ALLEN Smalls achieved a burning ambition to win the Montrail off-road ultra series, after claiming joint second spot in the final event at the Long Myndd 50-mile race, staged in the beautiful wooded hills of Shropshire.

By Carl Marston

ALLEN Smalls achieved a burning ambition to win the Montrail off-road ultra series, after claiming joint second spot in the final event at the Long Myndd 50-mile race, staged in the beautiful wooded hills of Shropshire.

Smalls, of Colchester Harriers AC, therefore became the first southern-based athlete to take the title.

But he was pushed all the way by the only runner who could still overtake him in the race for the title. With Smalls holding a slender lead of a few minutes going into the event, his tactics were to stick close to his adversary. This saw a painful first 20 miles where Smalls clung on to him with difficulty. His rival then broke at 23 miles and Smalls had to follow him for the next 27 miles, which included 800ft of ascent, before the duo finally crossed the line together in a tremendous time of 8hrs 10mins. The winner on the day clocked a new course record of 7.51.

Smalls is one of the most respected of the long-distance fraternity, and all runners will be pleased to hear of his success in winning the title, which has taken him to Scotland, Wales, and the Isle of Man in his quest to be the champion of distance running.