ALTRINCHAM and District Athletic Club's Jason Ward represented Great Britain in the World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, Kenya at the weekend.

The conditions at the venue along the Indian Ocean on Saturday were by far the most arduous ever witnessed at the world championships.

Afternoon temperatures reached nearly 35 C (95 F), with humidity at over 70 per cent.

In all, 82 of the 471 competitors who started their respective races did not finish. 27 were hospitalized, although fortunately none serious enough to require overnight stays.

Jason moved his way stealthily through the field, and was able to reel in some world class runners on the last lap, finishing as third Briton in 70th place.

Britain's European Champion Mo Farah was the first non-African in 10th and Michael Skinner, who looked on the verge of passing out as he crossed the line, was 64th.

Altrincham club secretary Matt Barnes said: "I watched the whole race live on BBC interactive, and many of the Africans struggled to cope with the conditions.

"I have seen pictures of Ethiopians collapsing in the finishing straight and being carried off on stretchers.

"Even the great Kenenisa Bekele, going for a record sixth successive title, failed to finish, as did Boniface Kiprop and a host of others.

"It must have been an amazing experience for Jason, as crowds were well into the thousands, if not 100,000, and I'm sure he will relay his thoughts to us all at some stage."