A sporting fixture has seen a welcome return to the Monmouth calendar.

With a new date and a new route, the Kymin Dash is now located the other side of the Wye Bridge, with the finishing line now on the astroturf at Monmouth School Sports Centre.

The 120 runners set off from a small track just off the Staunton Road on a course that covered seven miles of mixed terrain, heading up to the top of the Kymin.

A new award for the first male and female to reach the summit gave added incentive for runners to be the first to the top and be crowned King and Queen of the Hill.

The last leg of the race was a two-mile dash along Hadnock Road to the sports centre, where the finishing tape was replaced by a chip timing pad courtesy of Trevor Kingdon of Black Sheep Sports Ltd. The system allowed accurate timing and instant results for both athletes and race organisers to see.

The race this year was organised by The Spirit of Monmouth Running Club.

Race organiser Emma King said: "I am very pleased to say that that the day was a great success and went smoothly with no problems, it was great to hear the positive feedback from the runners that had travelled from all over the South West to take part and said they would be back next year.

"Having taken part in the race myself in previous years, it is great to see the event firmly back in the racing calendar moving forward.

"There was a great buzz around the King and Queen of the Hill, who will be crowned next year.

"I would like to say thanks to our sponsors Monmouth School Sports Centre and Robert Price, and everyone that helped out in the run up to the race and on the day itself as you helped make it happen. Without your support it would not have been the success it was."

The 2013 race is proud to support Monmouth Aid, a local charity that adopted a deprived area of Ethiopia and aim to provide it with the basis to build a sustainable future for itself.

Winner; Luke James, 44.01; 2nd, Andrew Stephens, 44.05, both of Monross Trailblazers. 3rd, Pete Ward, 44.15, Chepstow Harriers.

Queen of the Hill, Nicki Morgan, Chepstow Harriers; King of the Hill, Kevin McGrath, Westbury Harriers.

Veteran award (35-44); female, Sandra Chipper; male, Andrew Stephens.

Super Vet (49-55); female, Nicki Morgan, male Marl Balch, Usk.