ATHLETES from Dudley Kingswinford Running Club tried something a little different last weekend when competing in a 24-hour relay challenge.

The event, named Trail Attack 24, was open to individuals, pairs and teams of six, with each runner covering as many 10k laps as possible in a 24-hour period over a rough, undulating cross-country course in the Heart of England Forest, near Alcester, Warwickshire.

Although it was a DK team in name, the team of Matt Biggs, James Wright, Simon Hughes, Dave Norman and Mark Judge had to draft in a guest in Darrell Boden, from Dudley and Stourbridge Harriers, to complete the six as no-one else from their own club was available.

As a result the blue hoops were replaced by all blue vests for the weekend in an attempt to prevent any controversy.

Starting at noon on Saturday and continuing until noon on Sunday, the team of six churned out lap after lap in strict order to record a massive five laps each, 30 laps in total and 300 kilometres — more than 180 miles — of total distance covered to win the whole competition by more than 40 miles having lapped the second-placed team again and again.

Elsewhere, Helen Tromans added another prize to her mantelpiece by taking third place in the Sherrifhales Shuffle, a seven-miler over rough country, trails and bridle paths around Shropshire.

Tromans finished in a time of 51.33, a mere 90 seconds behind the winner.

And over the marathon distance, three club members pulled on the traditional hoops in Worcester with Alison Whitehouse finishing in 181st in 4.30.43.

Club-mate Gina Collins followed her to the line when finishing in 4.50.23 to take 217th place and Samantha Hemming running 4.52.35 in 219th.

Finally, Karen Doy, Lynn Sprague and Liz Hettle all took part in the intriguingly-titled Shindig in the Shire — a half-marathon set under the back drop of the Clee Hills across open farmland and bridle ways before climbing up onto Wenlock Edge before descending to the finish line.