Widely regarded as one of the finest trail races in the country, the 22-mile route from Exmouth to Seaton along the Jurassic Coast is as beautiful as it is brutal. Conceived in the 1970s by local running talent John Perratt, the race has earned a reputation for its relentless climbs and rugged coastal terrain — a true test for even the most seasoned runners.

Patrick, however, is no stranger to such challenges. His pedigree over mountainous ultras is well established, with a string of formidable events already under his belt this year alone. Earlier in 2026 he completed the demanding Destroyer race at the Sierra Blanca Trail in Marbella for the third time — a gruelling 39.6km with 2,800 metres of elevation. That followed on from last September’s remarkable outing at TOR130 Tot Dret, where he covered 58.23 miles and amassed nearly 25,000 feet of climbing.

Add to that efforts such as La Moins’Hard in Chamonix (70km, 5,600m of elevation) and the Ultra Trail Vipava Valley in Slovenia (110km, 4,800m), and it becomes clear that Patrick thrives when the going gets steep — and then steeper still. Even his training reflects that appetite, with recent outings on Snowdon including a 34-mile run with 9,600 feet of elevation, and a 31-mile effort in February totalling 11,000 feet.

So when it came to the Exe to Axe, Patrick approached the challenge with intent.

From the outset, he set about the course with purpose, maintaining a strong and consistent pace despite the relentless profile. The South West Coast Path offers little respite, and the climbs come thick and fast. Mile 13 alone packs in a lung-busting 516 feet of ascent, while further significant climbs at miles 16 and 19 continue to sap the legs. Long, steep and unyielding, these ascents are where races can unravel — but for Patrick, they played to his strengths.

Running with controlled aggression, he took the climbs in his stride, quite literally, refusing to yield ground and continuing to push the pace where others might falter. It was a display of strength, resilience and experience on terrain that demands all three in abundance.

Crossing the line in an outstanding 3 hours 25 minutes, Patrick secured 10th place overall out of a competitive field of 234 runners. He also finished 5th in the MV40 category (51 finishers), underlining the depth of his performance. Covering 22.38 miles with over 4,000 feet of elevation gain, he averaged an impressive 9:12 per mile — a remarkable return given the severity of the course.

It was, by any measure, one of Patrick’s finest performances to date and further confirmation of his prowess on tough, hilly terrain.

At the sharp end of the race, Jack Kiff took victory in 2:47:10, narrowly ahead of Matthew Clist of Axe Valley Harriers, who finished just 35 seconds behind in 2:47:45. James Denne of Western Tempo completed the podium in 3:00:28.

In the women’s race, Laura Backhouse produced an excellent run to finish 13th overall and claim first female in 3:27. Katie Ironside of Mynyddwyr De Cymru was second female in 3:33:28 (15th overall), while Jessica Watkins of Sidmouth Running Club took third in 3:38:24, placing 19th overall and first veteran. She finished just behind former Bournemouth AC runner Ed Porter, who was 18th in 3:38:15.

For Kingston, though, this was a day that showcased exactly what he does best — embracing the toughest terrain, rising to the challenge, and delivering a performance of real substance.