AN AWARD-winning Irvine gym boss and Europe’s hardest mud-racer has once again taken the top spot in a national ultra race.

Irvine’s official ‘Toughest guy in Europe’ Scott Brown came in first place at the Peak District 100km ultra this month [July 3] winning in 9hrs 27mins start to finish.

The Scott Brown Fitness [SBF] boss told the Times he loved getting back out racing after a tough year under lockdown – and thanked his wife and the rest of the team for continuing to believe in him after completing the challenge with client Connor.

He said: “I’m chuffed, it was a good race. I didn’t even enter thinking I would win it – it was just about not having raced for about two-year with the pandemic,

“It was just good to get back racing – I had been training and training for that race coming up – so seem to have done well out it.

“Every other weekend I was going up doing hill climbing and 40 mile runs in the West Highland Way. I felt prepared and confident that I prepared myself.

“It was a staggered start with a couple thousand people. When I made my way to the front I soon realised everything was going to plan.

“My team were telling me I was 50 minutes up at one point and by the time I got to the finish I was and hour and a half up over the second place. I did it in nine hours 27 minutes – was a brilliant run.

“It sounds daft but being first is not a big deal, it was just a good race.

“I need to thank my wife Kerri, also Vivienne and Steve for coming down and supporting me. “

Scott, who came fifth in 2019’s World’s Toughest Mudder – recently relaunched his brand new Scott Brown Fitness gym and bootcamp on Ailsa Road close to the Beach Park.

He made the move this year after several award-winning years in Tarbolton – with wife Kerri offering beauty treatments and Hands for Health sports massages from Fred. The firm was voted Ayrshire’s Favourite Business 2018 and Scotlands Best Training Provider in both 2017 and 2016.

He said: “A lot of my clients are from North Ayrshire and my heart was always

wanting to go there when I first opened three and a half years ago.

“In this lockdown I thought If I don’t make that jump now it will be a lot harder. The place is double the size so more kit, more racks and even the obstacle course is double the size.

“Some people can feel intimidated so my main priority was to change people’s experiences and build a community where people feel safe and have somewhere to go and not feel intimidated, where they can try new things and not feel anxious.”