MORE than 100 runners headed for the hill high above Monmouth on Sunday afternoon, followed by sausage and chips in the Mayhill pub.

The Kymin Winter Hill event saw a 113-strong field brave a 1150ft ascent and descent as well as the rain, over an often muddy 3.95-mile course.

Starting and finishing on the Offa’s Dyke woodland path just above the May Hill, and taking a loop course up to and past the Round House, Rhys Goodrick of Vegan Runners powered home just over a minute clear in 30 minutes 56 seconds.

Second was Monmouth Comprehensive student and Wales junior international Will Chalk representing Abergavenny fell club Mynydd Du, who pipped clubmate Jonathan Ford by 22 seconds crossing in 32.00.

Fourth was MD's Wyndham Turner in 33.07, followed by Ashley Middlewick of Parc Bryn Bach in 33.42, and Tomas Black of Beacons fell club Mynydddwyr de Cymru in 34.09.

Seventh just seven seconds back was Ed Zeally, eighth Andy Gardiner of San Domenico RC in 35.03, ninth Tom Mollekin in 35.26 and rounding out the top 10 the latter's MD club mate Billy Jackson in 36.02.

Fastest woman in 11th overall just 10 seconds further back was MD's Katrina Entwistle, who finished seven seconds and a place ahead of first MonRoss runner Kieron Brown.

Spirit of Monmouth's first runner home, Ben Saunders, was one place back in 13th, taking the over-40 class crossing in 36.44.

Second quickest woman was MD's Bethan Logan, who made it up and down in 37.28 for 17th overall, five seconds and two places ahead of Spirit's second runner home, Tom Chinnick.

Chris Medcalf of San Domenico took the over-50 class in 38.21, with MD's Jonas Munton second junior home after Chalk in 38.52.

Fellow MD runner Rhian Probert was third quickest woman and fastest-over 50 female close behind in 39.52, pipping MDC's Katie Ironside into fourth by 23 seconds, who in turn was 25 seconds ahead of first MonRoss woman Elle Lumley in fifth.

MD's Martin Webb took the men's over-60 class in 40.57, while Matthew Lawson of Chepstow Harriers was second over-50 man in 41.25.

Showing that age is no barrier to taking on the hills, MDC’s John Aggleton raced to the men’s over-70 title in 48.18, beating Forest of Dean AC’s Owen McLaughlin into second by two minutes and Basingstoke’s Don Powell by another half minute.

Caerleon RC’s Liz Richards was also fastest over-60 woman in 48.46, just under a minute ahead of over-40 female winner Donna Grant of MDC, with MD’s Nikki Childs second over-60 woman in 50.45.

Other local runners who braved the gravity and the elements included Spirit’s Rebecca Edwards and Harriers’ Vanessa Lawson who crossed together in 51.39, Chepstow’s John Nash (52.26), Forest of Dean AC’s Brian Griffin (53.58), club mate Stefanie Francis (56.37), and Spirit’s Maixent Gaillard (58.18).

Mynydd Du took both the men’s and women’s team titles, with Spirit taking second in the men’s event followed by Hereford Couriers, and MDC finishing runners-up in the women’s event, followed by Les Croupiers in third.