MORE than 150 hardy athletes braved the howling wind and rain to compete in Saturday's Tour de Helvellyn race.

Traditionally held on the shortest Saturday in December, the route starts at Askam and runs around England's third highest mountain, predominantly on mountain trails and bridleways. The race climbs to a height of nearly 600 metres and covers a distance of 38 miles.

Jim Mann won the race in 6-17-35 ahead of Charlie Lowther of Eden Runners who clocked 6-32-32. Third place went to Andrew Horrobin who was also first V40 in 6-50-43. There were good performances also by Paul Aitken, of Helm Hill, who was sixth in 7-15-19 and Ambleside's Calvin Routledge who was 19th in 7-48-10.

The first lady was Helen Leigh, of Blackburn Harriers, who was eighth overall in 7-21-56 with Katie Boden second in 7-46-45. There were 136 finishers while 24 runners retired in the difficult conditions.

There was a dramatic sprint finish in Saturday's Really Wild Boar Fell Race on Saturday.

Pudsey and Bramley's Mark Nixon claimed victory despite colliding with a young girl who had run out into his racing line with just 200 metres to go.

He had been locked in a battle with Rossendale's Sam Tosh on the climb and over the summit plateau before they were joined by Bingley's Ian Holmes on the breakneck descent.

Nixon took a few tumbles on the descent but was still able to hold on to Tosh and with the finish line in sight made his move and got there first despite the collision with the girl.

Howgill's Heidi Dent won the ladies' race from Helm Hill's Sharon Taylor and Eden Runners' Connie Hurton.