HUNDREDS of runners have braved the cold to compete in a popular annual event.

Last weekend was marked by the Ruthin 5k and 10k races.

This event keeps growing every year, bringing in excess of 350 runners to the Vale of Clwyd to take part in the two races, organised by Bespoke Fitness and Events.

The races were based at Ruthin Leisure Centre, thanks to Denbighshire Leisure, and bespoke medals were awarded to the various winners.

Mike Roberts was first in the men's 5k race, finishing 14 seconds clear of runner-up Llewelyn Edwards.

Tom Chandy (17.23) was in third position.

There was a comfortable victory margin in the women's 5k event, with Ella Grundy finishing in first place on the back of her finishing time of 20.37.

This was more than three minutes clear of runner-up Laura Pickering and Emma MacCarthur was three-quarters of a minute further back in third place.

Turning to the 10k races and the men's winner was Paul Wathan, in a time of 36 minutes and six seconds.

Chris Callaghan finished second, just 36 seconds back, while Kieran Williams (38.34) completed the podium.

Turning to the ladies' race and Helen Davies' time of 41.33 saw her finishing at the top of the pile.

She was 26 seconds clear of second-placed Aime Hannant, with Carolyn Stamper-Clark (43.26) in third position.

Brecon Carreg water and Henllan Bakery offered their support to the event, which also contained chip timing and fantastic team of local marshals volunteering their time.

The very cold conditions made fast times much harder to achieve, so personal bests and category wins here were worth a lot.

Denbigh Harriers were out in force on the day and Martin Cortvriend, who was 15th overall, was first in the M60 category during the 10k in a time of 42.39.

Turning to the 5k and Chris Baldwin (24.21) triumphed in the M60 class, while Abigail Corfe (26.36) was third in the F40 category.

Jeff Jones (31.25) and Vicky Cortvriend (33.38) were also third in the M60 and F60 sections respectively.

Personal bests in the 10k were recorded by Harriers Phil Hayes (42.14), Huw Williams (43.18) and Nicola Field (61.48), while Angharad Gilbert (64.41) and Dawn Marshall (70.38) also did well in the same race.