ONE of the most 'awesome' events in the running calendar shone through the darkness on a blustery night on the Howgills.

The third annual Marmot Dark Mountains took place overnight on Saturday, January 25.

It saw more than 100 competitors take on a 53km course and 3,000 metres of elevation with only a map and a head torch for guidance.

Adam Perry, 26, from Sedbergh, and Kim Collison, from Penrith, were the winning pair in the elite event, completing the course in a time of eight hours 34 minutes - more than two hours ahead of their closest rivals Steve Birkinshaw and Jim Mann.

Perry and Collison's achievement is made all the more impressive by the fact Birkinshaw broke the record for running all the Wainwrights during the summer.

It proved to be a good day for South Lakeland's athletes as Sally Ozanne, a member of Helm Hill runners, and Steph Jones, from Ambleside, romped to victory as the first females and fourth team overall.

The Gazette caught up with Adam Perry, who works for the Yorkshire Dales National Park, to discuss his momentous victory.

"We didn't really expect to win," he said.

"The lad I was with, Kim, is a very good runner and we were a decent team but we had good competition with the likes of Steve Birkinshaw in there as well. It was a case of being as quick as you can but not getting carried away."

Runners had to scour the Howgills, which included the Marilyns of The Calf and Yarlside, for various check points - a task made all the more difficult by the dark conditions.

Adam spoke about the challenges the night time conditions pose to runners.

"It makes navigation and using the map and being able to read the map a lot more important because you can't see around you," he said.

"The head torch makes a big difference but it's hard to keep it together and stay on your feet - there's a bit more hit and hope about it! Going over snow makes it more of a challenge too."

Adam and his partner Kim had a relaxed approach to the race.

Asked whether they go nervous or spent a lot of time discussing the event, Adam said: "We didn't really chat about it too much. I met him at the start and the first leg was a long one so we didn't really stop. We worked the navigation between us. We went as quickly as we could and I was feeling a bit rough along the way but we worked through it together and it worked well. It was great to win because we know the field included some really experienced competitors. I had to think about spending my Saturday night running around the fells but it's a great feeling - and then you get to go to bed!"

Race Director Shane Ohly said: “What another superb event. As a race organiser you know things are running smoothly when you can casually take time to chat with friends.The competitors are awesome too. It’s a rare individual who has the experience and nerve to take on the challenge of an overnight winter mountain marathon and everyone who took part in the event genuinely impressed me.

"This year there was an extremely impressive performance from Kim Collison and Adam Perry to win the Elite course in just eight and half hours. Wow!"

Ambleside Athletic Club’s Steph Jones and her partner Sally Ozanne of Helm Hill completed the ‘A’ course in a time of 11:26.51 and were the only all-female pairing to tackle that category.

Asked why she decided to take on the challenge, Jones, who lives at Bowston, said: “I have to question myself regularly. We were meant to do it last year but Sally broke bones in both her hands two weeks before.

“It is about pushing and challenging yourself."