Stu Bowers and Patrick Kingston took on one of Dorset’s toughest trail races as The Beast provided another stern test in the third round of the Purbeck Trail Series.

There are trail races, there are tough trail races, and then there is The Beast. At 12.4 miles with around 1,800ft of elevation, it is an event that demands plenty of strength, stamina and climbing ability, with some brutally steep sections that have a habit of exposing any weaknesses in the legs.

Representing Bournemouth AC this time around were Stu Bowers and Patrick Kingston, with both men producing solid performances against a competitive field of more than 300 runners.

Stu Bowers, who had already featured in the opening race of the Purbeck Trail Series, the Coombe Keynes 10k, finished an excellent 16th out of 305 runners in that event in 42:56. Kingston, meanwhile, made his first appearance in this year’s series, although he was certainly no stranger to the demands of long-distance running.

Indeed, both men had good reasons to feel confident about tackling The Beast, even if there was little chance of finding the course anything other than challenging.

Stu Bowers had already sampled some of Dorset’s more demanding terrain when he took on The Stickler last year, while he also ventured further afield to compete in the Maverick Goat Exmoor 15km race during the summer, which he won. Neither event is particularly generous to anyone who prefers their running flat, smooth and predictable.

Patrick Kingston’s recent adventures have taken him considerably further afield. Having completed a good number of Bournemouth AC’s league races this season, he has also been busy pursuing some rather more ambitious personal challenges.

Among them was the Verbier Marathon in the Swiss Alps, featuring a staggering 3,000 metres of ascent, followed by the Crazy Mountain 100 in Montana, USA. That latter challenge covered 102 miles with 21,000ft of vertical climbing.

Put those numbers alongside The Beast and the Purbeck course might initially look like a relatively gentle outing. However, anyone who has raced over this sort of terrain knows that shorter does not necessarily mean easier. The intensity is higher, recovery time is shorter and there is a real premium on getting up the climbs quickly rather than simply grinding them out at a sustainable ultra-running pace.

A Course With A Fearsome Reputation

The Beast has developed quite a reputation over the years, and its roll of honour underlines just how quick the leading runners can be when conditions and legs allow.

Jon Pepin won last year’s race in an outstanding 1:27:25, shortly before joining Bournemouth AC, with Stu Nicholas finishing second in 1:33:22. Stu Nicholas had also taken second place the previous year, when Chris Peck of Egdon Heath Harriers won on a modified course following a landslip.

Go back to 2022 and the benchmark becomes even more formidable. Former Bournemouth AC runner Jacek Cieluszecki produced an astonishing 1:24:46, a time that has remained unbeaten since. It was a performance from JC at his peak, when his climbing prowess made him a formidable opponent on precisely this kind of terrain.

JC had already made a considerable impression in this year’s Purbeck Trail Series. He won the opening Coombe Keynes 10k in 36:14, a particularly quick performance on a hilly course that also measures longer than its advertised 10 kilometres.

He then followed that up with second place at the Lighthouse Loop 5k in 18:48. Given that the course incorporates around 450ft of elevation and uses the same ground as the notoriously challenging Durlston Castle parkrun, that was another impressive display.

JC therefore arrived at The Beast with plenty of attention on him, although even the strongest runners can have days when things simply do not come together.

Stu Bowers Leads The Bournemouth AC Charge

Stu Bowers produced a strong run to finish ninth overall, crossing the line in 1:40:06.

It was another good performance in a series that has already provided him with a useful test of his trail-running credentials. Finishing inside the top ten in a field of more than 300 runners on a course of this difficulty is a result to be pleased with, particularly given the quality of the competition.

Patrick Kingston was not far behind in 16th place, recording 1:43:47.

That was just 34 seconds slower than his time for the same race last year, underlining his consistency over a course where a small change in conditions, pacing or how the legs respond to the climbs can make a significant difference.

For someone who has recently been tackling mountain marathons and 100-mile ultras, it was another reminder that trail running comes in many different forms. There is a world of difference between managing your effort over 102 miles and attacking a demanding 12.4-mile course where every climb and descent can have an immediate impact on your finishing position.

Both Bournemouth AC runners can take plenty of encouragement from their performances, with Stu Bowers securing a top-ten finish and Patrick Kingston placing comfortably inside the top 20.

Galloway Takes The Win As JC Has An Off Day

At the sharp end of the field, it was Jack Galloway of Twemlow Track Club who claimed victory in 1:29:08, with Matthew Clark of Purbeck Runners taking second in 1:31:47.

Steve Kellaway of Egdon Heath Harriers completed the podium in 1:36:01, followed by Adam Hodge of Purbeck Runners in fourth in 1:36:37.

Mark Peddle of Poole Runners finished fifth in 1:37:55, with Gergely Arvay of Littledown Harriers sixth in 1:38:42.

Jacek Cieluszecki, meanwhile, found that this was not to be his day. Despite his previous success on the Purbeck trails, he struggled to find his usual strength and energy on the course, eventually finishing seventh in 1:39:38.

It was an unusual result for a runner who has repeatedly demonstrated just how well suited he is to hilly trail races, but it served as a reminder that even the most accomplished competitors cannot always guarantee a good day in the hills.

In the women’s race, Anne-Marie Bayliss of City of Salisbury led the way in 1:45:28, finishing 19th overall. Sara Genco of Littledown Harriers took second place in 1:47:01, while Dulcie Gatehouse of Bridport Runners was third in 1:54:03. Louise Fox of Dorchester RIOT completed the leading four in 1:57:17.

For Bournemouth AC, the headline was two strong performances from runners with very different recent experiences of the trails. Stu Bowers continued his Purbeck Trail Series campaign with another good result, while Patrick Kingston added another demanding race to a season that has already taken him from local league fixtures to the mountains of Switzerland and the vast trails of Montana.

The Beast certainly lived up to its name, but both men emerged with performances that showed they were more than capable of handling its considerable demands.

Massive thanks to Ken Hewitt and Konaphil Photography for the fabulous action shots!