trophy from Rotary president Jim Heath
THE third annual Imber Ultra Marathon was held earlier this month and saw almost 100 runners take on the mammoth 33 mile run on Salisbury Plain.
The race, hosted by Westbury Rotary Club and Avon Valley Runners, set off from Leighton Recreation Centre on Sunday 6th March. It followed the Imber Range perimeter path in an anti-clockwise direction. The race raised money for Julia’s Hospice and mobile chemotherapy charity Hope for Tomorrow.
The race was won by Rob Forbes from Cirencester Athletics and Triathlon Club, who finished in a course record 3:48.
Avon Valley Runners’ Richard Hudson said, “Running 33 miles at any time of the year is a challenge, but the fact that the race is usually held on the first weekend in March means that the runners will have to cope with whatever the weather is on the day.
“This year nearly 100 runners took up the challenge coming from all over southern England and one runner from the USA on a family visit! The race was led from the start by Rob Forbes of Cirencester AC, who admitted after that he had had to get special permission from his young family to run the race on Mothering Sunday.
“It was certainly worth it for Rob, as he maintained a clear lead through all five of the checkpoints around the plain, finishing in a new record time of three hours 48 minutes – three minutes faster than last year.
“Rob was nearly half an hour in front of the second runner, James Donald of Bath, who was also second last year. The ladies’ race was convincingly won for the second time by Lizzie Wraith of Team Bath in four hours 55 minutes and eighth place overall.
“Local runners were well represented. From Westbury Running Group, Steve Nuttall finished in 6:24 and Adam Firks in 6:42. Organising club Avon Valley Runners had three finishers with Caroline Gale and Dale Ingram finishing together in 6:19 and Sean Carrivick in 6:40.
“Local triathlon club, Hot Chilli Tri won the team prize for the fastest three male runners from the same club and Mark Blake, Ben Blackwall and Richard Blisset went home with trophies.”
Sue Ezra, town councillor and president elect of Westbury Rotary Club said, “A very big thank you to all our sponsors and those who gave up their time on Sunday to help make the whole event a wonderful success.”
