The historic Snowdonia Marathon Eryri returned to the roads of Snowdonia this weekend as Daniel Kashi and Caroline Brock produced impressive performances to take the men’s and women’s crowns at one of the UK’s most prestigious marathons.
The race – which had seen a three-year break due to the pandemic – celebrated its 40th anniversary this year – being inaugurated back in 1982 – that in itself makes it one of the most historic road marathons in the UK. Add to that fact the challenging terrain and beautiful scenery and you realise why Snowdonia has earned its iconic status!
Though the build-up to the start had seen some heavy showers, the rain had all but abated as race got underway at its traditional 10.30am start time. Seeing the runners off was Kate Disley, daughter of the late John Disley CBE, one of the founders of the race over 40 years ago, along with Ken Jones and the National Trust.
Temperatures for the runners were a mild 15 degreesC which for many would have been very welcome as the runners headed out of Llanberis and along the shores of Llyn Peris. As the race began to develop in the men’s event on the long and steady climb to Pen y Pass at mile 5, it was clear that this was going to be a close battle as a pack containing Sale Harrier Dan Kashi, Meirionnydd runners Tom Roberts and Rhodri Owen, Bristol-man Johnny Suttle and St Neots runner Michael Taylor.
In the women’s race 2018 runner-up Emma Wookey had taken it out hard and had a sizable gap at the crest of Pen y Pass as they started to drop down to Cwm Dyli and the long descent to Beddgelert and the half-way point of the race. Behind Steel City Strider Caroline Brock was in second place with 5th-placer from 2019 Clare Patterson following in third.
Back in the men’s race, and at mile-14, the race had now developed into a two-way battle between and Kashi and Parc Bryn Bach runner Dan Bodman, who had blasted his way into contention on the stretch to Beddgelert with Roberts and Owen running around 40 seconds back in third and fourth. However, for Bodman the ascent out of the village of Beddgelert and onto the tough second half of this 26.2 mile brute was to be his undoing, as he began to drop out of contention, stating afterwards “Go hard or go home!”.
At the same 14-mile checkpoint in the women’s race Caroline Brock had by now taken control, with early leader Wookey now dropping out of contention. Paterson was comfortable in second with Oswestry runner Florence Roberts in third, about to battle it out for the final podium spot with Swansea Harrier Llinos Jones.
From this point onwards it was to become clear that the perfect preparation Kashi had experienced in the build-up to the race was paying off as the former Bangor University student was beginning to build a sizable lead. Behind Rhodri Owen was now locked-in to a race with Michael Taylor, as they all started the climb out of Waunfawr to mile 23.
As in the men’s race it was beginning to look clear cut as Brock had built a 3-minute lead at mile-23 over a strong looking Patterson.
One thing is for sure, the last miles of this race are notoriously tough, a huge undertaking as they head to the highest point of the race at mile 24, almost 380 metres above sea level and an ascent of over 200 metres in just 1 mile!
Though he later described himself as having the appearance of an owl, with his constant head-turning and looking back to check on his lead, Kashi was in control and looking likely to take the much-coveted Snowdonia Marathon Eryri victory, and after the tricky Bwlch y Groes descent was negotiated he entered the Llanberis high street and the finish straight, to take a fantastic win in 2:39:51, lifting the famous silver Eryri trophy in a wave of elation.
Behind Rhodri Owen had used his considerable mountain-running experience to pull away from Michael Taylor on the descent and take an impressive second place on his marathon debut, with Taylor taking the final podium spot with a huge smile – just 70 seconds separated the three men at the finish line.
Speaking to the crowd as he crossed the line a tired Dan Kashi said:
“I have been a nightmare at home and this has been the focus for me for the last year. I was struggling in the last miles and I didn’t know if I was going to get to the end, but I got there and I am so happy!”.
Whilst the lead men took the plaudits of the large and appreciative Llanberis crowd, Caroline Brock was now entering the last couple of miles and though she took a tumble or two on the descent of Bwlch y Groes, the Steel City runner held her form, and her sizable lead, as she entered the village of Llanberis.
Heading towards the finish line a clearly delighted Brock was full of running, breaking the tape in 3:13:43. The time almost immaterial as the accolade of being crowned the winner Snowdonia Marathon Eryri winner allows Caroline to join some of the greats of British marathon running.
Speaking after the race she commented:
“Oh, it was so much fun, I love this place, my first time. I was toughing it out over that last climb and then I fell down on the downhill, which seems like a right of passage at this race!”
Patterson powered into finish as she took an excellent second place, with Llinos Jones running a very well judged second half to take third.
Race coordinator Jayne Lloyd was rightly pleased with what had once again been a great race:
“Firstly, it’s so good to be back, after three long years! The community has been amazing and we as a race organising committee are so grateful to so many people, from volnuteers, to staff, to sponsors, for making it happen this year.
“I always come away from the weekend inspired by the amazing runners, who are just incredible. It’s my 17th time organising it and each year it still fills me with pride to see the thousands of runners filling the roads of Snowdonia. We saw two great winners in Dan and Caroline today, truly brilliant runs. But this day is not just about great winners, it’s about great people, coming together for so many reasons.”
