ON Saturday five Bere Alston Trekkers travelled to where the land ends and the high seas begin for the Bys Vyken’s Smugglers Scuttler – a pirate themed half marathon along the coast path from Land’s End to Cape Cornwall and back.

The event started from the famous Land’s End signpost in overcast weather with the runners unable to see their midway goal of Cape Cornwall, where Captain Bluebard was waiting to reward them with contraband. To get there, the runners had to follow the South West Coast Path which makes its way down into Sennen Cove via the First and Last House, Maen House and the wreck of the RMS Mulheim and Mayon Point before descending down into Sennen Cove. From here the runners ran along the South West Coast then over a short stretch of tarmac through Sennen Cove, before taking on sand dunes, sandy beach, flat trails, pebble beach, technical paths, rocky scrambles, slow climbs, switchbacks, steps and even cobbles before they reached the halfway point of Cape Cornwall – which as the cloud started to lift, afforded views to their finish destination of Land’s End.

Receiving their contraband from Captain Bluebard (rum, tea, coins and jewels) they were advised to guard their contraband from those who may seek to take it away from them – loss of contraband would result in a time penalty but consumption of rum would lead to disqualification. The route back to Land’s End was the reverse of the outward leg but now the descents were the climbs and the climbs the descents with the views improving as the weather – and temperatures lifted.

Porth Nanven, Nanquido Cove, and Gwynver Beach were all crossed off before arrival in Sennen Cove and the final long climb up to Mayon Point, before the undulating path to First and Last House with some added final zig zags to shake off the revenue men before the final ramp up to the finish.

The BATs had a great time in what was most certainly not a serious fast and flat half marathon but a well thought out fun themed event with numerous runners, marshals and supporters in fancy dress.

Finishing times were recorded with Martin Head being the first of the BATs back in a time of 2 hours 43 minutes 09 seconds, followed by Tanya Argue 3.05.08, Debbie Ashton 3.22.26, Hilary Head 4.13.07 and Fiona Maddock 4.14.33.