2026 Race Report
Snowman Triathlon 2026 Delivers Epic Racing in True Snowman Conditions
The Snowman Triathlon returned this weekend for its 2026 edition and, after months of dry, sunny weather, it certainly lived up to its reputation by bringing wet and windy conditions. The ever-changing weather only added to the dramatic backdrop of Eryri's stunning mountains, creating the true Snowman experience. This year, we were also proud to support the Mountain Adventure Fund, our official headline charity partner.
The day began with the Legend Triathlon, as athletes took to the waters of Llynnau Mymbyr, which measured a surprisingly warm 20.1°C on race morning. Throughout the day, competitors also tackled the Standard Triathlon, Aquabike, which hosted the Welsh National Championships – the Sprint Triathlon, Sprint Duathlon, and two open water swim events: a 1500m Swim and the challenging 2.4 Mile Swim.
While the rain and wind remained for much of the day, the welcoming atmosphere at Plas y Brenin, the National Mountain Centre, ensured competitors and spectators alike enjoyed the event. The venue provided plenty of shelter, hot food and drinks, and spectacular views across the lake and mountains, allowing supporters to cheer on athletes as they took on one of the UK's most iconic triathlon courses.
LEGEND TRIATHLON
At 7am, the Legend athletes launched the day's racing, taking to the waters of Llynnau Mymbyr wearing their signature pink swim caps.
Kit Walker produced a dominant performance from start to finish to take victory in 5:36:11. He was first out of the water with a swim of 29:25, then extended his advantage with the fastest bike split of 2:47:25, entering T2 with a commanding lead. Although Sam Smitheman recorded a strong all-round race to finish second in 6:47:53, and Ciaran Dorrity set the second-fastest bike split to claim third in 6:50:46, neither was able to challenge Walker's lead. Walker also backed up his swim and bike with the fastest run of 2:13:05 to complete a comprehensive wire-to-wire victory
Carys Mai Hughes led the women's race from the opening swim and never looked back, claiming the title in 6:45:37. Hughes exited the water first in 40:38 before producing the fastest bike split of 3:38:05, although Lucy Cartwright stayed within touching distance after the bike thanks to her consistent ride. On the run, Hughes sealed the victory with another leading performance, crossing the line over 15 minutes ahead of Cartwright, who finished second in 7:00:43. Katie Beecher completed the podium in 7:25:28 after a steady race throughout.
STANDARD TRIATHLON
The action continued at 8am as the Standard Triathlon athletes took to the water, ready to tackle the iconic Snowman course.
Damo Littlewood delivered a superb front-running performance to claim the Standard Triathlon title in 3:55:02. After emerging near the front of the swim, Littlewood took control on the bike with the fastest split of 2:05:48, opening up a decisive advantage over the chasing pack. Grant Little moved into second thanks to a strong all-round performance and the fastest run of the day (1:12:46), but despite closing the gap, he finished 8 minutes 31 seconds behind the winner. Mark Daniels completed the podium in 4:04:47 after recording the second-fastest bike split (2:10:52), while Tim Webster remained in contention throughout to finish fourth.
Ellie Griffin led the women's race from the very start and never relinquished her advantage, taking victory in 4:59:33. Griffin was first out of the water with a 24:45 swim before producing the fastest bike split (2:52:31) to build a comfortable lead heading into the run. Anna Lawrence remained her closest challenger throughout, but despite matching Griffin's run pace almost exactly, she crossed the line 9 minutes 40 seconds behind in second place. Lara Groves completed the podium in 5:49:22 after a consistent performance across all three disciplines
AQUABIKE
Hosting the Welsh National Aquabike Championships, the Aquabike athletes also took to the water at 8am alongside the Standard Triathlon competitors.
Andrew Bourner produced a commanding performance to take the Aquabike title in 2:37:48. He was first out of the water with the fastest swim of 24:53 before backing it up with the quickest bike split of 2:11:19, leading from start to finish. Justin Phillips rode strongly to secure second place in 2:49:19, while Tomos Edwards completed the podium in 2:51:45 after recording the third-fastest bike split. Rikki Barratt also impressed on the bike with the second-fastest split of 2:23:11, but was just edged out of the podium to finish fifth overall.
Jasmine Bowyer was in complete control of the women's race from the outset, producing the fastest swim (27:35) before extending her advantage with the quickest bike split of 2:49:00 to claim victory in 3:18:37. Bridget Ripley held second place throughout to finish in 3:33:40, while Gwenno Lloyd Jones completed the podium in 3:36:00 after a consistent performance across both disciplines. Natalie Fulstow and Lynne Griffiths rounded out the top five following strong rides on the challenging Snowman course.
SPRINT TRIATHLON
The Sprint Triathlon got underway at 9am, with athletes taking on a 750m swim, followed by a 27.1km bike ride and a 6.3km run.
Huw Jack Brassington produced a dominant performance to take the Sprint Triathlon title in 1:51:34. Having won the very first Snowman Sprint Triathlon back in 2012, before returning to claim the title again in 2023, Brassington once again proved his class by leading from start to finish. He set the tone with the fastest swim of 13:39 before extending his advantage on the bike with the quickest split of 51:49, leaving the rest of the field chasing. John Connolly held second throughout thanks to a consistent race across all three disciplines, while Joe Symonds moved into third with a strong run after exiting the swim further back. Brassington completed a faultless performance by also recording the fastest run split of 43:36, sealing another memorable Snowman victory.
