2026 Race Report

25km Race – Elite Field Delivers

With the combined 25km and shortened 40km fields, the men’s race was fast from the outset. Early splits show an aggressive opening, with several runners hitting the first checkpoint (4.6km) in sub-20 minutes.

Men’s Race

At the front, Grigore-Alexandru Homei took control of the race with a composed and consistent performance, pulling clear to take victory in 2:40:41 . His pacing was notable, sitting close to the leaders early before gradually stretching the field from mid-race onwards, particularly between 14.9km and 20.2km where gaps began to open decisively.

Behind him, Seppo Tusa and Tomos Foulkes completed the podium in 2:46:15 and 2:47:03 respectively. Tusa’s race was characterised by a strong middle section, moving through the field after a slightly steadier start, while Foulkes stayed consistently in contention throughout.

The depth of the field was evident, with multiple runners still breaking three hours despite the winter conditions and altered course.

Women’s Race

The women’s race saw a standout performance from Beth Bye, who claimed victory in 3:16:13. Her race was built on steady progression, moving through checkpoints with control rather than early aggression, and showing experience on the steeper sections.

She was followed by Olivia Howe (3:29:06) and Kate Sealy (3:35:15), with strong competition across both senior and veteran categories .

Race Dynamics

The split data tells the story of a race that rewarded patience. Early leaders at 4.6km and 6.4km did not always hold position, with significant reshuffling through the middle checkpoints (9–14km). The decisive moves came late, particularly on the longer climbs and technical descents in the final third of the course.

15km Race – Fast and Competitive

The 15km race delivered a sharp and exciting contest, with a strong field pushing the pace from the gun.

Men’s Race

Just behind, Henry Hague and Tom Morley battled for the podium, finishing in 1:41:33 and 1:42:10 respectively. Hague in particular showed strong mid-race pacing, staying close at 6.4km before securing second place.

Women’s Race

The women’s race was won by Bethan Hague in 1:54:12, placing an impressive 7th overall. Her performance was one of the standout runs of the day, especially given the depth of the men’s field.

She was followed by Olivia Bramwell (1:56:18) and Jude Pyves (2:21:28), the latter also taking the F50 category.

Race Flow

The 15km splits show fast starts to the first checkpoint at 4.6km, followed by a gradual attrition through the middle section. Runners who managed effort through the 6.4km–9.1km segment were best placed to finish strongly, with several positions changing late in the race.

A Race Defined by Conditions

While the absence of the Skyline route was disappointing, the adapted format created something unique. The combined 25km field brought together athletes who would normally be spread across distances, raising the competitive level across the board.

Despite the lower-level route, conditions remained challenging, with cold temperatures and extremely wet underfoot conditions ensuring this was never a “fast” race in the traditional sense.

Instead, it became a day of tactical racing, smart pacing and resilience; exactly what fell running is all about.

Sian Williams, Event Manager for this event, said

"Events like this remind us what mountain running is really about. The conditions this year forced us to make some difficult decisions on the routes, but what stood out was how every runner embraced the changes without hesitation. There was a real sense of adaptability out on the course, with people adjusting their expectations and racing what was in front of them.

More than that, there was a brilliant atmosphere of camaraderie all day. Whether it was at checkpoints, out on the hills, or at the finish, runners were looking out for each other and sharing the experience. That spirit is exactly what this event is built on, and it was fantastic to see it in full display despite the challenges.

Days like this really highlight the importance of the team behind the scenes. Our mountain leaders, marshals and volunteers showed incredible professionalism and care throughout, adapting to the conditions and making sure every runner was supported and safe out on the course. From the checkpoints to the summits, their encouragement, vigilance and commitment never wavered, and we simply couldn’t deliver an event like this without them.”

Selected 2026 Ogwen | Yr Helgi Du Results