The Mendip Muddle is Weston AC's toughest race yet is arguably the most enjoyable. Enjoyable that is if you don't mind over 1600ft of climb over the 12.6 mile course. Held in the glorious and spectacular setting of the Mendip Hills in Somerset, the Muddle attracts a hardy bunch of runners with 267 finishers this year. Course conditions were good with not much mud about and it stayed dry all day so conditions were near perfect although path ‘improvement’ works near the trig point meant times were generally a bit slower.

The men’s winning time was nearly three minutes faster than last year in an impressive 1:23:52 by Joe Dale (SM London Fields Triathalon Club). Tom Carpenter (SM Westbury Harriers) was second in 1:26:10 followed by Christian Green (SM Wells City Harriers) in 1:29:50. For the ladies, Clare Prosser (FV40 Wells City Harriers) was first lady for the third year in a row in 1:32:49 and came 7th overall. Mary Menon (SF U/A) came in second in 1:40:29 and Sarah Chaloner (FV40 U/A) was third in 1:43:55. Of note were very good times for the MV60, Stephen Moran (NVAC), 1:34:38 and MV70, Geoff Newton (Tadworth AC) 1:49:54, categories.

A donation of £1,250 will be made to Mike Owen from the Wrington Vale RNLI and with food/beverage sales we anticipate the total sum raised from this event to be approximately £2,000. A big thank you to the Weston AC and RNLI marshals and all the volunteers who help make this a very successful event.p> A note for your diary, next year’s Muddle will take place on Sunday October 9th 2016. See you there! Full race results and Muddle details can be found at www.westonac.co.uk/mendipmuddle