have slithered and slid their way across course Credit: ITV News AngliaHundreds of competitors from across the world have been taking part in a famous charity mud race that dates back more than half a century the Maldon Mud race attracted 350 fund-raising entrants all willing to brave the slightly cooler temperatures and cake themselves top-to-toe in mud A number of charities benefit from the day including the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Organisers say in 2024 they distributed over £35,000 to various charities and they were hoping to beat that target this year after the event sold out to competitors in January “We have some regulars who want to beat last year's times but most are fun runners," said race chairman Brian Farrington "People think it is really easy because it is only 440 metres and the winner will do it in under four minutes but the loser will do it in 45 minutes because they will crawl round “Last year we saw nearly 20,000 people attend the event so we are hoping to raise even more money for the charities," he added The event started in 1973 as a dare from an Essex resident to the landlord of a local pub challenging him to serve a meal on the saltings of the River Blackwater dressed in a dinner jacket First-time competitor Joe Griggs,won this year's event and told ITV News Anglia it was 'crazy.' I'm just happy to be here" he said Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know A TEEN competitor gets bogged down in a charity run with a twist – and lots of sticking Hundreds braved the Essex gloop for the annual Maldon Mud Race Sixth-former Saski Madden, 17, of the town’s Plume Academy, was fundraising for Bowel Cancer UK We revealed earlier how a "fairly chilly" spell is now expected to follow record-breaking hot weather as the UK marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day On the bank holiday itself, the Met Office forecasts temperatures will reach a maximum of 15C or 16C on the south coast of England on Monday, May 5. But northern parts of the UK will "struggle to get into the double figures". Thousands of people are expected to line the streets for the spectacle which includes a Churchill speech performance by actor Timothy Spall, a flypast including the Red Arrows, and a military procession of 1,300 members of the armed forces. But in the afternoon most areas will be "dry with sunny spells" with more sun around for eastern and northern parts of the country compared to Sunday Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ as hundreds of people slogged it out across a muddy riverbed One participant says "it was harder than childbirth", mud race chairman Brian Farrington tells the BBC - find out how the race works Another runner travelled to Essex from the Netherlands wearing the dress his mother wore to his sister's wedding drew more than 20,000 spectators last year and managed to raise thousands of pounds for charity The race kicked off at about 13:00 BST and we've been following all the mucky moments and Akylah Rodriguez and Jodie Halford diving into the mud Lewis AdamsReporting from the Maldon Mud Race That was one of the weirdest things I’ve ever seen - watching hundreds of people crawl fight and try to run through thick mud isn’t something you see every day But thousands turned up in Maldon to watch and cheer on the mud racers as they slogged through the 440m (1,443ft) stretch of the River Chelmer at low tide I might even try the race myself next year It was a bizarre experience – but a truly enjoyable one Thanks for following our live coverage of the Maldon Mud Race – we hope you have a newfound appreciation for solid Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingBizarre event but we loved every momentpublished at 14:19 British Summer Time 4 May14:19 BST 4 MayJenna MoonLive reporter Hundreds of participants have descended on Maldon in Essex to take on the mud - and while my preference for battling the Sunday scaries isn't to get coated head-to-toe in muck I've been warm and thankfully mud-free here in London but have been eagerly watching events unfold Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'A lot of pain,' says first man to cross finish linepublished at 14:04 British Summer Time 4 May14:04 BST 4 MayJoe Griggs is the first man to cross the finish line this year He describes his coveted victory as "unreal" Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingThe fastest woman to cross this year's finish linepublished at 13:59 British Summer Time 4 May13:59 BST 4 MayWe're now getting more details about the winners of Maldon's famous mud race was the first woman to complete the course this year She was all smiles (and mud-free!) as she accepted her prize Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingAnyone fancy a cuppa?published at 13:40 British Summer Time 4 May13:40 BST 4 MayMayor of Halstead Andy Munday joined the race dressed as a cup of tea They are among the many people who have now finished the race and are queuing up for the open shower Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRescuers come to the aid