STORM the Castle is to return to Ludlow for a ninth time with hundreds of athletes taking part in another staging of the duathlon.

The multi-sport event on Sunday, April 23 will start at Ludlow Rugby Club before finshing in the magnificent grounds of Ludlow Castle.

Participants have a choice of courses to compete in, with distances ranging from 2.5km to 10km. The runs for both courses are tough and hilly, including sections of road and off road terrain. 

The junior storm course meanwhile is appoximately 800m around the castle.

There is also a bike route, which is a challenging 33km. The course includes around 500m of elevation and takes you on a route from Shropshire into Herefordshire, and back into the county. 

The climbing comes in two main sections, including a 7km climb over Fiddlers Elbow and nearing the end of the ride, you climb through Mortimer Forest before a fast, short descent off Whitcliffe common.

The short course bike route is approximately 22km, initially taking the same route as the full course, cutting through towards Downton on the Rock before re-joining the full course for the final climb from Pipe Aston.