LAST Sunday saw the annual running of Minehead Running Club’s Exmoor Stagger, a trail race on a course of nearly 16 miles and over 3000 feet of ascent across some of the best countryside that Exmoor has to offer.

Starting at the foot of Alcombe Combe on the outskirts of Minehead the route takes in the steep climb up Periton Hill before heading across Wootton Common, then dropping suddenly into Wootton Courtenay.

A short flat road section heads to Brockwell, where the trail begins heading inexorably upwards first to a drinks station at Webbers Post then on to the summit of Dunkery Beacon, which was shrouded in low cloud at 1,705 feet.

A swift descent back to Wootton Courtenay preceded a horrendous climb back up Grabbist, followed by a very quick downhill finish.

James Baker of Chichester was the winner for the sixth year in a row, beating 140 entrants with an impressive 01:50:47, with Lance Nortcliff of Reading second in 01:58:08, closely followed by Mark Hopkinson of the RAF in 01:58:32.

The ladies race was seen as a battle between Seaview 17 winner Clare Prosser of Wells City Harriers and West Somerset-raised ultra-runner Beth Pascall, but Clare took the lead early on and never relinquished it, finishing eighth overall in 02:06:17, with Beth 21st in 02:13:36.

Of the Minehead Running Club members Matthew Bowden was first back, completing his first ever Stagger in 02:21:08 for 31st place. Nic Pettit was 77th in a similar time to last year, 02:42:02, whereas Charlie Pascall improved his 2014 time by 21 minutes finishing 91st in 02:50:59.

In the Stumble local runners came out on top of the 74 finishers, with Ben Tull of Taunton AC winning in 45:43, over two minutes quicker than his second-placed time of 2014, and trail specialist Jo Taphouse of Minehead Running Club also improved on last year’s second place by running three minutes quicker in 54:31 to win the first lady prize.

Despite being less than half the distance of the Stagger the Stumble still contains 1,300 feet of climbing, and is certainly not for the faint hearted.

A spokesman for Minehead Running Club said: "Thanks go to all involved in the set up and especially those marshals manning points all across Exmoor, and the volunteers that provided a mammoth spread of food for the finishers, plus Raynet and St John’s Ambulance for their help across the day, and West Somerset College for providing facilities.

"The event raised £81 for Minehead Running Club’s chosen charity for the year, the Down’s Syndrome Association, which was a charity very close to the heart of club member Anne Hutchinson who sadly passed away last year. Her husband Simon and a representative from the Down’s Syndrome Association helped to present the trophies."

Results – Exmoor Stagger:

Mens Overall: 1. James Baker (Chichester Runners); 2. Lance Nortcliff (Reading RR); 3. Mark Hopkinson (RAF)

Ladies Overall: 1. Clare Prosser (Wells City Harriers); 2. Beth Pascall (Bristol & West AC); 3. Daisy Hall (Stubbington Green)

1st MV40 Lance Nortcliff

1st MV45 Graham Hill (Sidmouth RC)

1st MV50 Nick Dorey (Runnymeade)

1st MV55 Paul Costello

1st MV60 Nick Brooke (Yeovil Town RRC)

1st MV65 Graham Newton (Axe Valley Runners)

1st FV35 Sarah Thomson (Ampthill & Flitwich)

1st FV40 Clare Prosser (Wells City Harriers)

1st FV45 Cathy Thorne (Tiverton Harriers)

1st FV50 Victoria Fieldhouse

1st FV55 Eleanor Wood (Axe Valley Runners)

Results – Exmoor Stumble:

Mens Overall: 1. Ben Tull (Taunton AC); 2. Graham Collins; 3. Justin Thomas (Wells City Harriers)

Ladies Overall: 1. Jo Taphouse (Minehead RC); 2. Emma McCormack; 3. Rachel Clay

1st MV45 Martin Shoots

1st MV50 Adrian Virgin (Minehead RC)

1st MV55 Paul Chadwick (Wells City Harriers)

1st MV60 Peter Rowlands

1st FV35 Emma McCormack

1st FV40 Joanna Henley

1st FV45 Emma Oughton

1st FV50 Claire Borrough

1st FV55 Mary Butcher (Minehead RC)