Challenging 8 Weeks In Snowdonia Leads Ifan Richards To Victory

Following eight weeks of challenges against the backdrop of Snowdonia, 10 contestants in S4C’s Ar y Dibyn have been whittled down to one, with the winner Ifan Richards announced on last night’s programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ifan received a prize worth £10,000 in outdoor leadership qualifications; outdoor equipment and a choice of adventure expedition. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The programme is presented by Year of Adventure Ambassador, Lowri Morgan and Outdoor Leader Dilwyn Sanderson-Jones. Over the past eight weeks they’ve been putting the contestants through their paces which has included – climbing, abseiling, rowing to name but a few activities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As the second series takes place during Wales’ Year of Adventure, Cwmni Da worked with Visit Wales on a marketing focused challenge for the contestants. In the penultimate programme, the remaining three were tasked to create an adventure film which captured what adventure in Wales means to them and which would inspire others to seek adventure in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mari Stevens, Director of Marketing at Visit Wales judged the three films and although the three films will be used as part of Visit Wales’ Find your Epic campaign, Ifan’s film was chosen as the winner. The film will appeal to those who are seeking extreme adventure in Wales and would work well at a targeted market. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During the final, the remaining contestants, Ifan and Seimon went head to head with challenges such as pulling themselves across a rope in a waterfall, a fitness test on the coast and a challenging sailing task. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Secretary for the Economy and Infrastructure, Ken Skates congratulated the winner, and said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Ar y Dibyn has been a real showcase for what Wales has to offer as an adventure destination and I’d like to congratulate Ifan on his hard work and determination to be named as the winner of this second series. The Year of Adventure in Wales has been about proving Wales’ credentials as a world-class outdoor destination and Ifan’s work will help us in promoting the breadth of what’s available in Wales. The final also comes during the week where the Lonely Planet has named north Wales as one of the top ten places in world to visit during 2017, north Wales’ adventure offer is what caught the eye of Lonely Planet – which has also been highlighted during the series.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​