The Beast, 3rd September 2006
IT was the 13th running of the infamous Beast, and it was an unlucky 13 for the 480 runners took part in the challenging race which starts and finishes near Corfe Castle in Dorset.
Stubby Nick Kimber, who the day before had taken part in the Overton 5, reported how conditions were extremely difficult with competitors at one stage almost being blown off their feet.
It was wet and the temperature dropped when the route took runners along the steep coastal paths."It was very, very cold, and quite tough out there," said Nick.
The race is spread over 13 to 14 very challenging miles with aching ascents and knee-jarring descents.
Nick, lovingly described in the results produced by Poole AC as Nick Trimber, finished 226th in a time of 2hrs 3mins 34sec. He finished not far behind Stubbington team-mate John Reeve who was 211th in 2:02.23.
Vito Graffagnino, an unattached runner who tends to win a fair few races in the south-west, came out on top again with a winning tip of 1:21.54, winning by just 22 seconds, and the leading lady was Sally Newman from Wreake Runners in Leicestershire in a time of 1:33.39 for 18th overall.