The Club's Ultra Marathon runner, Michael Betts' latest challenge was to take on the Sky Lakes Ultra Race, comprising 56Km of Lake District paths and trails, 4500m of climb with ropes in place for some of the steeper ascents, elevated ridgelines and steep rock scrambling. Described as a race not for the faint hearted and with deteriorating weather on the day, he overcame the conditions to finish in 11^th place in a time of 10 hours 16 minutes and 41 seconds, an impressive performance which will stand him in good stead for his appearance in the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc Race at Chamonix, now less than a month away.

There was a large contingent of Club runners at the Vic Musgrove Fast 5K Race, the penultimate fixture in the Telford Sexarathon Race Series, with Club Captain Luke Butler once again leading the side home in 29^th place, followed by Steve Waters and Connor Middleton in 30^th and 44^th place, both with personal best times. Kevin Francis and Pete Savill remain at the head of the Veteran Over 50 and 60 categories and Chris Wakeman 3^rd in the Veteran Over 55 category with one fixture left. Emily McBride finished 62^nd in the Women's race in her first Sexarathon race for the Club.

Vic Musgrove Results:

29 Luke Butler 17/03, 30 Steve Waters 17/04(PB), 44 Connor Middleton 17/25(PB), 48 Matt Guilder 17/42, 57 Robert Lisney 18/01, 66 Kevin Francis 18/22(3^rd Veteran Over 50), 73 Graham Jones 18/46(1^st Veteran Over 60), 82 Stewart Farley 19/18, 102 Pete Savill 19/50(2^nd Veteran Over 60), 115 Chris Wakeman 20/25(4^th Veteran Over 55), 143 Graham Parton 21/05, 180 Pete Butler 22/19, 293 Emily McBride 26/43.

The third fixture of the Midland Track and Field League Division 6 took place at Nuneaton, where the Club's Men's and Women's teams both finished third on the day. In the Men's match, there were victories for team manager James Hickinbottom in the 2000m Steeplechase A race and Javelin and Gabe Morris in the 2000m Steeplechase B race and the 4 x 400m relay squad comprising Jake Akindutire, Max Millerchip, Gabe Morris and Charlie Woolcock. In the Women's match, victories went to Eve Chidley in the 100m A race, Dora Tomlinson in the 100m B race and 200m B race and the 4 x 400m relay squad comprising Eve Chidley, Emily McBride, Dora Tomlinson and Louise Woolcock. The team are now placed second in the Series and can secure promotion with a good performance in the final fixture at Tamworth on Sunday.

Photo. Mike Betts in the Sky Lakes Ultra 2017