Tears and overdone tans as trekkers limp home

Some were in tears, some manically laughing and punching the sky, others just silently focused on trudging their final few steps, too tired to even crack a smile.

Yet those who completed the 62-mile course stretching far across the Yorkshire Dales agreed on one thing – it was the hardest thing they had ever done.

Organisers said this year’s event was the hottest since Trailtrekker began in 2009, with walkers enduring unbroken sunshine beating down on them on both Saturday and yesterday.

After finishing yesterday morning, many simply took off their boots, lay on the floor or under the shade of a tree, and fell asleep.

The heat meant at least 25 per cent of those taking part dropped out along the course, while teams finished notably later than previous years.

Yet despite the climate being rather unfamiliar for Yorkshire residents, teams from the region did very well, with a number making it into the top 10.

Yesterday morning, not long after dawn, Mark Howell, 30, of Sheffield, and Ross Cannon, 35, and Alistair Clough, 39, of Wharfedale, were among the first to cross the finishing line at Aireville School, Skipton, raising £1,700 in the process.

“It was just so hot,” Mr Howell told the Yorkshire Post, while wobbling rather unsteadily on his feet.

“There was a lot of talk on Saturday when we got to Malham that maybe we should try and run it next year, but that soon stopped once we got further down the route.

“I have so many blisters that I am scared to take my socks off.There is more blister than foot.

“The team definitely helps you get through it. Sometimes when you are walking you just are alone with your own thoughts but it is really important to have people to talk to as well.”

A Skipton team of civil engineers, brothers Neil and Gary Belcher, 50, son Jody, 30, and colleague Nathan Crabtree, 25, finished narrowly outside the top 10 in 12th.

“It was fantastic to do it as a family and our support team was all family members as well,” Neil Belcher said. That got us through it really.

“This event is just excellent for Skipton. The scenery which we saw was incredible, even though we live here it surprised me. We will definitely be doing it next year.”

From over the Pennines, team members Lauren Kennedy, 26, Shona Scales, 25, of Manchester, and Emily Hoyle, 27, of Liverpool, were similarly stunned by the beauty of the Dales despite the gruelling route.

“We had done a couple of training walks but nothing had prepared us for how difficult it was,” Miss Kennedy said.

“You go through every emotion when you are doing it.

“It was so hard but the scenery was beautiful and amazing. After walking through the night, seeing the sunrise was incredible.”

This year Russ Bestley, 49, Tony Conway, 53, Steve Mclean, 47, and Martin Bacon, 46, travelled up from Portsmouth with the aim of beating the course record of 13 hours, 26 minutes, set by a group of Australians in 2009.

Despite managing to run the entire 62 miles, the team finished on Saturday night in 14 hours, 26 minutes, missing the record but comfortably winning this year’s event.

“It’s a big challenge but somebody needs to get that record off the Australians,” Mr Mclean said.