RUNNERS overcame soaring temperatures to complete the ninth and final stage of the 2011/12 Endurancelife Coastal Trail Series on Portland.

Clear sunny skies and temperatures in excess of 20 degrees contrasted starkly with the snow and ice that runners had to contend with the last time the Coastal Trail Series was held on the isle back in December 2010. Starting and finishing at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, participants in all distance categories – 10k, half-marathon, marathon and ultra marathon – were treated to a circular tour of Portland with marathon runners continuing round for a second lap and the ultra course adding a third and final lap to take the total mileage up to 40.2.

As expected, the energy sapping stretch of shingle along Chesil Beach proved to be the toughest section of the course and fast became the talking point of the day.

In the men’s ultra, last-minute entry Justin Montague from Swindon made light work of the course, taking first place in a time of 6hrs, 8mins, 35secs, nearly 50 minutes ahead of Darren Le Poidevin in second place.

Liz Wiggins from Weston-super-Mare crossed the line just 20 seconds behind Le Poidevin to claim first place in the women’s ultra and third overall.

An outstanding performance by Somerton’s Emily Canvin earned her an overall victory in the marathon.

Finishing in a time of 4:12.39, Canvin crossed the line four minutes before the first male home – Richard Cottle from Tincleton, Dorset.

Just two-and-a-half minutes separated the top three places in the men’s marathon with Cottle finishing ahead of Andrew Bass and Matthew Dunstan, in a time of 4:16.40.

In the men’s half-marathon, Euan Lees knocked four minutes off his course time from 2010, improving six places to come first in a time of 1:38.30. Second place went to Sergio Nunez with Oliver Sinclair third.

The women’s 10k was won by Elaine Bettaney in 1:13.37 with James Biggerstaff tasting victory in the men’s category in a time of 1:09.17.