Purple Gecko Event Reports
Read all about our latest adventures on the trails...
SMUGGLERS WAY 2024
SATURDAY 27TH APRIL
The Smugglers Way 2024 (Misty certain death crystal maze collector’s edition) commenced somewhat surprisingly with a time critical, mission impossible type scenario of getting into race registration. It was also raining, this however came somewhat low on the surprising scale. After a protracted stand-off with a highly trained Purple Gecko Events negotiator, the team were eventually able to gain entry through a combination of mushroom vol-au-vents & stun grenades.
Immediately after the liberation of the registration room, the pre event checks began. New for this year was the mandatory label with your name on it, sewn into your underpants, something which ultimately caught a few out at kit check. Race bibs bright enough to cause permanent damage to the retina were issued with safety pins hidden in a variety of locations & trackers were stapled to each subject, bish bash bosh we were ready to go.
Contestants were assembled on the cobbles below a red anoraked cat burglar who had been unsuccessfully attempting to get into the Cornish rambler for an extraordinary length of time. Words of encouragement were mumbled, veiled threats were made, two people at the back tried to hide but were dragged out from behind a parked car by their colleagues. After a rapturous round of applause instigated by the bad man at the front followed up by a not too shouty countdown from 5 they trotted off giggling into the mist.
By the time they had passed CP1, visibility had reduced in places to ‘Silent Hill’ proportions. However, the prospect of stumbling across Pyramid Head or ‘Stabby’ nurses whilst ascending the Tors did little to dissuade our intrepid adventurers. By the time they had sampled the cheese & pickle sandwiches at CP2 the wet stuff had started to abate and the sun was considering making a comeback. They had two more feed stations to go, one pool with a legendary sword hidden in its depths, one big Gelly, woodland valleys, hilly bits and 6 river crossings to go, what could possibly go wrong…
Looking back, there were many highlights during yesterdays excursion, one of which undoubtedly being the final two flights of stairs up to the glorious new finish point…
37 Miles is a tough challenge by anyone’s standards, hats off to everyone who gave it a go yesterday
Special mentions for:
Ladies
Autumn Rolling of Wadebridge Running Club – 1st Female, 1st Open Female, setting the Smugglers Way New Course Record with a time of 6hrs 54mins 55secs!
Dani Battersby – 2nd Female.
Avril Zinn – 3rd Female.
Lisa Cann – 1st vet40f.
Tracey Cullerton of Plymouth Musketeers RC – 1st vet50f.
Gents
Jed Ardren of Canicross Cornwall – 1st Male, 1st Open Male, setting The Smugglers Way New Course Record with a time of 5hrs 59mins 16secs!
Martin Lewis of Emersons Green Running Club – 2nd Male, 1st vet40m.
Tom Snaith – 3rd Male.
Neil Helson of St Austell Athletes Running Club – 1st vet50m.
Paul Grayston – 1st vet60m.
Bryan Darney of Goring Road Runners – 1st vet70m.
The top 10 Male & Female finishers earned points towards The Saints & Smugglers 100 Mile Championship 2024, after the Stage 2, the leader boards are looking like this:
Female
1st - Autumm Rolling of Wadebridge Running Club – 20 Pts.
2nd – Avril Zinn – 12Pts.
3rd – Tracey Cullerton of Plymouth Musketeers RC – 10 Pts.
4th – Charlotte Allen of Up and Running Torbay – 2 Pts.
Male
1st - Tom Snaith – 15 Pts.
2nd – Adrian Massett – 8 Pts.
3rd – Gavin Rowett of St Austell Athletes Running Club – 6 Pts.
4th – Paul Grayston – 4 Pts.
5th – James Copp – 1 Pt.
Congratulations all and thank you all who donated or raised money for the amazing Children's Hospice South West!
Full results here: https://www.resultsbase.net/event/6771/results
We would like to thank Children's Hospice South West, Ross at The The Riverside - Boscastle, The Jamaica Inn, Nicky & the team at The Hannafore Point Hotel, The Cornish Rambler, Jim & Matt from Omega Medical, Geo Tracks, East Cornwall Search & Rescue Team, Brand88 Print & Design, Boscastle Parish Council, Looe Town Council, M.Y. Motors Redruth, Your Event Supplier, Will HP Photography , Gareth, Sy & Paul for sweeping, Andy & Dale for driving, Cassi & JB for Managing the finish & the timing, Ranger Dave & Lucie for managing the CP’s, Lesley, Andy, Cyan, Jen, Stuart, Jackie, Keeley, Eirin, Barry, Paula for manning the cp’s, Tina & Su for their help on the finish, Dan for making sure the runners found the finish, plus you, constant runner, for joining us in Boscastle at an ungodly hour in April.
Race photos are now up on our main facebook page
Round 3 of the Saints & Smugglers 100 Mile Championship is the Boscastle Scramble on Saturday 8th June. 26.2 Miles of rugged, challenging coast path from Rock to Boscastle.
https://www.resultsbase.net/event/6771