of four stuck racerspublished at 13:32 British Summer Time 4 May13:32 BST 4 MayLewis AdamsReporting from the Maldon Mud Race Four people have had to give up because the water is rising and they just can't move Event organisers have had to get ropes and small paddle boats to help get them out of the water Huge cheers were heard for the last across the line Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingSome still stuck in mud - and likely to be there for a whilepublished at 13:27 British Summer Time 4 May13:27 BST 4 MayLewis AdamsReporting from the Maldon Mud Race and they will likely be there for quite some time But the vast majority are starting to cross the line and they're getting hosed down Most of the mud racers who've finished are in good spirits Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingTwenty years of running through the mudpublished at 13:25 British Summer Time 4 May13:25 BST 4 MayFinisher Joel Hicks from Leicestershire tells us it's a fantastic day at the race – this is the 20th year he has participated We looked back through our archives and found Joel smiling in last year's story on the event Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingBBC presenters Akylah and Jodie have done itpublished at 13:17 British Summer Time 4 May13:17 BST 4 MayWell done both of you We're expecting a full report on the race soon Jodie and Akylah have made it through the muck Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPeople stuck just before finishing linepublished at 13:13 British Summer Time 4 May13:13 BST 4 MayLewis AdamsReporting from the Maldon Mud Race People are literally crawling over the finish line Some of them are getting stuck just before the line but they're all being cheered on by thousands and thousands of people Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingFirst-timer wins Maldon Mud Racepublished at 13:13 British Summer Time 4 May13:13 BST 4 MayBreakingMatt MackayReporting from the Maldon Mud Race First-time participant Joe has just won Maldon Mud Race "I just tried to get in front of people and tried to stay in front of them," he says about his tactics adding that people can be boisterous and push ahead during the race We're glad your mum doesn't want that dress back Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingBeacon Hill Rovers FC smile through the slushpublished at 13:09 British Summer Time 4 May13:09 BST 4 MayLewis AdamsReporting from the Maldon Mud Race Through all the screams you can hear four men - walking arm-in-arm - singing "oh Safe to say they'll be having a few beers at the clubhouse tonight Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingIn pictures: People crawl and run through mudpublished at 13:06 British Summer Time 4 May13:06 BST 4 MayWhile we appear to have a winner trudging and trying to run through the thick mud Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWinner emerges alreadypublished at 13:02 British Summer Time 4 May13:02 BST 4 MayBreakingLewis AdamsReporting from the Maldon Mud Race People are belly-sliding down the river bank Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingA range of tactics to tackle this course - and one naked manpublished at 12:59 British Summer Time 4 May12:59 BST 4 MayLewis AdamsReporting from the Maldon Mud Race I've hardly been able to stand up as I walk along the race and try to take photos of the participants One man with a Go Pro camera is naked - I'm hoping a bit more mud might cover him up Another person got close to the finish line quickly Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingStuck in alreadypublished at 12:57 British Summer Time 4 May12:57 BST 4 MayOops - we've already seen people getting stuck in the mud Hopefully this team can work their way out soon Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingLet's get muddy!published at 12:55 British Summer Time 4 May12:55 BST 4 MayBreakingAnd they’re off The Maldon Mud Race in Essex has officially begun Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingOlympic bronze medallist set to kick mud race offpublished at 12:54 British Summer Time 4 May12:54 BST 4 MayLewis AdamsReporting from the Maldon Mud Race Olympic bronze medallist Lewis Richardson is the person starting the event "It’s quite a unique event you don’t see too many mud races," he says getting punched in the face or running through the mud He says the best outfit he's spotted so far today is a "Where's Wally?" costume Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingLobsters Power Rangers and giant biscuits prepare for the mudpublished at 12:50 British Summer Time 4 May12:50 BST 4 MayWe're absolutely loving the pictures that we've received so far from Maldon Here are some of the best costumes we've spotted so far today as people line up to take part from Great Dunmow are calling out to the sea Rob Faulkner from Windsor is glammed-up and ready to turn his outfit from pink to brown have taken inspiration from the popular '90s children's programme Halstead Mayor Andy Munday and his wife Linda Smith are dunking head-first into the mud Lauren Scotcher