Chris Preece cleans up with Shropshire Mud Run victory
Around 300 keen runners from across the county gathered at Hawkstone Park for the latest round of the Shropshire Mud Run.
The fourth of five rounds took place with Chris Preece, representing Ludlow Amateur Boxing Club, winning the 10 kilometre race inside 50 minutes.
Also in the race filled with woodland, hills and ponds, Dennis Thacker finished second inside 53 minutes and Andrew Burgess third in under 56 minutes.
Ultimate Fitness Experience's Tom Meehan, who organised the race, said: "Hawkstone Park is always very popular.
"It is not actually one of the most muddy venues we go to but it's a good course to run around, you have got hilly parts and there was a bit where everybody was sort of wading through the lake.
"We took over the whole park for the 10 kilometre race and the response from everybody involved was fantastic to be honest.
"There was around 300 runners involved but the beauty of it is the different runners involved.
"You have people running for charity, people in fancy dress and people who are new to it all. Then, on the other hand, you have got people who are competing and are looking to win the race as points go to the top 25 racers."
At Hawkstone Park, the top three men and women were awarded prizes.
There were also prizes for the best fancy dress and the first team to get three members across the line as well as points going to the top 25.
Preece's success at Hawkstone Park was his fourth on the trot.
He tops the standings with 120 points with Thacker in second and Andrew Brown in third.
Speaking of the atmosphere at the event, Meehan added: "There were prizes on the day for the top three, prizes for the best fancy dress, quickest team and things like that.
"It's a really nice event to host and organise to be honest.
"There is a real feel-good factor about it all, there is a lot of camaraderie between the runners and the staff as well.
"We look forward to going back there next year because we have got a few things in the pipeline."
The final race of the series is at Easton Mascott Hall in Berrington on November 12, with the 10 kilometre event starting at 10.30am.
