26 November 2014

With the 2014 season behind them the world’s top mountain runners will be setting their sights on 2015 and the World Mountain Running Championships, which are set to descend on Betws y Coed, Wales in just 300 days.

The Championships were awarded to the UK after a joint bid from British Athletics, the Welsh Government, Welsh Athletics and Conwy County Borough Council, and are set to bring economic, cultural and sporting benefits to the UK and specifically the North Wales region next September.

Councillor Graham Rees, the Cabinet Member for Tourism, Marketing and Leisure at Conwy County Borough Council, feels that the Championships will be a huge opportunity for Wales and particularly the local area, not only in a sporting capacity but also to help attract inward investment and economic impact in such areas as tourism, he comments:

“The World Mountain Running Championships will showcase across the world what Conwy County has to offer to athletes and tourists alike. The event will not only see the athletes and teams staying in the area but also their support networks including family and friends bringing a valuable boost to the local economy particularly tourism, both in the Conwy Valley and the North Wales Coast with Llandudno serving as the race HQ and the official base for the athletes and the teams.

“It is anticipated that many participants will extend their visit to enjoy the week-long celebration of mountain running and having seen and experienced all that the County has to offer will come back to visit again and again.”

Following the successful staging of the 30th running of the championships in the stunning setting of Casette di Massa, Italy in September, responsibility for the 31st edition of this iconic mountain running festival moved to the UK and Snowdonia for the week-long festival from the 12th to the 20th of September 2015.

Along with attracting the world’s best mountain runners from across the globe, the racing incorporates the World Masters Mountain Running Championships on the opening weekend. The races will be hosted in Betws y Coed, with athletes being based in Llandudno.

In addition to the championship races the week will see a host of events that encapsulate the area, including open mountain races, an uphill only race to the iconic local peak of Moel Siabod, junior events, seminars and film sessions along with a series of schools races to be facilitated by the Conwy County Borough Council sports development team. 

In a recent photo call in Betws y Coed, Councillor Rees was joined by GB & NI junior international Iolo Hughes (coach: Andrew Walling) who commented: 

“It’s an amazing opportunity for me to get into a GB team and run in a race that will be so close to home. The buzz and excitement will be immense come next September, and lots of my peers are already talking about the selection race and the Champs themselves.  I can’t wait and just hope I can make the team!”

For further information, head to www.wmrcwales.org, as well as the championships Twitter and Facebook pages.