BERE Alston Trekkers were racing on foot and on bikes this weekend, on road, trail and coastal paths.

Saturday saw six of the BATs at the Muski Madne5.5 - hosted by Plymouth Musketeers Running Club which this year was raising money for the British Heart Foundation. This popular and well organised race follows a route which starts and finishes at King’s Tamerton Community Centre in Plymouth. The first BAT over the line was Julie Page in 46.20, followed by a course PB for Martin Head in 47 minutes 59 seconds, Peter Kenvin 48.05, Sam Harte-Latremouille 53.04, Fran Morgan 57.23 and a massive six minute off her personal best for Hilary Head in 1 hour 03 minutes 32 seconds. The BAT ladies team was placed third overall.

On Sunday, intrepid BATs Julian Setterington, Jennie Smith, Rachel Wood and Lisa Birch were accompanied by Laura Hogan at the aptly named Bude Beast. This 30 mile coastal event is staged by the Cornwall and Devon Long Distance Walkers Association and is becoming a popular fixture for runners as well as walkers.

This self navigation route started from Bude Rugby Club, and includes extensive and breath-taking sections of the South West Coast Path, wooded valleys, rolling fields and public footpaths as well as bridle ways. All BATs completed the course, and enjoyed a post-event cream tea provided by the LDWA.

For those BATs not running this weekend, there was the option of competing in the Dartmoor Classic Cyclosportive, organised by the Mid-Devon Cycling Club, with a choice of three routes, the 107 mile (172 km) Grande, the 65 mile (108 Km) Medio, and the 36 mile (57 km) Piccolo.

Taking on the Medio this year was lady BAT Emma Dooney, in preparation for her forthcoming 173 mile charity cycle ride to north Devon and back in aid of Brain Tumour Research. Emma completed the Medio in 5.28.33. Husband and wife Paul and Kate Glanville tackled the Piccolo, finishing in 2.16.57 and 2.52.14 respectively, and both qualifying for gold medals, as did Marcia Macey who also completed the Piccolo, gaining a gold medal for her efforts.

Northern BATs Angelo and Sara Apa took on the five mile JCB Mud Run, an event which has quickly grown to be one of the most challenging and fun obstacle races in the midlands.

What started as a one-off charity event in 2012, attracting 500 fun runners, has now become an annual fixture for JCB’s filthy followers. Staged at the beautiful JCB Estate in the heart of the Staffordshire country-side, this race included woods, rivers, inclines, peat, grass – and of course the obligatory mud – and participants scale a big wall, climb over cargo nets and through underground pipes, clamber over hay stacks, tackle monkey bars and the infamous bog of doom. Angelo and Sara finished their muddy race in 1.44.29.