and Alison Tuck hope their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles costumes come to the rescue This group has us going bananas - Dave and Sally Barker Kevin Sisseam and Claire Lunn are hoping to peel out ahead in this race Please check your email and enter your one time pin below:   Open in Gmail Sorry there was an error loading the audio A competitor stands up as others crawl during the annual Maldon Mud Race on May 4 the mud race consists of a 500 meter dash across the River Blackwater at low tide A participant crawls through mud in the annual Maldon Mud Race on May 4 A participant in the annual Maldon Mud Race on May 4 The “Oil Slicks” activists of Extinction Rebellion protest outside Cape Town High Court on May 05 Civil organisations are questioning the environmental authorisation process and challenging the government’s alleged failure to properly assess the significant risks posed by oil and gas exploration climate change impacts and threats to small-scale fishers The “Profits of Doom” activists of Extinction Rebellion protest outside Cape Town High Court on May 05 Cannabis enthusiasts during the Global Marijuana March through the city center on May 03 This is an annual rally held at different locations around the world to educate people about marijuana A person takes part in a “Marijuana March” in Guadalajara Thousands of activists and supporters in favor of marijuana legalization mobilized in Mexico City and other cities across Mexico on World Marijuana Liberation Day Supporters of the Pasban-e-hurriyat Jammu Kashmir shout anti-India slogans during a rally in Muzaffarabad Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has issued a stern warning to India against any attempts to block or divert water under the Indus Waters Treaty labeling such actions as ‘acts of aggression’ that would provoke a strong military response from Pakistan after India decided to suspend the treaty in retaliation for alleged Pakistani support of ‘cross-border terrorism’ Locals react at the site of an overnight drone strike that hit a residential area in Kyiv according to the State Emergency Service report Russia launched a large-scale overnight attack using 165 drones across all of Ukraine according to the Air Force Command of Ukraine Participants disguised as Christian and Moor soldiers take part in a re-enactment of Moors and Christians battles during the last day of ‘Moors and Christians’ festival in the town of Alcoy The festival marks the battles between Muslim Moors and Christians to take control of the city of Alcoy in 1276 Pakistani Rangers attend the flag lowering ceremony labeling such actions as ‘acts of aggression’ that would provoke a strong military response from Pakistan after India decided to suspend the treaty in retaliation for alleged Pakistani support of ‘cross-border terrorism.’ EPA-EFE/RAHAT DAR Cardinal Ignace Bessi Dogbo arrives for the meeting of the General Congregation of Cardinals The cardinals continue their deliberations during general congregations held following the death of Pope Francis in preparation for the assembly to elect a new pope Kyrgyz military personnel march during Victory Day celebrations in Bishkek Kyrgyzstan is marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union and its allies’ victory over Nazi Germany in World War II Princess of Wales join Second World War veterans at a tea party in Buckingham Palace on May 5 and Nato allies are taking part in the military procession for Victory in Europe Day marking the day the Allies formally accepted Germany’s surrender in 1945 (Photo by Yui Mok – WPA Pool/Getty Images) An Iranian couple walks next to a wall painting in a street in Tehran which was scheduled to be held in Rome on 03 May 2025 has been postponed amid continued tensions A boy performs a lion dance at the Piu Sik Parade during celebrations of the Bun Festival at Cheung Chau island in Hong Kong recognised as part of China’s national list of intangible cultural heritage is an annual festival that celebrates the end of a plague that struck the island of Cheung Chau during the Qing dynasty with bun-scrambling competition and Piu Sik Parade as the most significant activities in the festival Runners cross the Charles Bridge during the Prague International Marathon in Prague This year more than 10,000 runners took part in the race Chen Yiwen of China competes during the Women 3m Springboard final at the World Aquatics Diving World Cup 2025 Super Final in Beijing Artists from Ballet Cultural Kari Kari of Rapa Nui perform a dance on the beach Vina del Mar The Ballet Cultural Kari Kari from Rapa Nui travel to Vina del Mar to carry out a series of performances and organized a beach cleanup to raise awareness about plastic consumption since Rapa Nui (Easter Island) receives a large amount of waste from around the world (L-R) Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford attend Paramount+’s “1923” S2 | FYC event at Linwood Dunn Theater on May 04 (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Paramount+) ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + "