TEN Tavistock Athletic Club runners took Saturday night off to go running instead of dancing and conquer the Plymouth Musketeers race, Muskie Madness.

The 5.5-mile course started and finished at Kings Tamerton on the north side of Plymouth. The extremely undulating course dropped further into the darkest depths of Plymouth by venturing through Ham woods before climbing up to Burrington Way industrial estate, then re-entering the woods again at Honicknowle Lane. Runners headed west through the woods and the houses of Ham before climbing for almost a mile up the steep hill back to King's Tamerton.

Tavistock runner Neil Barkell got away from Tamar Trotter Pete Waumsley early in the race and never looked threatened as he cruised to victory. Unfortunately for Neil and the next 55 runners that followed him, vandals had caused mayhem by altering course signs meaning that all the leading runners ran only 4.5-miles.

Following lengthy discussions between race referee and race director the results stood in the order that runners crossed the line, which gave Neil the victory, Martin Exley-Deane sixth overall and first vet 55, followed by Pete Bazeley who comfortably beat Andy Houghton (first vet 65).

Special mention must go to the next TAC home Jason Shipton who was one of only a few runners wearing fancy dress – he ran as Batman. Other Tavistock finishers (who were all treated to a pasty at the finish) were, in order: Gary Chater, Rebecca Exley-Deane, Nicole Heryet, Kate Rogers and Mhairi McCall.