Running ELY Runner Craig Holgate was selected to run for England in the Anglo-Celtic 100km Plate competition held at the weekend.

The race saw competitors tasked with running 42 laps of a park in Perth, Scotland, starting at 7am in temperatures as low as minus three degrees centigrade.

The England team this year included three competitors who had recorded times better than 2hrs 20mins for the marathon, while Craig relied on the miles in his legs’ and his ability to pace races astutely.

For the first half of the race, the Ely Runner he was down the field as fourth England counter, a lap down and some 15mins adrift.

But ultra running is a tough sport and Craig’s patience saw him pick up second place overall, just behind Ireland’s Dan Doherty, who came home in 7hrs 5mins.

Craig’s time, 7hrs 12mins, was better than the GB ‘B’ standard which means there is a real possibility of him representing Great Britain at the World Championships to be held in Durban, South Africa in October.