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Sport club shuffles through mud for river run

News imageAndrew Hendry A man in a bright yellow T-shirt and black backpack is pulled from the mud by a grouo of runners. The sky is bright and blue.Andrew Hendry
The Woodbridge Shufflers have made the muddy pilgrimage across the River Deben for 10 years

Members of a running group were made to live up to their club's name as they shuffled through a course of thick river mud for an annual event.

Twenty-four Woodbridge Shufflers slogged across the muddy banks of the River Deben from Woodbridge Tide Mill Museum, in Suffolk, before straddling through the water and then running back as part of a seven-mile route (11.2km) on Tuesday.

The club's Rob Alder said the annual Cross The River Run event started 10 years ago at the suggestion of one of their runners.

"It's just a bit of fun," he said. "It is muddy and we like having a laugh; it's about getting stuck in the mud - people lose shoes and trainers."

News imageMike Whitby A line of runner in brightly-coloured tops wade through the water, which is up to their waists.Mike Whitby
Members aged from their 20s up to 70 completed the course and waded through the waters of the Deben
News imageAndrew Hendry A man in a bright yellow running T-shirt tries to step through the deep mud followed by other runners.Andrew Hendry
Rob Alder, from the club, said a few people got stranded in the mud and had to be pulled out
News imageMike Whitby A woman at the back of the running group is helped by a man, who looks as though he is trying to release her leg from the mud.Mike Whitby
Mr Alder said the secret to running a successful muddy course was to be "light on your feet and glide along the top"
News imageMike Whitby A distant view of the runners gathered together on the river's muddy bank in their brightly-coloured tops. There is an old wooden boat in a state of disrepair to the right.Mike Whitby
The run was described as a "great laugh" by Mr Alder
News imageAndrew Hendry A group of runners are gathered together in the mud and wave and smile at the Camera. They all have muddy legs.Andrew Hendry
Runs are organised all over Suffolk by the club, which started in 1980

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