A TEAM of 12 Bere Alston Trekkers (Bats) took on the Mud Crew Roseland August Trail in Cornwall on Saturday.

The races are named the plague, black, red and white rat. The black route 32 miles, the red route 22 miles, the white route 11 miles and the plague (green) 100 kilometres (64 miles).

The plague starts and finishes in Porthpean and the other distances are all bussed to their start points to make their way back to Porthpean.

No matter the distance all races were extremely brutal, with steep ascents and descents, narrow paths, and hundreds of steep steps - each route the terrain getting harder the closer to the finish.

Completing any distance was a challenge. Over 64 miles the plague saw runners gain approximately 10,000 feet of ascent, half that for the black rat, 3,500 on the red rat and 2,100 feet on the white rat.

Plague runners were Francis Dix, who finished in 16 hours 46 minutes 09 seconds; Murray Turner and Rachel Wood both started the event but unfortunately had to retire for medical reasons — Rachel after 2.32.19 and Murray, well past the half way point after 36 miles in 10.09.27.  The plague is such a challenge that about 25% of all starters were unable to complete.

Sam Lake finished the black rat in 6.13.56 to become the fourth lady home. Sarah Cohen finished in 9.59.10.

Fran Morgan was the only BAT to take on the red rat, finishing in 5.13.14.

Matthew Head finished the white rat in an incredible time of 1.38.06, in 10th position overall. Andy Bowden finished in 2.11.38, Martin Head in 2.17.30, Emma Dooney and Mel Greaves in 3.04.57 and Hilary Head in 3.35.14.

The club congratulated all the Bats who took part in this tough challenge and on such a warm day.