Shropshire Star

Challengers go mad for mud in Shropshire obstacle course

It may not be the most relaxing way to spend a Bank Holiday weekend, but hundreds went mad for mud in a tough endurance obstacle challenge.

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More than 300 people shunned a lie-in to launch over hurdles, clamber up cargo nets and wade through water.

There was no good clean fun to be had at Buildwas Mud Challenge as every competitor emerged victorious – but caked in mud.

But the tough terrain was no match for the adrenalin-fuelled challengers who took the 10k course in their stride.

They flung themselves into numerous man made and natural obstacles in a feat of strength, stamina, determination and teamwork organised by Kick Ass Endurance.

The energetic swarm tackled camouflage nets, a haystack pyramid and concrete hurdles before wading through swamps.

Next cam a tyre run, under and over logs, numerous mud pits and mud trails.

Then they gave it the heave ho in a farmers walk carrying a 20kg or 10kg barrel over a 400m track before darting under and over barrels in a small mud pool.

The determined bunch got on their hands and knees for a 25m crawl through a mud gully followed by an uphill run to swing across monkey bars before careering down a water slide to the finish line where competitors were greeted with a KickAss Endurance T-shirt, medal and a well earned bottle of water.

And after being covered from head to toe in brown slippery mud, the competitors got a well-deserved hose down from a fire engine.

Adrian Payne, 31, came from Tamworth to get a slice of the action on Sunday morning.

He said: "I really enjoyed it. It's better than being hungover. At one point there were some really steep slippery muddy hills and the barrels in the water the end were really muddy so they weren't easy to jump over.

"The monkey bars were really slippery too.

"I crossed the finish line in joint second with a guy I met on the way around. We had never met before but everybody helps one another out. So we stuck together and we crossed the finish line together, I think we got married on the way around," he joked.

First woman past the finish line was Sarah Newey, 27, from Shrewsbury who completed the challenge as part of 1,000 miles of obstacle races to raise money for Cancer Research.

She said: "It was harder than I thought it would be. The hills were so muddy just trying to get up them was difficult enough without the obstacles. It was nice being first lady back, everyone did really well.

"It wasn't easy it was a hard course but I really enjoyed it.

Organiser Tony Talbot said: "We had in excess of 300 people turn up of all different abilities. There were quite a few in fancy dress.

"This year we made sure there was more mud by putting more water down so it was a real mud run as opposed to a dust run as it's been quite dry.

"We had camouflage nets, a waterslide, monkey bars and a rope where they have to literally pull themselves out of the mud but a lot of the hard work is just natural muddy, slippery hills.

"Right at the end we had a fire engine to wash people down.

"Some of the fastest did it in an hour and the less experienced ones were an hour and a half to two hours.

"But it's not a timed event and there's people of all abilities taking part and they all help eachother through.

"You just want people to have a go and enjoy themselves and that's what they've done."

Those who can't get enough of the mud can take part in Weston Park Obstacle Challenge on October 18. hh

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