The 28th Green Belt Relay was fully subscribed on the first weekend after opening for entries last October. The route largely follows the Green Belt Way, a long-distance walking route, for 220 miles from Hampton Court Palace to Bushy Park Sports Centre.

The race founder, Sean Davis of The Stragglers Running Club, has walked every inch of the 238 miles of the full Green Belt Way and has visited every church, castle, windmill, lockkeeper's cottage and probably most of the pubs along the way. His intimate knowledge of the route can be shared here...

The course is far from flat. The Green Belt Way gains 3,299m of elevation in 22 stages, which can vary in distance from 6.75 miles to 15.15 miles. This year's Green Belt Relay was held on Saturday, 16 – Sunday, 17 May, with 60 teams setting off from Hampton Court at 8:30am on Saturday.

Unusually for a relay, each stage starts at a fixed time. This allows every section to be a competitive race in its own right, and also means teams of different standards stay roughly together as they advance along the route. Each team comprises 11 runners who race one stage on both days to complete the 22 legs.

At the overnight stop at Blackmore, the leading team was Ranalegh Harriers men, with five minutes to spare from Thames Hare and Hounds' mixed team. Ranalegh Harriers also led comfortably in the women's team race, 50 minutes ahead of nearest challengers Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets AC.

The second day saw Thames Hare and Hounds mixed (21:50:51) overhaul Ranelagh Harriers men (21:57:05) for victory by six minutes. Clapham Chasers men were third in 22:51:54. Ranelagh Harriers women (26:21:18) claimed the female plate from The Stragglers (27:59:31) and Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets AC (27:32:32).

The Sonia O'Sullivan prize for the outstanding individual woman went to Tracy Barlow of Clapham Chasers, who achieved a first by winning both of her stages outright, as well as breaking two course records. The Mark Critchlow award for outstanding individual men was awarded to Charlie Mason, also of Clapham Chasers, who won three stages, the first two breaking stage records and the third when covering for an injured teammate.

Full results are available via the runABC South race listing here.

Photo of cheery marshals in the rain courtesy of The Stragglers Green Belt Relay on Facebook