Nearly 200 fallen runners reached the sky as they ascended and descended Sugar Loaf Mountain in two separate races.

No less than 86 of them donned headlamps to participate in the Night Sugar race, which took place five days after the daytime version.

Oliver Beale of Westbury Harriers was home first in a field of 105 in the six-mile day race, climbing and descending 1,590 feet from Pantygelli in 43 minutes 20 seconds.

Second was Builth’s Robi Woods in 43.51, just five seconds ahead of third-place Finn Goodhew of Westbury.

Joseph Reardon of Beacons Club Mynyddwyr of Cymru was fourth in 44.25, 16 seconds ahead of Paul Murrin of Chepstow Harriers, while Wyndham Turner of Abergavenny-based Mynydd Du, eighth in 45.28.

Helen Brown of Mynydd Du was fastest in the women’s competition at 53.45, 36 seconds ahead of Cardiff Runners’ Nynke Kulper in second, Chepstow Harrier Niki Morgan third in 55.35.

The fastest man over 50 was Paul Dodd of Harriers in 52.32, while the best over 70 was Don Powell of Basingstoke in 61.20.

Mynydd Du’s Rona Davies won the women’s over 60 crown in 68.45.

Event spokesperson Alan Stone said, “This was one of the busiest winter sugarloafs I’ve been to. Containment has made you all more excited.

“The weather gods kindly smiled at us and while it was windy at the top and a little chilly in the crosswind, everyone turned up in a reasonable amount of time.”

Five days later, it was Night Sugar’s turn, a 5.5 mile race in the dark from Llanwenarth and back, with a vertical drop of 350m.

Ben Mitchell of Mynyddwyr of Cymru was fastest in 33.27 with Wyndham Turner of Mynydd Du second in 36.55.

Fastest woman Megan Carter-Davies of Mynyddwyr of Cymru was third overall in 37.37, 48 seconds ahead of Jon of Mynydd Du.

As.

The second best and fastest female over 40 was Helen Brown of Mynydd Du in 46.19, exactly one minute ahead of third fastest Kani Hinshelwood of the Highgate Harriers.

Ian Whistance of Mynydd Du was fastest in the over-50s and 10th overall in 42.14, while Simon Darke of Mynyddwyr of Cymru took the over-60 crown in 48.40.

Tessa Lewis of South Wales Orienteering Club won the women’s over 50 title in 54.17, while Rona Davies of Mynydd Du took the over 60 category in 57.40 and David Rutter the men’s over 50 title in 57.40. age 70 in 73.56.

They can start all over again in the Skirrid Hill Race on Saturday 18th December.

Visit the Welsh Fell Runners Association Facebook page for more details.

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