Always Aim High Events has issued a statement following the cancellation of four major races in Eryri (Snowdonia) last weekend, including the Snowdonia Trail Marathon and Yr Wyddfa 24 (Snowdon24). The events were scheduled for Saturday and Sunday but were called off shortly before they were due to begin, leaving hundreds of participants frustrated.
Events Cancelled Due to Extreme Heat
The races affected were the Yr Wyddfa/Snowdon24, Trail 10K Eryri, Snowdonia Trail Marathon Eryri, and Snowdonia Trail Half Marathon Eryri. At 8.15pm on Friday, July 10, the company announced on social media that all events were cancelled, with registered participants contacted by email. No further explanation was provided at that time, though many speculated the hot and dry weather forecast was the cause.
One competitor said: "The reason so many of the Snowdon24 runners were frustrated is the company actually gave the race the go-ahead in an email sent at 12.12pm on the Friday - then cancelled hours later. In that time so many of us travelled to Llanberis only to arrive to find the race cancelled."
Safety Assessment Led to Decision
In a statement to North Wales Live, Always Aim High Events explained that the decision was made after a final safety meeting at 6pm on Friday. The meeting considered reports from the on-mountain safety team, advice from partner agencies and the event Medical Director, and high-resolution weather forecasts. On-course monitoring revealed actual temperatures higher than predicted, reaching up to 34°C.
The company said: "The event's safety assessment is based on the risks associated with a mass participation event, rather than the capabilities of individuals. The decision was made with the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved as the overriding priority, including participants, volunteers, staff and emergency services."
Risk of Exertional Heat Illness
The event Medical Director highlighted the significant risk of exertional heat illness under the anticipated conditions. Exertional heat illness occurs when the body cannot dissipate heat generated during prolonged physical activity, with risk increasing as exposure time and exercise intensity increase. In severe cases, immediate cooling is essential. Given the remote course, the time required to access and evacuate participants, and the additional pressure on emergency services, the ability to respond effectively to multiple heat-related casualties would be significantly challenged.
After carefully assessing the combined risks, Always Aim High Events concluded the event could not be delivered safely. The decision was made at 7pm, and participants were informed of the cancellation at 7.30pm.
