FOUR Chard Road Runners set off for a social run starting from the village of Dunkeswell at the weekend.

The Blackdown Beast, organised by Honiton Running Club, is a unique event with both a 10-mile option and a 16-mile option – which all four CRRs chose, as the running through this area of outstanding natural beauty was too good to miss.

Darren Murphy set off on his own to stay with the frontrunners, but Addie Douglass, Helen Baxter and Lizzie Smith stayed together throughout the run.

The unique part of this race is the running, then calling in on two pubs, as well as Smeatharpe village hall for a pasty.

The recent rain provided plenty of mud but thankfully the heavens did not open until the women were nearly at the finish.

All four Chard runners were finishers, but times are not recorded, as going to the pubs and the village hall kept times varied.