Winner was nearly caught out' One hundred and ten red, blue, green, white vests gathered in a thick line, jostling for the best start position on this year's Rydal Round.

Warm and sticky weather meant what was believed to be a record number of racers had to challenge the energy-sapping conditions as well as the challenges of nine miles and 3,000ft of ascent over Nab Scar, Fairfield and Low Pike.

Despite that, the early pace was electric and a pounding stream of runners funnelled from the main arena through a tight gap in the crowd and up the fell.

The pace was so quick, the eventual winner, Joe Blackett, 40, of the North Yorkshire Moors club, was nearly caught out.

"They went off that fast, I was left standing," he said, digging chunks of bracken out from under his watch strap.

Bare-chested Billy Procter, of Helm Hill runners, pushed the leaders from the start and climbed strongly.

When he saw the North Yorkshire Moors' runner clinging to him, Procter drove the pace even harder and only Blackett was able to hold on.

"I couldn't break him on the hill," Procter said, after Blackett dashed past him on the final grassy descent, but he was happy with his personal best time of 1hr 20mins. "Not bad for 48!" he added.

In the 1,600m cycling, national half-mile track champion Ben Elliott, of Macclesfield, powered his way through the five-strong field to a clear win.

The 29-year-old sped over the line, arms in the air, then said: "I love to come here every year because it's a superb race - a great crowd and a great day out."