RUNNERS from all over the south west competed in extremely muddy conditions at the Slaughterford 9 multi-terrain race on Sunday.

Over 350 competitors took part in the gruelling nine-mile event in the Slaughterford valley, which was organised by Chippenham Harriers.

Votwo’s Eliot Challifour was first home in 56:32, having averaged an impressive 6:42 per mile.

Unattached Westwood athlete Tom Fisher came in four seconds later and he was followed by Bristol and West’s Alec Woods in the male vet 40 category.

Corsham Running Club’s Stuart Henderson finished ninth and Frome Running Club’s Jim Plunkett-Cole was 14th.

Chippenham Harriers Michael Thomas and Bart Thomas came 21st and 22nd respectively in their home race.

The first woman in was female vet 45 athlete Lynette Porter, of Bitton Road Runners Club, in a time of 1:06:22.

Team Bath’s Jenny Carter, who competes in female vet 35, finished second after clocking 1:11:01, and unattached senior racer Di Tabley was the third woman home in a time of 1:12:26.

Race director Rob Field said the runners had enjoyed the tough conditions.

He said: “The rain held off, it was just underfoot conditions were very wet.

“It was very muddy, but that’s what they enjoy, the hard work.”

The conditions did not seem to stop people taking part, as numbers were up on last year’s event Only seven Harriers took part in the race as they were helping to marshal the event or help with car parking.

The next event the Harriers will host is the 5K River Run on July 6 at Monkton Park.

This will be followed by the Chippenham Half Marathon on September 13.