Shropshire fell runners were out in force at the 31st running of the event with Shrewsbury AC (having their club weekend), Telford AC, Mercia & Shropshire Shufflers.

On the International front Tim Davies (Mercia), Roland Stafford (Mercia) & Anna Bartlett (Shrewsbury AC) were all representing Wales.

Tim Davies had to settle for 2nd overall this year being lead home by England's Andi Jones. Michael James also had a good run considering he had just returned from Hoildays.

Louise Taylor of Telford AC had a fantastic debut in the race finishing 6th female overall & 1st Open female, being beaten by the 3 English girls & 2 Scottish team members. Louise clocked 1hr 25mins & admitted to suffering from stitch after reaching the summit with the change in pace possibly causing the problem.

Anna finished well for Wales inside 1hr 30mins.

Other Telford AC finishers were Lee Aston, inside 1hr 30mins & Andy Smith 1hr 48mins (still awaiting a return of form)

Andy & Lee were feeling jaded from Paul Sandersons wedding celebration party the night before after drinking 4 pints of not to great hotel beer & then downing large quantities of water to try & reduce the effect - We can state that this does not work!

As the race start grew ever closer Lou withdrew into herself by such an extent that we had to send out search parties to find her!!

Pre race banter with the Shroppy fell runners ended up with Tim Davies wishing us all good luck for the race, but shouldn't it be us wishing him luck!!

As the hooter sounded Lou & Lee shot off up the road leaving Smiffy to chuff his way up on his own sounding & feeling more like the old smokey train about to depart from the station.

When he eventually reached 'Butty Boy' (Mike Smith) who was taking pictures a short way up the mountain track, he stepped to one side to announce that he wouldn't be going all the way as his boiler was about to expire & carried on with his Saturday afternoon stroll.

The camera helicopter overhead showed exactly where the leaders were & when we could expect to see them making their death defying plunge off the hill. Lou came down first trying to practice for the gurning competition & whinging away saying her tummy hurt, whilst big-man Lee put on his hard-man face & proceeded to carve his way through the field.

As for me, well with all the excitement of cheering my mates on I got my second wind, passed quite a few folk on the way to summit & then did the same on the way back down. Until that is ran I out of steam (unlike the train) with about 1.5miles to go, then me shoe lace came undone so I had stop for that & then I needed a pee, so I stopped for that as well, eventually I made it across the line.

The funniest comment of the day though goes to Butty-Boy who announced that he'll be running the event next year to which both Smiffy & Lee pledged hard cash to him if he finishes inside the cut-off time…….watch this space, lar, lar, lar….! - To date he hasn't started training.