Men’s top 5
1 Daniel Kashi 2:39:51 Sale Harriers
2 Rhodri Owen 2:40:44 Meirionnydd Running Club
3 Michael Taylor 2:41:00 St Neots Riverside Runners
4 Johnny Suttle 2:44:05 Bristol & West AC
5 Michael Young 2:47:57 West Cheshire AC
Women’s top 5
1 Caroline Brock 3:13:43 Steele City Striders
2 Clare Patterson 3:19:09
3 Llinos Jones 3:21:49 Swansea Harriers
4 Florence Roberts 3:24:44 Oswestry Olympians
5 Dee Jolly 3:25:51 Sarn Helen
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Kashi a Brock yn cipio teitlau Marathon Eryri
Ar ôl seibiant o 3 blynedd, dychwelodd Marathon Eryri i ffyrdd Eryri y penwythnos hwn, wrth i Daniel Kashi a Caroline Brock gynhyrchu perfformiadau trawiadol i gipio coronau dynion a merched yn un o marathonau mwyaf mawreddog y DU.
Dathlodd y ras ei phen-blwydd yn 40 oed eleni – cael ei urddo nôl yn 1982 – sydd ynddo’i hun yn ei gwneud yn un o’r marathonau ffordd mwyaf hanesyddol yn y DU. Ychwanegwch at y ffaith hynny y dirwedd heriol a’r golygfeydd hardd a sylweddolwch pam fod Eryri wedi ennill ei statws eiconig!
Er bod y cyfnod cyn y dechrau wedi gweld rhai cawodydd trwm, roedd y glaw bron wedi lleihau wrth i’r ras ddechrau ar ei hamser cychwyn traddodiadol am 10.30am. Yn gweld y rhedwyr roedd Kate Disley, merch y diweddar John Disley CBE, un o sylfaenwyr y ras dros 40 mlynedd yn ôl, ynghyd â Ken Jones a’r Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol.
Roedd y tymheredd ar gyfer y rhedwyr yn 15 gradd C a fyddai wedi bod yn groeso mawr i lawer wrth i’r rhedwyr anelu allan o Lanberis ac ar hyd glannau Llyn Peris. Wrth i’r ras ddechrau datblygu yn nigwyddiad y dynion ar y ddringfa hir a chyson i Ben y Pass ar filltir 5, roedd hi’n amlwg fod hon yn mynd i fod yn frwydr agos fel pac yn cynnwys Sale Harrier Dan Kashi, rhedwyr Meirionnydd Tom Roberts a Rhodri Owen, y gŵr o Fryste Johnny Suttle a rhedwr St Neots Michael Taylor.
Yn ras y merched mi roedd Emma Wookey, a oedd yn ail yn y ras yn 2018, wedi ei thynnu allan yn galed ac wedi cael bwlch sylweddol ar grib Pen y Pass wrth iddynt ddechrau disgyn i lawr i Gwm Dyli a’r disgyniad hir i Feddgelert a phwynt hanner ffordd y hil. Y tu ôl i Steel City Strider Caroline Brock oedd yn yr ail safle gyda’r 5ed safle o 2019 Clare Patterson yn drydydd.
Yn ôl yn ras y dynion, ac ar filltir-14, roedd y ras bellach wedi datblygu i fod yn frwydr ddwy ffordd rhwng a rhedwr Kashi ag y dyn o Parc Bryn Bach Dan Bodman, a oedd wedi ffrwydro ei ffordd i gynnen ar y darn i Feddgelert gyda Roberts ac Owen rhedeg tua 40 eiliad yn ôl yn drydydd a phedwerydd. Fodd bynnag, i Bodman yr esgyniad allan o bentref Beddgelert ac i ail hanner caled y 26.2 milltir ysgeler oedd ei ddadwneud, wrth iddo ddechrau rhoi’r gorau i gynnen, gan ddatgan wedyn “Ewch yn galed neu ewch adref!”.
Ar yr un pwynt gwirio 14 milltir yn ras y merched roedd Caroline Brock bellach wedi cymryd rheolaeth, gyda’r arweinydd cynnar Wookey bellach yn gadael y gynnen. Roedd Patterson yn gyfforddus yn ail gyda’r rhedwr o Groesoswallt, Florence Roberts, yn drydydd, ar fin brwydro am safle olaf y podiwm gyda Harrier Abertawe Llinos Jones.
O hyn ymlaen daeth i’r amlwg fod y paratoadau perffaith yr oedd Kashi wedi’u profi wrth baratoi ar gyfer y ras yn dwyn ffrwyth gan fod cyn-fyfyriwr Prifysgol Bangor yn dechrau adeiladu ar y blaen. Y tu ôl i Rhodri Owen bellach wedi’i gloi i mewn i ras gyda Michael Taylor, wrth iddyn nhw i gyd ddechrau’r ddringfa allan o Waunfawr i filltir 23.
Fel yn ras y dynion roedd yn dechrau edrych yn glir gan fod Brock wedi adeiladu ar y blaen 3 munud ar filltir-23 dros Patterson yr olwg gref.
