UNDETERRED by wind and rain, 45 hardy souls turned out for the Tavistock Athletic Club four-mile Christmas Handicap race on Whitchurch Down.
First away was 9-year-old Roselle Saunders? the youngest competitor in the race, followed at intervals by runners of all ages and abilities, until after 20 minutes everyone was away.
Roselle managed to stay in front until the halfway stage and finished in a creditable 12th place.
Ten-year-old Nathan Wonnacott sped effortlessly up the steep hill between Pennycomequick and Warren?s Cross, took the lead from John Jackson shortly afterwards and kept ahead all the way to the finish.
John Outhwaite ran a storming final mile, just failing to catch Nathan but finishing an impressive second while John Jackson hung on for third place.
In the closing stages of the race the field came close together, proving the accuracy of the handicappers? work and creating some closely fought battles for the minor placings.
Wet and exhausted, the runners retired to the Halfway House at Grenofen to drink hot soup and see club chairman Robin Musgrave present the trophies.
Results -1 Nathan Wonnacott, 32m 12s; 2 John Outhwaite, 25m 32s; 3 John Jackson, 38m 00s.
First women to finish: 5 Frances Mckinnon, 27m 48s;
6 Nicky James, 35m 09s; 7 Caroline Dawe, 36m 06s.
Fastest men: 1 Adam Holland, 25m 26s; 2 John Outhwaite, 25m 32s; 3 Robin Musgrave, 25m 40s.
Fastest women: 1 Frances Mckinnon, 27m 48s; 2 Nicole Heryet, 31m 07s; 3 Nicky James, 35m 09s.