouldering cubes, plus high ropes and mountain bike courses for those with energy to burn, There will also be a giant inflatable slide and a children’s funfair ride.

For those with a little less energy there will be balloon modelling, face painting and an undercover shopping area featuring local crafts and foods, making for a fantastic family atmosphere.

Speaking about the day Cllr Graham Rees, Cabinet Member for Tourism, Marketing & Leisure at Conwy County Borough Council states:

“Conwy County Borough Council is extremely excited about bringing these championships to the area. The effects of the event will be felt on the economy, our sporting culture and the youth of the County – which is very important to us. Additionally, the competitors will be staying in the County for a number of nights, bringing great economic benefits.

“It is also pleasing to be once again working in conjunction with the IAU, Welsh Athletics and the Welsh Government, and we feel that collaboration on these types of events can only be good for the future of sport.”

The first races will get underway with the World Trail Running Championship event at 9am from the 17^th Century Stone Bridge; Y Bont Fawr, closely followed by the Llanrwst Trail 10k open race at 9.15am, with junior races starting at 11.30am.

The event is set to receive worldwide media coverage, including a TV highlights package to be aired on Channel 4, Eurosport and Sky Sports, and will be the highest profile trail running event staged in the UK in recent years. It is also part of the legacy that saw North Wales host the extremely successful Commonwealth Mountain and Ultra Distance Championships some two years ago.

Welsh Athletics have also been instrumental in event support and organisational work, with Head of Development Steve Brace concluding:

“We are really excited to be hosting this World Championship event on home soil. It’s a sign of the IAU’s confidence of our abilities here in Wales to host the event and we have been working extremely hard over these last few months to deliver what we feel will be a world-class running event.

“It has been a pleasure working with Conwy County Borough Council, the IAU and of course the Welsh Government, and we’re proud to be able to showcase this stunning trail running location to the world and show all that Wales has to offer”.

The Welsh Government is supporting the event in a public sector partnership with Conwy, and is fully supported by the International Association of Ultra runners (IAU) and by the sports Governing bodies Welsh Athletics and British Athletics.

The Welsh Government Minister for Economy, Science and Transport, Edwina Hart, said:

“The World Trail Running Championships in North Wales is yet another example of Wales’ ability to hold world-class sporting events. This is the first World Championship in the sport of athletics to be held in Wales. Additionally, it shows the confidence of the IAU in our abilities as a nation to hold such championships.

“We will build on our success in hosting the Commonwealth Mountain and Ultra Distance Championships in 2011 and we look forward to working with our partners to deliver a memorable event which will have a positive impact on the local economy.”

For further information on all of the events and links to the Championship’s social media offering, head to worldtrailwales2013.org

 

As the countdown to the 4^th World Trail Running Championships in Llanrwst, North Wales on the 6^th of July continues, details of an exciting Open 10km trail race have been announced by the Championships organisers.

The World Trail Running Championship ultra-trail running event will see over 120 International athletes from over 20 countries – including Australia, France and the Czech Republic – descend on Wales, ready to go into battle and cover a challenging and iconic 75km, in the Gwydyr Forest near Llanrwst.

In addition to the World Championship event, runners of all abilities will be invited to tackle a stunning 10km course of forest trails and mountain-heathland in conjunction with the main event. There will also be junior events running in tandem with the two events.

To complete the day’s trail racing festivities the 10km event will also include an International match – seeing athletes from Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland and Brittany going head-to-head on the Gwydyr Forest tracks.

Speaking about the plans Welsh Athletics’ Head of Development Steve Brace added:

“It’s amazing to be hosting this event in Wales, and we feel that a World Championship event of this calibre will attract some of the world’s best trail runners. To then give some of the UK’s best exponents and runners of all abilities the opportunity to partake in this festival is really special.

“The Llanrwst Trail 10k should be an event that not only excites Welsh runners, but also those from further afield too, fulfilling our aims as a governing body to promote the sport to a wider audience. 

“We are also excited to be hosting the international match and a series of junior races, which should see some fast and furious shorter distance trail racing”.

Entries to the Llanrwst Trail 10k are now open and can be accessed via the World Trail Running Championships website .

With just 80 days to go until the opening ceremony of the 4th World Trail Running Championships – which will be held in North Wales on the 6th of July – the countdown to the Championships has begun in earnest.

The event will see over 150 athletes from over 20 countries descend on Wales for a festival of trail running, with an international flavour.

The host venue of Llanrwst (Conwy) is deep in preparation to host the event in the spectacular north-west Wales location of Gwydyr Forest, which will extend a programme of World Championship and open trail running races.

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