WITH no roads to worry runners and a warm welcome from the Punchbowl Hotel and the National Trust, the traditional Boxing Day fun run attracted a huge crowd of runners and supporters.

Organiser Matt Dellar said: "The morning was chilly but at least it was not raining and no one seemed bothered by the conditions. Some were obviously intent on competing for top places, others were out to enjoy a trot though a beautiful piece of countryside, all the better since the cars were banished to the tunnel.

Sport Haslemere president Melanie Odell started the race. She thanked Matt and his team, as well the hotel and the National Trust for their support, plus race sponsors, Keats, Sports Locker, The Hogs Back Brewery and Haslemere Travel.

There were 489 runners, who set off from the car park at Hindhead, along the new lane to the top of Gibbet Hill..

From there it was a fast downhill into the Punch Bowl across the stream and then some seriously muddy tracks which left some struggling with the conditions.

The mud was left behind as the climbing began and most of the three-and-a-half mile route was uphill.

The drinkers paused on the way to gulp down a pint of winter ale before reaching the finish back in the car park.

The men's race was won by Mark Greenwood pipping David Taylor and Tim Young

while Gabriela Hitchcock finished ahead of Melissa Norris and Olivia Toye in the ladies' event. The overall winner was James McMullan, who competed in the drinkers' race, with Ben Evans and Dave Ward runners-up.

For more pictures, see this week's Haslemere Herald.