MORE than 130 runners were out in the sunshine on Sunday (May 20) for the Wambrook Waddle, setting off from Tithe Barn, Cotley.

The participants were treated to a scenic route across some beautiful countryside around the Cotley Estate, thanks to the Eames family.

Chard Road Runners, who hosted the event and saw member James Loveridge come home first, were in action from Cotley to Romania this weekend.

First to cross the start line was Andrew Leeson, who set off at 7am from Taunton Locks on Saturday, for the Albion Running 100-mile West Country Ultra.

This off-road trail race saw Leeson take in canal, riverside and coastal paths at a well-controlled pace; the first 50 miles were near flat, along the canal from Taunton to Bridgwater and then following the River Parrett along the coast path to Steart Point.

Leeson entered Minehead with nearly 10 hours of running under his belt, then set off into the hillier second section of the race, with headtorch at the ready.

The torch lit his the way along the narrow coastal path through to Lynton, and it was now time to head back and up over Exmoor and its highest point Dunkery Beacon.

With the tinge of the sunrise ahead, Leeson was now picking off a number of places and heading into the top 10 runners.

Keeping a steady pace as the legs were tiring, he had great focus now on the finish line back in Minehead, with still a number of hills to go it was becoming a battle of wills as the sun rose. 

With the mileage counter topping the 100-mark, Leeson pushed to gain additional places and crossed the line in 25h 47m 46s – giving him a superb fourth place.

The next outing for CRRs was to Romania and the Transylvanian 50 and 20k challenges, which were best detailed as mountainous.

So it was with some nerves that Fiona McLean headed off from the backdrop of a castle to take to the trails and paths climbing out of the valley.

With the weather a mix of storm and rain, the haunting backdrops were all the better to keep up a good pace, and with the finish line appearing through the mist McLean crossed the line in 4:16:15, eighth in her category.

Next off the line, in the same setting, was Rod Mclean, who was taking on the 50k race with 3,320m of ascent.

A level head on the climbs was a must, and in the first few miles he had to adjust to the worsening conditions and keep a steady pace through the forest trails.

More ascents and technical paths followed, before a more pleasant decent back towards the finish, and a final push to the line saw Mclean (below) gain a time of 8:05:43 (21st, fourth in his category).    

Chard & Ilminster News:

Wambrook Waddle Results:
10k adult race (top 10 of 69)
1. 00:42:55 - Wayne Loveridge
2. 00:45:39 - Kyle Oliver
3. 00:47:56 - Paul Card
4. 00:51:15 - Matt Powell
5. 00:51:52 - Danny Doyle
6. 00:52:46 - Paul Thomas
7. 00:53:55 - Tom Wallace
8. 00:54:51 - Stuart Gold
9. 00:56:28 - Shaun Howells
10. 00:56:34 - Lynn Hutchings
2k junior race (top 10 of 58)
1. 00:08:00 - Jack Harvey
2. 00:08:11 - Jenson Freer
3. 00:08:12 - Louis Dann
4. 00:08:48 - Emie Shorten
5. 00:08:50 - Harry Appleton
6. 00:08:51 - Flynn Smith
7. 00:08:51 - Edward Sherman
8. 00:08:53 - Darcie Cockburn
9. 00:08:58 - Alice Shepherd
10. 00:09:05 - Kendra Druce