IN true festive spirit six members of Bere Alston Trekkers (Bats) completed the Mud Crew Cornwall Physio Scrooge last weekend. 

Getting into the festive spirit, fancy dress was a must — this was later enhanced by the St Tropez style tan which all runners acquired during the first mud bath.  Murray Turner embraced this in a positively 'hippo' style by wallowing through the mud much to the disgust of any other runners who happened to be in the vicinity.

The race ran through land at the Lost Gardens of Heligan, near Mevigissey, some of which the public never have access to. It consisted of nine miles of trail and, in true Mud Crew style, a splattering of mud and a few little water features.

It was plenty of mud and extremely slippery most of the way and even 'quicksand' mud trying to suck trainers off. Water trenches and rivers were also throughout the route together with trees to climb over or duck under.  There were hills, some almost vertical, but being Mud Crew, no climbing rope was provided.

There were shrieks all round as the water level went slightly above the thigh.  As the quicksand mud loomed all Bats survived and continued the run with their trainers still on their feet and despite brambles everywhere and numerous slips and trips Team Bat finished alive.

The Scrooge is a well organised event which was enjoyed by all.

Also running this weekend were Sarah and Jason Burns who took part in the Torrington Christmas Caper which is another challenging multi-terrain run in the South West, covering nine miles and featuring as much of the mud, hills, woods, rivers, forests and country lanes Torrington has to offer. Well done to both Bats taking part with Sarah finishing second lady overall.