THE fifth annual Whitebrook Wind-Up half marathon and 10k races were run on Sunday 7th June.

More than 120 runners, including one from the USA and others from London and Lincolnshire, gathered to take on the challenging course.

At this year's event, organised by Whitebrook Village Hall Committee, the starter's siren set the competitors off to climb a short hill before descending to the banks of the River Wye.

The course took them two miles along the river before turning at Redbrook, a mile along the old railway track, and then to the notorious 600ft two-mile ascent through Hael Woods along the Horseway.

Once at the top, it was all downhill back to the finish – and a second lap for those running the half marathon.

There was a keenly-fought contest for the top-spot in the half marathon between Annabel Granger and Ben Anderson (pictured). At the eleven mile mark Annabel was ahead by only a stride, but during the final two miles she opened up a commanding lead and crossed the line ahead by 1min 58 secs, in an impressive time of 1.33.22.

Ben came in second in 1.35.14 and Morris Attard was third in 1.40.41.

The 10k race was won by John Fitzpatrick in 44.24. Second place went to Josh Jones in 45.47 and third to Mike Link in 46.20. Laura Lelieve won the women's 10k with a time of 52.10.