In the absence of his older brother Alistair, who had flu, world under-23 and sprint triathlon world champion Jonathan ensured that the Brownlee name remained on top of the Chevin Chase roll of honour.

The early freezing fog cleared to leave icy and snow-covered conditions for the full complement of 800 athletes, some of whom were dressed as fairies and santa clauses.

The 31st running of the event was a seven-mile trail and fell run over Otley Chevin, starting and finishing in Guiseley with a few stretches of tarmac thrown in for good measure.

For the past three years, the results have had a familiar look with Alistair winning and Jonathan finishing second. This year Jonathan was a clear winner in 38min 35sec, over a minute ahead of his Bingley Harriers clubmate Tim Midgley (39:47), who in turn was over a minute clear of third-placed Graham Pearce, of Pudsey and Bramley Athletics Club (41:04).

The first nine places in what is a regular challenge to blow off the cobwebs, were made up of members of Bingley Harriers, Pudsey and Bramley, Wharfedale Harriers and Ilkley Harriers. Jon Holah, of Pudsey and Bramley, was first vet 50 home in eighth.

First lady home was Bingley’s Pauline Munro in 41st place in 47 minutes exactly, with Idle’s Donna Edmonson-Booker in second, just pipping Karen Hallas of Leeds City.

Leading 70 finishers: 1 Jonathan Brownlee (Bingley Harriers) 38min 35sec, 2 Tim Midgley (Bingley Harriers) 39:47, 3 Graham Pearce (Pudsey & Bramley AC) 41:04, 4 Ben Stevens (Ilkley Harriers) 42:09, 5 Gareth Hird (Wharfedale Harriers) 42:29, 6 Ian Nixon (Pudsey & Bramley AC), 42:39, 7 Nicholas Charlesworth (Wharfedale Harriers) 42:46, 8 Jon Holah (Pudsey & Bramley AC) (veteran) 43:08, 9 Matthew Cox (Ilkley Harriers) (senior) 43:27, 10 Greg Hull (Leeds City AC) (veteran) 43:49, 11 Martin Archer (Ilkley Harriers) 43:53, 12 Tim Ashelford (Leeds & Bradford Tri Club) (veteran) 44:02, 13 Darren Burnley (Pudsey Pacers) (veteran) 44:05, 14 Gwilym Thomas (UKA) (senior) 44:07, 15 Barry Mordue (Baildon Runners) (senior) 44:14, 16 Chris Burke (Baildon Runners) (senior) 44:18, 17 Colin Walker (Pudsey & Bramley AC) (senior) 44:27, 18 Marcus Pinker (unattached) (senior) 44:49, 19 Christopher Bannister (Sheffield Tri Club) (senior) 44:51, 20 Jamie Hutchinson (Ilkley Harriers) (senior) 44:53, 21 Dave McGuire (Hyde Park Harriers) (senior) 45:03, 22 Jonathan Halden (unattached) (senior) 45:10, 23 Brian Goodison (Abbey Runners) (super vet) 45:17, 24 Paul Crabtree (Wharfedale Harriers) (senior) 45:25, 25 Dave Wilby (Ilkley Harriers) 45:30, 26 Bob Addey (Otley AC) 45:33, 27 Neil Armitage (Pudsey & Bramley AC) (senior) 45:36, 28 Rogan Ashton (Otley AC) (senior) 46:07, 29 Kevin Griffiths (Trots) (veteran) 46:13, 30 Rich Smith (Valley Striders AC) (senior) 46:15, 31 Kevin McMullan (Valley Striders AC) (senior) 46:16, 32 Nathan Crossley (Horsforth Harriers) (veteran) 46:17, 33 Ralph Tench (Ilkley Harriers) (senior) 46:23, 34 Stephen Coy (Ilkley Harriers) (senior) 46:25, 35 Oliver Smith (unattached) 46:27, 36 Gareth Wilson (North York Moors AC) 46:36, 37 Robin Owen (Abbey Runners) (senior) 46:43, 38 Jason Hemsley (Wharfedale Harriers) (senior) 46:49, 39 Michael Gibbs (unattached) 46:55, 40 Will Morris (Airecentre Pacers) 46:57, 41 Pauline Munro (Bingley Harriers) (female senior) 47:00, 42 Michael Malyon (unattached) 47:01, 43 Steve Webb (Valley Striders AC) (veteran) 47:02, 44 Marcellus Springer (Horsforth Harriers) (super vet) 47:04, 45 Christopher Dove (Skyrac AC) 47:12, 46 Joel Giddings (UKA) (senior) 47:18, 47 Andrew Meskimmon (Dewsbury Road Runners) (veteran) 47:22, 48 Stephen Gilbert (unattached) 47:23, 49 Steve Large (Horsforth Harriers) (veteran) 47:31, 50 Gary Scott (UKA) (senior) 47:42, 51 Ben Grant (Harrogate Harriers & AC) (super vet) 47:44, 52 Jonathan Forey (unattached) (senior) 47:46, 53 Julian Carter (Ilkley Harriers) (senior) 47:56, 54 Stephen Pickard (Baildon Runners) (veteran) 48:02, 55 Dave Stephenson (Bingley Harriers) (veteran) 48:17, 56 Al Powell (Pudsey & Bramley AC) (senior) 48:18, 57 Jon Trevelyan (unattached) (senior) 48:21, 58 Rob Furness (Horsforth Harriers) 48:24, 59 Tim Patterson (Airienteers) 48:29, 60 Ian Sanderson (Valley Striders AC) (senior) 48:31, 61 Brian Field (Leeds & Bradford Tri Club)(veteran) 48:40, 62 Robert Samuels (Pudsey Pacers) (veteran) 48:42, 63 Nick Pearce (Ilkley Harriers) (super vet) 48:44, 64 Richard Foster (Abbey Runners) 48:49, 65 Donna Edmondson Booker (Idle AC) (female senior) 48:50, 66 Andrew Leonard (unattached)(senior) 48:52, Karen Hallas (Leeds City AC) (female open) 48:54, 68 Mike McKenzie (unattached) (veteran) 48:56, 69 Jez Hellewell (Ilkley Harriers) (senior) 48:57, 70 Andy McCue (Skyrac AC) (senior) 48:59.