Runners tackle the 'suicide six'

Hundreds of runners lined up along a soggy start-line for a gruelling 10k run in a course voted one of the toughest in the country.

A full field of 750 people took part in the so-called Suicide Six run in the picturesque surrounds of Baggeridge Country Park in Sedgley.

Clubs from across the region and beyond flocked to the beauty spot for the race which features some tough terrain including a water obstacle at Himley.

The annual race is organised by Dudley-based charity Action Heart which helps patients with heart conditions.

Fundraising executive Joy Brown said the race was so popular it had been oversubscribed meaning runners looking to register in the past fortnight had missed out. The 60-year-old mother-of-two, of Greyhound Lane, Stourbridge, said: "The race is very popular and people are so disappointed when they can't get in but we can't accept any more than 750 mainly because of car parking. The race was full a couple of weeks ago."

She made light of the wet conditions under foot, with yesterday's race at least taking part beneath clear skies and with no repeat of the fierce winds which battered the country on Saturday.

"The competitors like it to be wet, it's all part of the fun," she said. "This is like a cross-country event and they enjoy it." It was a Tipton Harriers one-two in the men's race, Martin Williams streaking clear of the field to win in an impressive 35 minutes 10 seconds. He was followed home by team-mate Andrew Spague in 38.14 while West Bromwich Harrier Karl Moore was third, posting a time of 38.46.

First woman to cross the line was Sophie Ward, another Tipton runner, in 43 minutes 57 seconds.

Laura Palmer, running for Chase Harriers, was next in 45.15 followed by Dudley-Kingswinford runner Helen Tromans in 47.54.

The Baggeridge course has been voted the toughest of its kind in the country by Runners World Magazine, picking up its name because of its challenging terrain and obstacles.