The 2009 event took place on Sunday 14th June, the course running from the old Rifle Range at the foot of the hill to Heaven Gate near the summit.

To read more about the route and the rules of the race, and to register to take part in the 2010 event (date to be confirmed)

The competition was tough, and after a string of eight wins for the Cock Hotel, victory in the four man contest this year went to Newport Running Club.

Three contenders entered the 'lunatic' challenge to carry a full barrel single-handed. Winner in this category was Gareth Evans of Telford Wines, with 19 year old Tom Portman (another Cock Hotel staff member) coming in a close second. See the tables below for full results.

FULL 2008 RESULTS BELOW: 2009 RESULTS TO FOLLOW SHORTLY

2008 CLASSIC MALE FOUR (4 MEN, ONE FULL BARREL):

2008 WOMEN'S CHALLENGE (4 WOMEN, ONE EMPTY BARREL):

2008 THE LUNATIC (ONE MAN, ONE FULL BARREL!)

2008 FANCY DRESS CHALLENGE (MIXED FOUR, ONE EMPTY BARREL)

BACKGROUND TO THE RACE 

Organised by the Shrewsbury Lions Club between 1998 and 2004, the Wrekin Barrel Race is now overseen by Graham Webster and a small group of volunteers from Wellington. We are grateful to the Lions' original Barrel Race website, from which much of the text below is taken.

Although relatively new to Shropshire's sporting calendar, the race certainly evokes something of May Sundays on The Wrekin long ago. Two hundred years ago at the boisterous Wrekin Wakes, barrels of ale would no doubt have been hauled up the hill in order to oil the celebrations at the top. Our Barrel Race is a much less drunken affair, however (and the barrels filled with water so as not to waste good beer).

TAKING PART

The objective is to carry a full 9 gallon beer barrel from the bottom of The Wrekin to the top in the quickest possible time. There are four classes of entry: 

There are prizes and trophies for the various classes as well as Certificates of Participation for all with a record of their time from bottom to top.

SPECTATING

Spectators are of course welcome - in fact the more the merrier, and there's always a great atmosphere to go with the great panoramic views.

To see the teams set off, stand at the old Rifle Range on Wrekin Course (the first sets off at 11am and the rest, one by one, every few minutes thereafter). Once the course joins the main path near the Halfway House, there is sufficient room for spectators to watch from the sidelines, but most gather around the finishing line. Remember that these people are fast and the first team will probably be at the finish around 11.20am, so this is the time to aim for if you want to see all the teams come in.

There won't be any refreshments provided by the organisers, so you might want to bring your own picnic or pick up an ice cream from Tom at the Halfway House.