A GRUELLING test of endurance over the Malvern Hills and beyond awaits competitors for a unique race.

The second-annual Malvern Hills Ultra, held on Saturday, May 7, sees participants choose between a 52-mile or 83-mile race option and involves a total ascent of more than 4,000 feet.

The race starts at Top Barn Activity Centre and the 52-mile track leads onto the Severn Way, through Grimley, Worcester, Upton-upon-Severn and then onto the foot of the Malvern hills, where, at this stage, participants have already completed a marathon distance.

The daredevil group will then negotiate the Worcestershire Beacon, the route then touches the River Teme before heading home to Holt Castle.

Checkpoints include The Malvern Hills Hotel and The New Inn, Storridge.

The 83-mile route, meanwhile, extends out south beyond Tewkesbury on the Severn Way and then connects the Three Chairs Way, heading north towards the Worcestershire Way and coming in north towards Bewdley and returning south, also to Holt Castle.

So far, more than 100 people have signed up for the two disciplines. The race start time for the 52-mile event is 9am, with the 83-mile race and walkers getting under way at 6am on the day.

Individual entries are priced £55 per person for the 52-mile event with team relay entries of a minimum of four and maximum of six people are £35 per person.

If competitors raise money for St Richard’s Hospice, they can enter for free.

The 83-mile race costs £75 per person for individual entries, team relay participation, minimum of four and maximum of 10 people are £45 per person.

Corporate relay team entries, of a maximum of six people, are £900 per group.

Trophy categories are for the men and women’s individual winners, veteran men's and women's, teams of three and a unique relay team event, where members run between checkpoints, which are a minimum of six and a maximum of 12, miles apart.

Last year’s men’s winner was Bruce Moore in nine hours 20 minutes and the first female home was Alice Maiden in 11.15.

A proportion of the proceeds from the event will go to St Richard’s Hospice and Noah’s Ark Trust.

For more information on entering the event, go to ultrarunning.uk.com, or call organiser Steve Worrallo on 07860 418040.