WHATEVER the weather in the lead-up to Saturday's THREE PEAKS FELL RACE, it always seems to be snowing at some point.

This year was particularly strange, with gale-force winds, blizzards, sleet and heavy rain making the limestone treacherous.

By Whernside the wind-chill was minus four, with some runners getting mild hypothermia and several falling down Ingleborough's limestone steps. Notwithstanding all this, 701 finished, with many timed-out in the conditions.

Ilkley's Alison Weston noted the support all round the course: "Thanks to Mike Baldwin near the top of Pen-y-Ghent and family Morley on top of Whernside, but also to Val, Andy, Jackie (with the cow bell), Dave, Pete, to name but a few.

"The ladies did really well to come second team but the best result was definitely Helen Waddington's with a magnificent 15-minute personal best!"

The winner, for the second year, was firefighter Ricky Lightfoot. He worked a nightshift, drove over from Maryport in Cumbria, apologised that he could not stay for the prize-giving and headed back to start another night's work!

Lightfoot's time of 2hr 51min 42sec was 94 seconds quicker than 2014 and the fastest since the current record was set by Andy Peace, of Bingley Harriers, in 1996. It was an excellent time in the weather, but failed to beat Peace's record of 2hr 46min 3sec.

Bingley's Rob Jebb was fourth in 2:59:32 and was first over-40. Spencer Riley, from Wharfedale was 13th in 3:11:04, and the second over-40, while Shaun Wilkinson (Keighley & Craven) was the second over-50 in 3:29:40 (48th overall).

Jo Buckley finished 11th lady in 3:53:41, with Emma Hopkinson (Wharfedale), Jann Smith (Ilkley), Karen Pickles (Pudsey Pacers) and Rebecca Cesar de Sa (Skyrac) grouped together as 16th to 19th in just over four hours.

In Sunday's LONDON MARATHON, there was a remarkable performance from Ilkley's Sally Malir, who was fourth over-50 in 3hr 7min 56sec, several minutes quicker than she has run for five years.

Saltaire's Marcin Soszka featured in Monday's Times newspaper, photographed (with white beanie) alongside Paul Radcliffe, though he fell back to finish in 2:41:07.

He was the first Bradford runner home, ahead of Queensbury's Chris Williams (2:47:47), but Otley AC's Frank Beresford finished in 2hr 33min.

Bingley Harrier Julie Thornton was 194th woman on her debut over the distance in 3hr 29min.