ON Saturday, 12 Bere Alston Trekkers (BATs) travelled to Porthpean, Cornwall, to take on the RAT!

The RAT – Roseland August Trail Race Series – is a series of challenging coastal runs along the stunning South Cornwall Coastal Path. Hosted by Mud Crew, it incorporates four different routes.

The black route 32 miles, the red route 22 miles, the white route 11 miles and the plague (green) 100K – 64 miles! All these routes follow the same part of coastline, with runners from different routes joining each other at different points along the way. The route takes competitors through stunning coastal scenery, over undulating paths, through fields, villages, quaint harbours, headlands and surrounding countryside –and with glorious August weather which, after an overcast start, saw mid-day sunshine, little breeze and temperatures of 25C — it certainly was not an event for the faint hearted!

The Plague starts at five past midnight on Saturday morning, with the runners going out the 32miles to St Anthony’s Head on the coast path in the dark, before turning around and heading back to Porthpean.

Murray Turner conquered it in 19hrs and 5mins and on finishing he was heard to say ’that was a long way!’.

The Red RAT sees the runners bussed down the coast to Portloe and they start the 20miles run back to Porthpean at 11am. Matthew Head was the first BAT home in 11th place overall, accompanied by Sam Lake (Tavistock Athletic Club and second claim BAT) who was first lady, in 3hrs 39mins.

The other BATs over this distance were Martin Head 05.15, Mel Greaves and Laura Hogan 06.11 and Hilary Head 07.41.

For the White RAT, the runners are bussed to Gorran Haven where at 1pm they start the run back to Porthpean. Pam and Dave Adams were the first BATs back in 2hrs 38mins followed by Julie Page and Lisa Birch 02.47 and Julian Setterington and Fiona Maddock 03.18.