Race preview: 2nd Commonwealth Mountain and Ultra Distance Championships - North Wales, September 23-25, 2011
With just 80 days to go until the opening ceremony of the 2nd
Commonwealth Mountain and Ultra Distance Championships to be held in
North Wales on 23-25 September 2011, the countdown to the Championships
has begun in earnest - an event which will see over 200 athletes from 24
Commonwealth countries descend on Wales for a festival of international
running.
The three host venues of Llandudno (Conwy), Llanberis (Gwynedd) and
Newborough Forest (Ynys Mon) are deep in preparation to host the events and
yesterday leaders from the three Authorities’ events teams gathered in Newborough
Forest to lay out some of the plans for the three-day Championships.
The three spectacular north-west Wales locations will extend a weekend programme
of Championship and open races across the disciplines of road, mountain and trail
running, targeted at both local athletes and the visiting runners from the UK and
beyond.
The British Junior Mountain Running Championships will also be integrated into the
event, taking place on the Saturday (24 September) in Llanberis, and a series of
community and children’s activities and events will be scheduled in the period leading
up to the Championships as part of a weekend which will capture the imagination.
This week (7 July) will also see the launch of a brand new website –
www.cmudc2011.org, which will excite and inform as the countdown continues to the
opening event in Llandudno on 23rd September - the highest profile international
athletics event staged in Wales since the athletics component of the 1958
Commonwealth Games in Cardiff.
The new portal includes sections on the international races, information on how to
enter the host of Open events, links to the Championships’ Facebook and Twitter
pages, and an exciting pre-event video, which gives the viewer a flavour of what they
can expect.
Speaking about the plans Cllr Graham Rees, Portfolio Holder for Corporate
Modernisation at Conwy County Borough Council stated:
“Conwy County 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 Llandudno for at least four nights and as the event is run out of season
in late September, bringing great economic benefits.
“It is also great to working in conjunction with out friends at Gwynedd and Anglesey
councils, and we feel that inter-authority collaboration on these types of events can
only be good for the future of sport and our relations in general.”
The Welsh Government’s Major Events Unit is supporting the event in a public
sector partnership with Conwy, Gwynedd and Ynys Mon County Borough Councils
and is fully supported by the International Association of Ultra runners (IAU), the
World Mountain Running Association (WMRA), by the sports Governing bodies
Welsh Athletics and UK Athletics.
Gwynedd Council Leader, Councillor Dyfed Edwards stated:
“Our area boasts breathtaking scenery, from the peaks of Snowdonia to our miles of
beautiful coastline. Following on from major events such as Radio 1s Big Weekend,
this prestigious event will once again bring our area to the attention of a world-wide
audience and highlights the fact that Gwynedd is now one of the top destinations for
outdoor activities.
“As a Council, we are delighted that we have been able to work with the Welsh
Government, and our other partners to attract this major international sporting event
to Gwynedd and north-west Wales.”
Sian Mai Jones, Anglesey’s Principal Sports Development Officer said:
"The Isle of Anglesey is delighted to be playing its part in the biggest athletics event
hosted in North Wales. This prestigious festival of running represents an excellent
example of partnership working and will boost participation in sport and outdoor
activities, as well as the local economy.
“We look forward to welcoming the finest athletes from all parts of the
Commonwealth to the Island as they compete in the spectacular surroundings of
Newborough Forest."
Welsh Athletics have also been instrumental in event support and organisational
work at the three venues, their Head of Development Steve Brace added:
“This festival of endurance running follows on from recent Welsh Athletics success at
the Commonwealth Games in Delhi and we are delighted that a Commonwealth
Championships is now being hosted on home soil.
“Working with all three authorities, the IAU, CAMRU (Commonwealth Association of
Mountain and Ultra Distance Running) and of course the Welsh Government, has
been excellent in demonstrating to the rest of the Commonwealth what we are
capable of here in Wales”.
Finally, Norman Wilson, the Chairman of CAMRU, stated:
“We see the 2nd edition of the Commonwealth Championships in North Wales as an
amazing opportunity towards realising our goal of entering one each of the mountain
and ultra distance running disciplines into the Commonwealth Games. The initial
preparations for the championships have been outstanding so far, and the athletes,
along with the participating federations are looking forward to competing in these
very popular championships in their racing calendars.”
Check out www.cmudc2011.org/ for more information and a timetable of events
