THE Bere Alston Trekkers were out in force at the Buckland Bounder this weekend with 11 members taking on this scenic local multi-terrain race.

First over the line for the BATs was club chairman Martin Head in 55 minutes 17 seconds followed by Dave Adams 1 hour 02.39, Ben Saul 1.04.48 followed by the first BAT lady Debbie Ashton and husband Paul in 1.08.57, Susan Williams 1.12.54, Melissa Pinfield 1.12.54, Pam Adams 1.15.21Natasha and Shaun Hingston 1.17.44, and Samantha Harte-Latremouille and Hilary Head 1.21.49.

Meanwhile, solo BAT Marcia Macey ran the Coleton Footacher, hosted by South Devon Athletics Club. The race was founded in 2016, and takes place along the coast path from the beautiful Coleton Fishacre estate.

The 6.3 mile course takes runners from outside the National Trust house before switching to trails which descend towards the coast path. Once off the coast path participants are rewarded during various climbs and falls by stunning sea and coastal views before dropping down to the World War two gun batteries at Forward Point. A climb up away from the coast and a drop back down through the fields brings the runners to the final stretch up through the gardens of one of the top five National Trust gardens in the UK. Marcia completed the course in 1.21.00.

Northern BAT Andy Cowden ran in the 14th edition of the ‘Potter’s Arf’ half marathon around the potteries of Stoke on Trent.

A renowned tough hilly route which replaced the full Potteries Marathon in 2005, and incorporating the infamous ‘Heartbreak Hill’ around mile 11 (3/4 of a mile of purgatory for tired legs), Andy finished in 1.56.30 running in very warm conditions with several runners needing medical treatment en route in this iconic race. The event saw more than 1,900 competitors cross the line, and a new course record being set in 1.06.42 notwithstanding the very hot running conditions.