Mowat excels in Ultra event

Kevin Mowat relishes a challenge but even he went the extra mile when he tackled the Namib Desert Ultra 220km five-day event.

Mowat, who competes for Bitton Road Runners, competed in temperatures that reached 46 degrees centigrade.

He said: "We had to run with a backpack that contained all our needs for the five days, including compulsory items. It was around 20 pounds in weight."

Mowat's race – Day 1: 44km in 6hrs 5mins 15secs for 7th place. Day 2: 44km (6:12.06) 5th. Day 3: 44km (5:49.34) 6th. Day 4: 56km (8:34.14) 7th. Day 5: 28km (3:17.24) 1st. Overall: 5th (29:58:33).

● The University of Bristol is hosting the National University Orienteering Championships in the Forest of Dean this weekend with over 200 competitors expected to take part.

● Exeter Harriers will stage their early-season Great West Open track & field meeting at the Exeter Arena on Saturday, April 10 (10.15am).

For entry details email janetm.phillips@btinternet.co.uk.

● Westbury Harriers' John Terry, who is targeting a sub 2hrs 50mins run in the London Marathon next month, leads a squad from the club to the Rhayader Round The Lakes race next weekend.

Last weekend, Terry finished 31st (2:16.49) in the Gloucester 20 with Thornbury RC's Paul Thomas in 38th (2:18.22). Top woman veteran over-50 was Jo Webb, of Bitton RR, in a time of 2:28.57.

Other finishers: 47 Colin Johnson (WH, M40) 2:20.13; 60 Nick Duggan (BRR, M40) 2:24.13; 67 Clive Attwood (WH, M50) 2:25.24; 71 Stephen Threadgolf (GWR) 2;26.33; 77 Matt Widdup (GWR) 2:28.05; 78 Andrew Smith (GWR, M45) 2:28.07; 79 John Wrigley (GWR, M40) 2:28.14; 81 Tim Synge (BRR) 2:28.56. 290 finishers.

● Pat Foley was delighted to finish 40th overall of 1,491 finishers in Sunday's Grizzly, but less impressed to later find that he had been awarded the prize as top woman!

The Portishead RC member – who is definitely a male – appeared in the official results as top woman in a time of 2hrs 52mins 03secs, 38 seconds clear of Elizabeth Kendon.

● Clevedon AC's Paul Wilson won the veterans' over-40 prize in the Bideford half-marathon, clocking a time of 75mins 54secs.

Club-mate Steve Hollier was top veteran over-60 (82:15), while Great Western Runners' Peter Royle was 19th (79:41) and Clevedon's Mark Drewitt 24th (81:02). There were 371 finishers.

● Hogweed Trotters' Trinity Booth finished third woman in the Duchy Marathon in a time of 3:26:04.

● Former Bristol & West AC runner Nigel Leighton was third (53:34) in the Salisbury 10-mile road race that was won by British international Toby Lambert in a course record of 49:38.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

'At last, that was respectable' – Hard-to-please Bristol & West AC veteran Phil Parry after completing the Bath half- marathon in 70mins 46secs.

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

Tom Fewster has the Great Western Runners' club record in his sights after smashing his personal best in the Bath half- marathon race last weekend. Fewster broke his personal best by four minutes with a time of 70mins 38secs, just 31 seconds off the course record set by Garry Devoy in 1989.