ALMOST 180 runners took to the undulating Howgills on Sunday for the annual Sedbergh Hills race.

With more than 6000 feet of climbing over the 14 mile route, the race asks a lot of the entrants as they make their way over fells such as Winder, Calders, and Hazelgil Knott.

Ambleside AC's Gary Greenhow was the overall winner as he completed the route in 2:20:44 to finish more than two minutes clear of Helm Hill's Adam Perry.

Max Wainwright, of Helsby Harriers, was third in 2:28:19. Calder Valley's Richard Pattinson was the first MV50 in fourth with a time of 2:28:48, while fifth place went to the first MV40, Helm Hill's Tim Cowin in 2:29:11.

Zoe Harding was the first lady in 2:43:48. The Edinburgh University runner finished well clear of her nearest challenger, Dark Peak Fell Runners' Helen Elmore, who clocked 3:02:18.

Third place went to Barlick Fell Runners' Lorraine Slater in 3:08:01, Ambleside's Jane Reedy was fourth with a time of 3:09:15, while Borrowdale Fell Runners' Kerry Cornforth was fifth in 3:09:25.

Race organiser Paul Brittleton said: "It went very well, it was a good day. We had perfect conditions for fell running.

"It's a very hard course. There's a lot of climbing, it's all either up and down so it's very tough."