2026

Butcombe Trail Ultra 50km results

Butcombe Trail Ultra 50miles results

Photos from race day:

Radio Tower: https://photos.app.goo.gl/QDCnzyPtH9ocfL948

Crooks Peak: https://photos.app.goo.gl/N2DWTi62rjwbCyMDA

Finish Line 1: https://photos.app.goo.gl/3edHZeZxZQib2xVo6

Finish Line 2: https://photos.app.goo.gl/egqMH6ymr7h3b4JW6

Race Directors Report:

50 miles prize winners

Pos.	Bib #	Name	Prize category	Time	Prize
1	100	Sam Tabberner	Clevedon Athletic Club	07:51:46	1st Open course record by 15 seconds!
2	42	Robert Grover		08:40:47	2nd Open
3	93	Matt Seymour	Town & Country Harriers	08:43:23	3rd Open
16	90	Charlotte Robinson	Southville Running Club	09:49:19	1st Female course record by 12 minutes 41 seconds
24	67	Elizabeth Millwater		10:15:35	2nd Female
29	78	Laura Pease	Southville Running Club	10:39:04	3rd Female
5	105	Rob Thompson		09:01:49	OV40 age category winner
14	63	Peter Major	Vegan Runners UK	09:45:00	OV50 age category winner
44	69	Thomas Morgan		11:04:08	OV60 age category winner
55	49	Andrea Herbert	Nailsea Running Club	11:33:55	FV50 age category winner
56	108	Bex Vaughan	Weston Athletic Club	11:35:29	FV40 age category winner

50km prize winners

Pos.	Bib #	Name	Prize category	Time	Prize
1	265	Tim McDowell		04:51:02	1st Open
2	209	Mark Blyth	Bristol and West AC	05:05:19	2nd Open
3	286	Alex Smith	Westbury Harriers	05:09:06	3rd Open
4	206	Joe Bereza	Emersons Green Running Club	05:12:16	1st Femalecourse record by 7 minutes 44 seconds
6	228	Kate Darbyshire	Team Bath AC	05:20:13	2nd Female
8	238	Clare Foster	Cheddar Running Club	05:27:55	3rd Female
7	207	Adam Blencowe	Wells City Harriers	05:25:09	OV40 age category winner
15	246	Jim Hardcastle		05:44:15	OV50 age category winner
17	267	Tamsin Neale	Burnham Joggers	05:48:18	FV50 age category winner
19	242	Ceri Goddard		05:51:14	FV40 age category winner
69	213	Trev Bryan	North Devon Road Runners	07:51:07	OV60 age category winner
82	220	Judith Chubb-Whittle	Town & Country Harriers	08:30:43	FV60 age category winner

The day began at 8am with the sun already warm when the 50mile race set off featuring 87 runners in the Open category and 14 in the Female category. Sam Tabberner hit the front in the Open category within 15mins being pushed early on by Lawrence Pitman, who unfortunately retired at Priddy (41km) when Robert Grover took up the chase. At this point the race for third was developing as Matt Seymour and Ed Broyd pulled clear of the pack. Matt Seymour finally made his move into a clear third on the climb out of Compton Martin (63km) and closed to within 3 minutes of Robert Grover coming past the Swan and Star pubs (77km) but couldn’t quite catch him. So it was Sam Tabberner who held the lead throughout, eventually finishing a staggering 49mins clear of second, looking like he hadn’t broken sweat, just clinching the course record by the barest of margins: a mere 15 seconds!

While this was happening a similar pattern was emerging with the leaders of the Female category. Charlotte Robinson had also taken the lead early ahead of Elizabeth Millwater and Belinda Sherlock. Laura Pease made a move into third at Axebridge (17km) and began stretching away from Belinda Sherlock who unfortunately retired after Hinton Blewett (56km) after battling through a tough period. The first three continued to consolidate their positions and finish well, with Charlotte Robinson pushing on to achieve an impressive course record by 12 minutes 41 seconds.

