Teams roll out barrel for race to Wrekin summit

Firemen, rugby players and boxers were among the strongmen who battled it out to be named champion in this year's Wrekin Barrel Race.

The event on Sunday saw teams and individuals tackle a 1.2 mile course up The Wrekin while weighed down with the giant nine gallon beer barrels.

They were greeted at the summit by cheering crowds made up of friends and family as they ran, walked and stumbled over the finishing line.

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It was an especially good day for 24-year-old Myles Lerwill, from Hadley, in Telford, who smashed the individual record for the course.

He was part of the winning team for Donnington Boxing Club when they won last year's team of four challenge, but he decided to go it alone this time in the 'Lunatic' – or individual category.

And his previous experience paid off as he completed the course in just 29 minutes and five seconds, beating the existing record of 30 minutes and 38 seconds set in 2010.

Mr Lerwill said he felt 'fantastic' after learning he had broken the record.

"We won the team race last year, so I thought I would enter with the big boys and show them how its done," he said.

He said he had taken the challenge seriously, carrying out several practice runs ahead of the big day.

"I got a barrel probably about a month ago and gradually built it up. I have got a weight vest and started running with that," he added.

He beat four other individual runners to claim the title.

The group challenge was won by a team of firefighters from Wellington who came in ahead of three teams from Telford Hornets Rugby Club and one from Donnington Boxing Club.

The quartet recorded a time of 27 minutes and 50 seconds.

Team captain Gaz Hughes said that it was the first time the group had competed in the annual race.

"It was enjoyable and it was a good team-building exercise.

"It is something we will do again," he said.

Money raised from sponsorship of this year's barrel race competitors will be donated to Hope House Hospice.