THE only man to have run all nine Imber Ultra Marathons says the 33-mile race on Salisbury Plain is not getting any easier.

Westbury Running Group leader Steve Nuttall finished the gruelling course around the Imber Range perimeter path in six hours and 51 minutes.

Mr Nuttall, 63, from Trowbridge, and a run leader at Westbury Running Group, said: “6hrs 51mins is not one of my best times, but there’s a fair bit of willpower involved.

“It’s all about finishing and having a bit of a celebration at the end.

“I’ve been having a bit of back treatment so I was wearing a belt to make sure that I did not injure myself.”

Wiltshire Times: Steve Nuttall finishes the Imber Ultra Marathon, the only runner to have taken part and finished all nine of the annual events. Photo: Trevor Porter 69677-3Steve Nuttall finishes the Imber Ultra Marathon, the only runner to have taken part and finished all nine of the annual events. Photo: Trevor Porter 69677-3 (Image: Trevor Porter)

The annual race on March 5 was organised by the Avon Valley Runners group in Trowbridge and the Rotary Club of Westbury.

It follows a 33-mile circular route over tracks and rough terrain starting at the Leighton Recreation Centre in Westbury, and skirting Warminster, Chitterne, Tilshead and Eddington before returning to Westbury.

Wiltshire Times: Some of the 1`12 runners line up at the start of the 33-mile Imber Ultra Marathon Some of the 1`12 runners line up at the start of the 33-mile Imber Ultra Marathon (Image: Freelancer)

The race was started by Westbury town crier John Hadfield after a brief by Avon Valley race co-director Martin Bull and a speech by the Westbury Rotary President Jon Street.

Mr Street said: “This year we had a reduced number of entries but still managed to attract 112 hardy souls to attempt this arduous event.

“The weather was very kind to the runners with cool temperatures and light winds for the majority of the race. People who know Salisbury Plain are aware that it can be a bleak place in inclement weather.”

Wiltshire Times: BBC Antiques Roadshow expert Marc Allum with some of the prize-winning runners of the Imber Ultra MarathonBBC Antiques Roadshow expert Marc Allum with some of the prize-winning runners of the Imber Ultra Marathon (Image: Freelancer)

Winning male runner Ra Twilley came home in four hours eight minutes after a sprint finish to beat Jack Blanchard by only eight seconds. The winning female runner Una Mills finished in four hours 26 minutes.

The prizes were awarded by a Marc Allum, a well-known antiques expert from Chippenham who has appeared for over 10 years on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow.

The race was sponsored by Myddleleton & Major from Salisbury and the Ford car dealership of Trowbridge and Westbury.

Lidl also supplied a large quantity of bottled water and citrus fruit for the runners and Morrisons supplied fruit as well.

Planning is already underway for the 10th running of the event in 2024.

The event helps the Rotary Club of Westbury to raise funds to support local charities supported by Rotary International and Rotary Foundation.