4th IAU Trail World Championships – media release – POST EVENT report

World Championship trail running event pronounced an ‘outstanding success’

12 July 2013 – Following a festival of trail running which saw home success for Great Britain and Wales, the 4th IAU Trail World Championships in Llanrwst have closed with all parties declaring the event a huge success.

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

There was to be 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.

Welsh Athletics and the Conwy Sport Development teams also looked to the future, as they facilitated a roster of free-to-enter junior events and family fun run.

Whilst the world’s best were out on the course taking part in the gruelling event, organisers ensured that supporters and families were entertained throughout the day with a free climbing wall, bouldering cubes, plus high ropes and mountain bike courses for those with energy to burn.

With a large amount of participation from the press and media from around Europe the reaction was extremely positive, with some superb coverage and a TV highlights 30-minute program which will feature on Channel 4, Eurosport and Sky, to be first broadcast by Channel 4 on August 4th, at 7-30am with a repeat on Channel 4+1, 830am.

The programme will also be aired at later dates on Sky and British Eurosport and following the Channel 4 broadcast the programme will be distributed throughout the world.

During the closing ceremony Steve Brace, on behalf of the Welsh Athletics team of staff, officials and volunteers was awarded an IAU Order of Merit Trophy by IAU (International Association of Ultrarunners ) president Dirk Strumane, a fitting award to round-off the hugely successful staging of the event.

Speaking about the Championships Councillor Graham Rees, Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Marketing & Leisure at Conwy County Borough Council, stated:

“We were thrilled with the participation of 18 countries. The event was well supported locally and our guests from countries far and wide received that famous warm, Welsh welcome. Many teams travelled with their own support networks including family and friends, some for a whole week, so the economic benefit the event has brought is obvious. Another great event for Conwy County, I’m very proud.”

An understandably satisfied Steve Brace, Welsh Athletics Head of Endurance Athletics said: “The success of the IAU World Trail Championships is a testament to the partnership working between the IAU and the local organising committee, especially Conwy County Borough Council whose expertise and knowledge of bringing such events to fruition is second to none. “Feedback from athletes has been unanimously positive about all aspects of the weekend, from the accommodation and transport to the race course itself, which lived up to all expectation. The worldwide media coverage of the World Trail Championships will also further enhance the reputation of CCBC and the partner organisations. “A final thanks must go to the volunteers for their hard work and to the community of Llanrwst, who welcomed the World Trail Championships with open arms and helped make it a truly world class event.“

Director

of

Communications

at

the

IAU

Nadeem

Khan,

added:

"The 4th Trail World Championships were an outstanding display of good athletic performances, exceptional organisation and superb support of the local residents. The local organising committee led by Conwy County Borough Council and Welsh Athletics, did an phenomenal job putting trail running on the ultrarunning map this weekend.

“We, as the IAU, were very pleased with the outcome and so were the athletes comprising of eighteen different member federations. We look forward to returning to the region in the future for another world championships."

With a great deal of success on a sporting level for the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team, a rightly pleased Cherry Alexander, Major Events Director at British Athletics, said:

“We are very pleased for our colleagues working on the festival of trail running that it was such a huge success this weekend.

“Continually staging world class events across the range of events within athletics is hugely important, and it is down the exceptional organization of the local organising committee led by Conwy County Borough Council and Welsh Athletics that it was such a success for the sport.”

The Championships were supported by the Welsh Government in a public sector partnership with Conwy and the Minister for the Economy, Edwina Hart, concludes:

"I'd like to congratulate all partners involved in staging such a successful event over the weekend. The location proved to be winner and worked well for the home team with GB providing the mens winner, first men's team and women's bronze medals. I'm sure that the other 18 nations which participated will have seen Wales at it's best in the weekend's sunshine.

“Trail running is one of the large growth areas in the sport around the world and the UK, and Wales as a nation is well placed to play a large part. I hope that future events will be held in the area to build on the momentum that was created last weekend."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

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

For further media and communications enquiries contact Matt Ward on (0)7515 558670 or email [email protected]