International feel for Ironbridge Race

An international feel will light up the 34th running of the Ironbridge Race tomorrow night.

Chris Davies, of the host Telford Athletic Club, plans to run in the four-mile event on the back of a stunning husband-and-wife double in the Caen 10km in France.

Davies won the men's race in 30mins 54 secs – his brother-in-law Mark Dalkins was third – while his wife Amanda claimed the honours in the ladies' race in 39.58.

Davies will now be looking for victory tomorrow night to stretch his lead in the Sexarathon Series, of which this is the fourth event.

One of the oldest races in the Shropshire calendar, it started in 1978 when held in conjunction with the Ironbridge Fair at Dale End Park.

In 1991, the race had to move from its traditional Wharfage start on police instruction

Cannock's Tom Humphries won the Ironbridge Race last year and has the fastest time on the new course of 20.24.

Claire Martin, the current British Masters Cross-Country Champion, leader of the ladies Sexarathon Series and focus of a full page feature in Athletics Weekly last week, has won the women's race at Ironbridge for the last five years and six times in total. Her fastest time is 23.53 set in 2006.

The fastest time on the new course is 23.36 set by Amanda Allen (now Smith) of Birchfield, who lives in Much Wenlock.

Starting and finishing in the large Ironbridge Car Park, the route follows the old railway line to The Boat Inn at Jackfield, crosses the river on the footbridge to The Woodbridge and crosses back across the Severn and returns to Ironbridge along the old railway line.

Start time is 7.30pm with registration at the Tontine Hotel, runners of all abilities welcome to enter on the night from 6.30.