THE winner of this year's savage May Hill Massacre fought through ankle deep 'gloop' to record the fastest time in the race's five year history.

Steve Millward of Gloucester Athletics Club fought an ongoing duel with Lee Rankin of Stroud Athletics Club but beat him to the post in a time of 54.34.

Organiser, Mike Wood, said: "Lee's really fast on descent and Steve's an amazing climber. Between the two of them it was a real question of who was going to win."

More than 560 entered what's described as one of the toughest cross-country races in England, slogging to the 1,000ft summit of May Hill and then back down again.

"Conditions were very favourable" says Mike. "It had been raining a couple of days before, so it was quite wet, but the mud had hardened a bit. It wasn't like chocolate milk but once you got stuck in it was quite gloopy. I was talking to someone who runs Royal Marine races and asked him how it compared. He said its ten times harder.

"But everyone seemed to have a great time, eveyone got down safe, there were no injuries and there have already been some great reviews in Runners World. The marshalling was great and I've got to thank all the helpers – the whole thing is about team work."

This year's race is expected to raise about £4,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, bringing the total amount raised to about £19,000.

Mr Wood, who's daughter has Cystic Fibrosis, says he will be organising a sixth May Hill Massacre in 2011.

"But it takes five months to organise, and when I'm not working on the massacre I'm helping out on other races in Gloucestershire, so for the sake of my marriage and life, next year will be my last."

After 2011 the race will be organised by Black Sheep Sports. Part-owner of Black Sheep is Julian Freeman of the Huntley Estate which owns most of the woodland and land around and below the summit of May Hill.

Race results (first 10)

Name Club Time

Steve Millward Gloucester AC 00.54.34

Lee Rankin Stroud AC/DB Max TRI 00.55.23

Robert Gornall Stroud and District 00.58.24

Sam Windless Total Racing Intl 00.59.36

Andy Gore Cheltenham Harriers 00.59

Warren Miles Worcester AC 01.00.09

Lloyd Pritchard 01.00.22

Paul Dodd Chippenham Harrier 01.00.31

Neil Halliday 01.01.00

Eddie Brecht Unattached 01.01.19

• First woman back was Helen Fines of Calder Valley Fell Runners at 01.03.05