By now it was early afternoon and the day had reached its hottest without a breath of wind around most of the course, and our marshals were ferrying fresh fluids and electrolytes supplies to the checkpoints where they were needed. Meanwhile at HQ the wind was kicking up dust on the track up to the finish and we even had a mini “dust devil” work its way through the supporters and their picnics, though no sandwiches were harmed thank goodness 😊 

Back to the start of the 50km race at 9am featuring 67 runners in the Open category and 28 in the Female category. Runners at the front set off at a blistering pace with Tim McDowell and Samuel Thorogood taking on the field. Behind them Mark Blyth and Alexander Hannam made good ground on the climb out of Cheddar (31km) in the battle for third. Around the same area Alex Smith emerged from the chasing pack to challenge Alexander Hannam finally overtaking him coming down off Dolebury Warren (46km) but not in time to catch Mark Blyth. So with Samuel Thorogood having unfortunately retired at Charterhouse Outdoor Activity Center (39km) the race finished with Tim McDowell then Mark Blyth then Alex Smith, with everyone commenting that the fast start and heat had taken its toll.

Meanwhile a brilliant battle was brewing in the Female category with the leaders staying within around 25mins of the Open leaders throughout. By Bleadon(15km) Clare Foster was in front with Kate Darbyshire then Joe Bereza chose behind. A burst of speed from Kate Darbyshire coming into Axebridge (27km) took her into the lead. Then a very strong final third of the race by Joe Bereza saw her take second at Charterhouse Outdoor Activity Center (39km) then catch and overtake Kate Darbyshire coming out onto Beacon Batch (40km). And that’s the way it stayed with Joe Bereza setting another well-deserved course record by 7 minutes 44 seconds.

Throughout the day we saw equally impressive runs from many all down the field, so it was a real pleasure for me to present the age category prize including to some taking their first prize in competitive races. It was still hot as the runners continued to come up the dusty finish straight cheered on by supporters, with runners in 50miles and 50km together, all looking for a cold drink and some shade. Even at the very back of the field as the sun was setting and firepits lighting up Race HQ the atmosphere built with supporters and marshals welcoming the final runners with the loudest chorus of cowbells and cheers of the day.

Huge congratulations to all the runners, thanks to sacrifices made in long hours of winter training and determination to succeed on the day. We’d like to think that we also played a small part with runners commenting in the post-race feedback that they appreciated the supportive marshals and well-stocked checkpoints, generous cut off times and encouraging Last Runner Marshals, as well as the hot food and refreshments back at the finish and the challenging but rewarding course around the beautiful Mendip Hills, with another brilliant overall rating of 4.9 out of 5 which we are delighted with. The use of GPS trackers this year was also liked by many and will likely be featuring in 2027.

A word of appreciation for the supporters at home and around the course too. You do such an incredible job to enable your runner to participate in this wonderful sport. I hope using trackers this year helped you plan your meet ups, and even if you were a bit early sometimes I hope you managed to enjoy the facilities at the checkpoints and the finish.

This event takes a tremendous amount of effort to put on. So thanks to Butcombe for the beer goodies and support of all kinds over the years, Mendip Activity Center for the refreshments and facilities at the start/finish, to Wrington Vale Osteopaths for helping many runners at the finish start their post-race recoveries. And of course thank you to around 50 volunteer TACH members and friends for tireless efforts before, during and after the race to make it happen.

As usual any surplus from the entry fees will be donated to the Mendip Hills, which this year has reached £4000. The MHF is a very worthy cause doing excellent work to fund conservation and community projects across the Mendip Hills.

And finally… you may think it’s enough of a challenge to just finish the 50miles race, well three runners from Southville Running Club decided to treat it as a pub crawl too. James Gale, Andy Persson and Dave Humphreys stopped at six pubs on the way round crossing the line together in a very respectable time – obviously drinking Butcombe beer is a perfectly viable hydration strategy for ultras! You can see more about their day here

So entries are already open for the 2027 race so whether you are experienced or looking to take on your first ultra, particularly if you ran the 50km this year and want to try the 50miles, we hope you will join us at the Butcombe Trail Ultra for a brilliant day out. Enter here