BUDE RATS, Mark and Alex Ward competed at the Trail de L'Odet in Ergue-Gaberic, France, on Saturday, April 24.

The event consisted of 12, 22 and 34km cross country runs through the countryside around Bude-Stratton's twin town.

After their visit to Bude last year, the runners of Ergue were delighted to see a couple of RATS enter their event. One of the organisers was kind enough to give the visitors a few hints as to what was in store but he was a little economical with the truth, suggesting only that they might get their feet wet.

Registration before the race would be familiar to any UK runner but the spot prizes of Petunia plants were unexpected. Newcomers to the French running scene should be prepared for the outfits; the French do love their lycra and all manner of support hosiery was on display.

The course itself was a delight – encompassing a wide range of terrain from trails to tracks, fields to farmyards, ravines to riversides. The trial leaves Ergue with Azalea and Magnolia flowers in bloom in the gardens, and then heads off into the woods and orchards, crossing streams on fallen trees before the intrepid 22km and 34km competitors pit themselves against the perils of the Stangala.

This national park is a series of wooded ravines following the course of the Odet river. The route

clambers repeatedly up the side of the ravine with tree roots and boulders to negotiate before dropping back to the riverside, the trees providing a welcome means of slowing the descent. The Odet river is crossed three times but only once on a bridge – elsewhere ropes strung across the water give the runners something to hang on to as they wade across the current.

Water levels were mercifully low after the dry weather but even so a lot more than 'just feet' got wet. Regular feed stations provide water, fruit and homemade cakes to restore flagging spirits and eventually the houses of Ergue came into view, a welcome sight since the course has no distance markers. It would have been prudent to learn the French for 'are we nearly there yet?'

Alex Ward was the youngest entrant in the whole event and finished the 12km route in one hour, five minutes placing 101st out of 279, Mark Ward finished the 34km route 79th out of 123 entrants taking three hours 33 minutes.

Expressing their gratitude, the RATS said: "Thanks must go to Neil and Wendy Hutson for all their organisation and help. They arranged accommodation with fellow athletes Gilbert and Chantelle who were wonderful hosts. Hopefully a bigger RATS contingent can compete next year; it's well worth the trip."