Claire Donnelly led the women's race from start to finish to claim victory in 2:14:31. Following in the footsteps of her sister, Catrin Donnelly, who won the Sprint Triathlon at Snowman last year, Claire produced an equally impressive performance. She was first out of the water with a 15:48 swim before extending her lead on the bike with a strong 1:03:15 split. Nicola Parry posted the fastest women's bike split of 1:00:42 to reduce the deficit, but Donnelly responded with the fastest run of the day (52:06) to comfortably secure the win. Nicola Parry finished second in 2:33:47, while Natalie Wynne completed the podium in 2:39:58 after a consistent performance across all three disciplines.
SPRINT DUATHLON
The Sprint Duathlon also got underway at 9am, with athletes taking on a 2.3km opening run, followed by a 27.1km bike ride and a 6.3km finishing run.
Joshua Clarida-Royle claimed victory in the Sprint Duathlon with an impressive time of 1:49:38. After conceding a handful of seconds to Gerwyn Roberts on the opening run, Clarida-Royle moved into the lead during the bike leg, recording the fastest split of 50:52. Despite receiving a 30-second penalty for failing to put a foot down at the mandatory stop, he held on to secure the win by 1 minute 46 seconds. Roberts finished second after setting the fastest opening run of 10:11, while Stuart White completed the podium in 1:54:08 following a consistent performance throughout.
Brooklyn Wright produced a commanding performance to take the women's Sprint Duathlon title in 2:12:00. She led from the opening run, setting the fastest first run (12:09), before extending her advantage on the bike with the quickest split of 1:00:54. Wright rounded off her race with the fastest second run of 55:35, securing a comfortable victory. Ashleigh Dean finished second in 2:31:24 after a consistent race across all three stages, while Dana Licakova claimed third place in 3:08:16.
SWIM RACES
The Snowman weekend also featured two open water swim events, with competitors taking on either the 1500m Swim or the challenging 2.4 Mile Swim in the stunning waters of Llyn member In the 1500m Swim, Gareth Catherall was first out of the water to claim the open title in 24:23, ahead of Gethin Davies (29:27) and Tim Storey (29:52). The women's race was incredibly close, with Charlotte Sellers taking victory in 27:10, just 18 seconds ahead of Maria Taggart (27:28), while Kirsty Walker completed the podium in 27:52.
The longer 2.4 Mile Swim saw Finan Close produce a dominant display to take the open title in 55:50, finishing over three minutes clear of Blue Whittaker (59:03), with Paul Guest rounding out the podium in 1:00:03. In the women's race, Lucy Clark claimed victory in 1:16:46, narrowly holding off Eleanor Upham (1:17:27), while Shelley Hemsley secured third place in 1:20:22.
Brian Corcoran, race director said
"Snowman never fails to live up to its reputation as one of the toughest triathlons in the UK. The weather certainly threw everything at our competitors this year, but that's all part of what makes this event so special.
From the swim in Llynnau Mymbyr to the iconic bike course and the spectacular run around Moel Siabod, there really is nowhere else quite like it. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking, but it's a course that demands respect every step of the way.
I'd like to say a huge thank you to every athlete who took on the challenge, as well as our incredible volunteers and marshals who stood out in the rain and wind all day to make sure the event could happen safely. Their commitment is what makes events like this possible. I'd also like to thank the fantastic team at Plas y Brenin for once again being outstanding hosts and providing such a welcoming base for competitors, supporters and our event team throughout the weekend."
Selected 2026 Snowman Triathlon, Duathlon, Aquabike & Swim Results
Sprint Triathlon
🏆 Open Category
1. Huw Jack Brassington 1:51:34
2.John Connolly 2:03:05
3. Joe Symonds 2:13:05
🏅 Female Category
1.Claire Donnelly 2:14:31
2.Nicola Parry 2:33:47
3. Natalie Wynne 2:39:58
Sprint Duathlon
🏆 Open Category
1. Joshua Clarida - Royle 1:49:38
2. Gerwyn Roberts 1:51:24
3. Stuart White 1:54:08
🏅 Female Category
1. Brooklyn Wright 2:12:00
2. Ashleigh Dean 2:31:24
3. Dana Licakova 3:08:16
Standard Triathlon
🏆 Open Category
1. Damo Littlewood 3:55:02
2. Grant Little 4:03:33
3. Mark Daniels 4:04:47
🏅 Female Category
1. Ellie Griffin 4:49:33
2. Anna Lawrence 5:09:13
3. Lara Groves 5:49:22
Standard Aquabike
🏆 Open Category
1. Andrew Bourner 2:37:48
2. Justin Phillips 2:49:19
3. Tomos Edwards 2:51:45
🏅 Female Category
1. Jamie Bowyer 3:18:37
2. Bridget Ripley 3:33:40
3. Gwenno Lloyd Jones 3:36:00
Legend Triathlon:
🏆 Open Category
1. Kit Walker 5:36:11
2. Sam Smitheman 6:47:53
3. Ciaran Dorrity 6:50:46
🏅 Female Category
1. Carys Mai Hughes 6:45:37
2. Lucy Cartwright 7:00:43
3. Katie Beecher 7:25:28
1500m Swim
🏆 Open Category
1. Gareth Catherall 24:23
2. Gethin Davies 29:27
3. Tim Storey 29:52
🏅 Female Category
1. Charlotte Sellers 27:10
2. Maria Taggart 27:28
3. Kirsty Walker 27:52
2.4 mile Swim
🏆 Open Category
1. Finan Close 55:50
2. Blue Whittaker 59:03
3. Paul Guest 1:00:03
🏅 Female Category
1. Lucy Clark 1:16:46
2. Eleanor Upham 1:17:27
3. Shelley Hemsley 1:20:22