Mae un peth yn sicr, mae milltiroedd olaf y ras hon yn ddrwg-enwog o galed, yn dasg enfawr wrth iddynt anelu at bwynt uchaf y ras ym milltir 24, bron i 380 metr uwchben lefel y môr ac esgyniad o dros 200 metr mewn dim ond 1 filltir. !
Er iddo ddisgrifio ei hun yn ddiweddarach fel un ag ymddangosiad tylluan, gyda’i ben yn troi’n gyson ac yn edrych yn ôl i wirio ei dennyn, Kashi oedd yn rheoli ac yn edrych yn debygol o gipio’r fuddugoliaeth hynod chwenychedig Marathon Eryri, ac ar ôl y dyrys cyd-drafodwyd disgyniad Bwlch y Groes aeth i mewn i stryd fawr Llanberis a’r llinell derfyn, i gipio buddugoliaeth wych mewn 2:39:51, gan godi tlws arian enwog Eryri mewn ton o orfoledd.
Y tu ôl roedd Rhodri Owen wedi defnyddio ei brofiad helaeth o redeg mynydd i dynnu oddi wrth Michael Taylor ar y disgyniad a chymryd yr ail safle trawiadol ar ei ymddangosiad cyntaf yn y marathon, gyda Taylor yn cipio safle olaf y podiwm gyda gwên enfawr – dim ond 70-eiliad oedd yn gwahanu’r tri dyn ar y llinell derfyn.
Wrth siarad â’r dorf wrth iddo groesi’r llinell dywedodd Dan Kashi blinedig:
“Rwyf wedi bod yn hunllef gartref a dyma fu’r ffocws i mi am y flwyddyn ddiwethaf. Roeddwn i’n cael trafferth yn y milltiroedd olaf a doeddwn i ddim yn gwybod a oeddwn i’n mynd i gyrraedd y diwedd, ond fe gyrhaeddais i ac rydw i mor hapus!”.
Tra bod y gwŷr blaen yn cymryd clod tyrfa fawr a gwerthfawrogol Llanberis, roedd Caroline Brock bellach yn mynd i mewn yr ychydig filltiroedd olaf ac er iddi gymryd cwymp neu ddwy ar ddisgyniad Bwlch y Groes, daliodd rhedwr y Steel City ei ffurf, a ei thennyn sylweddol, wrth fynd i mewn i bentref Llanberis.
Wrth anelu at y llinell derfyn roedd Brock wrth ei fodd yn llawn rhediad, gan dorri’r tâp yn 3:13:43. Mae’r amser bron yn amherthnasol fel y clod o gael ei choroni’n enillydd Marathon Eryri yn caniatáu i Caroline ymuno â rhai o fawrion rhedeg marathon Prydain.
Wrth siarad ar ôl y ras dywedodd:
“O, roedd yn gymaint o hwyl, rydw i’n caru’r lle hwn, fy nhro cyntaf. Roeddwn i’n ei galedu dros y ddringfa olaf honno ac yna syrthiais i lawr ar y llethr, sy’n ymddangos fel hawl tramwy yn y ras hon!”
Daeth Patterson i’r diwedd wrth iddi gipio ail safle ardderchog, gyda Llinos Jones yn rhedeg ail hanner wedi’i farnu’n dda iawn i ddod yn drydydd.
Roedd cydlynydd y ras, Jayne Lloyd, yn gwbl fodlon ar yr hyn a fu unwaith eto yn ras wych:
“Yn gyntaf, mae mor dda bod yn ôl, ar ôl tair blynedd hir! Mae’r gymuned wedi bod yn anhygoel ac rydym ni fel pwyllgor trefnu ras mor ddiolchgar i gymaint o bobl, o wirfoddolwyr, i staff, i noddwyr, am wneud iddo ddigwydd eleni.
“Rydw i bob amser yn dod i ffwrdd o’r penwythnos wedi’i ysbrydoli gan y rhedwyr, sydd yn just anhygoel. Dyma’r 17eg tro i mi ei threfnu a bob blwyddyn mae’n dal i fy llenwi â balchder o weld y miloedd o redwyr yn llenwi ffyrdd Eryri. Gwelsom ddau enillydd gwych yn Dan a Caroline heddiw, rhediadau gwirioneddol wych. Ond nid yw’r diwrnod hwn yn ymwneud ag enillwyr gwych yn unig, mae’n ymwneud â phobl wych, yn dod at ei gilydd am gymaint o resymau.”
5 Uchaf Ras y dynion
1 Daniel Kashi 2:39:51 Sale Harriers
2 Rhodri Owen 2:40:44 Clwb Rhedeg Meirionnydd
3 Michael Taylor 2:41:00 St Neots Rhedwyr Glan yr Afon
4 Johnny Suttle 2:44:05 Bristol & West AC
5 Michael Young 2:47:57 Gorllewin Swydd Gaer AC
5 Uchaf Ras y merched
1 Caroline Brock 3:13:43 Steele Striders City
2 Clare Patterson 3:19:09
3 Llinos Jones 3:21:49 Harriers Abertawe
4 Florence Roberts 3:24:44 Olympiaid Croesoswallt
5 Dee Jolly 3:25:51 Sarn Helen
